Thread: Kidney Diet

The kidney diet, also known as the renal diet, is a set of guidelines for people with kidney disease. The types of foods prescribed depend on the level of kidney failure the patient is experiencing, but generally the diet involves controlling the amount of sodium, potassium, phosphorus, protein, and fluid that a person ingests. People with kidney disease should be in consultation with a renal dietitian.

There is no single kidney diet. The kidney diet is a set of guidelines for patients experiencing some level of kidney failure. Because every kidney patient is unique, each kidney diet may be slightly different. Whether a person is experiencing early or late stages of kidney failure, receiving dialysis treatment and which type, as well as regular nutritional factors such as height, age, and weight will play a role in determining what sort of diet should be followed. In any case, renal patients must be very careful and take their diet seriously. Careful adherence to a kidney diet can lessen the symptoms of kidney failure and prolong the usefulness of the kidneys.

Sodium needs to be avoided if you have a kidney condition as it maintains the fluid level in our body. If too much sodium builds up in the body it causes thirst and fluid buildup. Normally functioning kidneys help to maintain proper levels of sodium in the body. If the kidneys begin to fail however, it becomes more important to maintain the right levels of sodium intake. The easiest way to avoid excess sodium intake is to eliminate putting extra salt on foods. It is important to avoid salty foods such as popcorn, potato chips, salted pretzels, bacon and other cured meats, and processed cheese. Always check the label of the food you purchase to make sure that you do not go beyond the appropriate amount of salt in your body.

Avoiding salt is difficult as it gives our food flavor so it may be helpful to find replacements for it. Using lemon juice or herb mixtures can add flavor without adding sodium, however mixtures such as garlic salt should not be used because they still have contain a high level of sodium. Artificial salt substitutes should also be avoided because these usually contain high levels of potassium, another mineral that people following a kidney diet need to monitor.

The body uses potassium for a variety of important functions such as maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance, sending nerve impulse to muscles, and aiding in metabolic processes. When a person’s kidneys are functioning normally they filter out excess potassium, helping to maintain the proper amount in the body. Without properly functioning kidneys, patients need to control their potassium intake.

Having a kidney condition is very difficult you have to be very careful with your diet. Strictly adhering to your diet is important to be able to survive this condition and avoid it from getting worse. Aside from sodium and potassium, too much phosphorous consumption has to be avoided too. The body must maintain a proper balance of phosphorus and calcium in order to build and preserve healthy bones and normally, the kidneys help to maintain balance by removing excess phosphorus from the bloodstream. However, patients with kidney disease may need to take steps to maintain this balance by watching what they eat, because their kidneys are no longer able to do this important job. If too much phosphorus builds up in the body it can pull calcium out of the bones, making them weak and easily breakable.

A friend of mine suffered from kidney failure when we were in high school and it was difficult for her because everything should be balanced. She has to watch her protein intake but her body also needs it and she has to ensure that she gets enough protein without it her body will not be able to perform proper muscle maintenance. She also had problem with water retension. her body was bloating and you can really see her suffering. It was hard for us her friends to look at her suffer that way. However she was able to get through it. We were all glad that she over came the condition and she is now in good health. My point here is, as much as we all want to indulge on delicious foods, we have to make sure that we keep it in moderation and we have to drink plenty of water to help our kidney become more healthy.

When a person experiences kidney failure, their kidneys are no longer removing water from the body with proper efficiency that's why you said your friend's body was bloating. The worse that the kidneys are functioning, the more important it is for a person to monitor their fluid intake. Water retention can cause swelling in the feet and ankles, as well as other parts of the body. The most recommended method for preventing water retention is to monitor salt intake. Everyone will experience bloating once too much salt is consumed so people with kidney should be very careful about this.

The function of the kidney diet is to help patients with kidney disease to feel better, limit their symptoms, and slow the development of kidney failure. For people with kidney disease, it is important to maintain the proper balance of electrolytes, minerals, and fluid in the bloodstream. For patients undergoing dialysis treatments, this becomes even more important. This is because the kidneys work to rid the body of excess electrolytes, minerals, and fluid by filtering the blood. When a person’s kidneys are not functioning properly, these substances can build up in the body and cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, tiredness, weakness, sleepiness, and other problems. If patients lower their intake of certain substances they can help to control these problems, but if they limit these same substances too severely, they can suffer from malnutrition. The kidney diet is designed to help patients find the best balance for their body.

OMG! It must have been very hard for you to watch your friend go through the difficult condition. I cannot imagine myself experiencing that pain and hardship. Just on the diet alone, there are many things that should be avoided.

It was very hard and really scary. She was actually skinny but her body bloated that she looks like she gained 30lbs. Every part of her body was bloating and you can really tell that she was suffering from a kidney failure because it was all water all over her.

That is why from now on I am going to avoid eating too much spicy, salty, and fatty foods. It's not that I am eating too much right now, but this time I will be more careful. I'll eat more and more fruits and vegetables this time