Kidney Disease topics

What to Eat When You Have Kidney Disease

Patients with kidney disease need to keep an eye on daily diet, which can help slow down the procession of kidney disease. what to eat or not to eat is demanded strictly. 

http://www.pkdtreatment.com/pkd-diet/2059.htmlHaving the right level of potassium in your body helps all your muscles work smoothly—including your heart. So, to stay as healthy as you can, you need to keep just the right level of potassium in your blood (not too much, not too little). Keeping potassium at the right level all the time is one of the jobs that healthy kidneys do for your body. When kidneys fail, they start to lose this ability.

Your potassium level should be checked regularly with a blood test. If your levels are too high, your doctor will ask you to start a low potassium diet.

Many foods have potassium, but some such as avocados, dried fruits (including raisins, apricots and prunes), potatoes, oranges, bananas and salt substitutes are very high in potassium. If you need to limit potassium, your dietitian will help you learn which foods have more and which foods have less potassium.

Protein—found in meats, fish, poultry, dairy products, nuts and some grains—helps your body form muscle and tissue. But when your kidneys are not working well, the byproducts of protein breakdown can build up in your blood. This can make your kidneys work harder.

Many people with kidney diseasefind that they don't want to eat as much protein as they used to, because food doesn't taste the same. You may even need to make a special effort to eat enough protein and calories, because having kidney disease can reduce your appetite.

In all cases of CKD, it's crucial to avoid malnutrition. A blood test foralbumin, a form of protein, is a good way to tell if you are getting enough quality food. Your albumin level should be 4.0 g/dL or higher. If you notice weight loss, loss of appetite or other signs of poor nutrition, talk to your doctor or a renal dietitian.

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If your diet includes very little protein, your doctor may prescribe supplements of nutrients you would normally get from protein, including ketoacids and/or amino acids.

To figure out how much protein is in the food you're eating, read labels and use nutrition reference tables. A renal dietitian has special expertise helping people with kidney disease put together healthy meal plans. Check with your doctor or dietitian before making any changes to the protein level in your diet.

Loss of appetite and kidney disease

Poor appetite is a common symptom of advanced kidney disease. Even if you are not hungry, it is important to eat and keep good nutrition. Get good nutrition in various ways:

• Eat more bland or starchy foods.
• Avoid cooking smells if they bother you—cook ahead and freeze meals that you can microwave, or look for low-salt convenience foods.
• Try a liquid nutritional drink like Boost or Ensure once a day. (Do not rely on these drinks entirely, as their protein, phosphorus and potassium content is high—consult a dietitian beforehand.)
• Have several small meals instead of one large one.
• Watch cooking shows on television to tempt your appetite.
• Boost the protein content of your meals by adding egg whites, egg white powder or protein powder. Also eat small portions of protein foods at a cold temperature, such as egg salad or a cold chicken sandwich.
• Get help from a renal dietitian if lack of appetite continues. If you are in stage 5 CKD and your appetite or nutritional well-being does not improve, this may be a sign that you should startdialysis. Many people find their appetite improves after some time on dialysis.