If you are looking for information about the CKD diet menu, read the article below, which will give you details about the foods suitable for this condition as well those you need to avoid.
CKD or chronic kidney disease, is also known as chronic renal disease, and refers to a medical condition involving progressive loss in kidney function over a period of time. The symptoms for this condition are unspecific, and it is therefore generally detected by screening procedures for people who are at a high risk for renal problems, such as diabetics, or those with high blood pressure, Although generally asymptomatic, CKD can lead to some serious medical complications such as cardiovascular disease.
CKD is categorized into 5 stages, with 5 being the most severe and 1 the mildest. Dietary restrictions can help in preservation of kidney function. In stages 1 through 4, a suitable diet may help slow the progression of renal function loss. Listed below are details about a suitable CKD diet menu.
Diet Plan
A diet plan for CKD is essentially aimed at reducing the intake of foods that stress the kidneys – it involves significant nutritional changes to diet, and requires reduction or elimination of a number of foods that are considered otherwise healthy to consume. Very often, the menu will involve recommendations for low protein, however the aim in such cases is not weight loss, but reduction of load on the kidneys. When working out the menu, it’s important to understand the impact that different foods have on the kidneys, to understand what foods to eat and what foods to avoid. The following is a breakup of the impacting elements in an existing diet, and the proportions to include for each.
Protein
Proteins are an important part of a diet, since they help in building muscles and tissue, and are needed to fight diseases – however the breakdown of proteins leads to waste products that need to be eliminated by the kidneys, and places an extra burden on them. Possibly the most significant change that the menu for this diet will signal, is reduced quantities of protein.
The World Health Organization recommends 0.8 grams of protein per kilo of body weight per day, for healthy people – for a CKD menu, this amount is reduced to less than 0.6 grams per kilo of body weight; studies conducted show that affected people on a diet of 0.2 grams of protein per kilo of body weight showed significant improvement in the levels of blood urea nitrogen, phosphorous and bicarbonate in the blood. To simplify this, it means that you have to cut back on your daily protein intake.
Sodium
High quantities of sodium are not recommended in any diet, but in the case of a CKD diet, you need to especially watch your levels of sodium intake. Excessive intake of sodium causes the body to retain water, placing an increased load on the kidneys. Reduce the intake of foods high in sodium like bottled sauces, canned foods, and salty processed food, such as bacon, sausages, and snack foods.
Fat
A CKD diet will place lower restrictions on the intake of fats, to ensure you can maintain a healthy weight, and get the calories you need, that drop because of the reduction in proteins. However, the focus will continue to remain on healthy fats – unsaturated fats, as opposed to saturated fats, and the worst of the lot, trans fats.
Stay away from fats that are solid at room temperature – a good indicator of saturated fats, and especially commercially packaged high fat content foods like donuts, bakery products, and French fries. Include recommended foods, such as olive oil, corn oil, and canola oil instead.
Potassium
As CKD progresses, potassium levels may begin to climb. Certain fruits like oranges, melons, apricots, bananas, and kiwi contain high potassium, as do potatoes, tomatoes, and beans. Include low potassium alternatives, like apples, berries, plums, pineapples, and broccoli instead.
With the progression of this condition, you may find a reduction in appetite, and that foods do not taste the same. The advice and help of a dietitian to create a suitable CKD diet menu is paramount in maintaining a weight range that is acceptable when a person is suffering from kidney disease. Since your nutritional requirements will go through a change, it may take a while for you to adjust to the new diet plan, but remember that eating the right foods, will ensure better protection for your kidneys.
Disclaimer: This HealthHearty article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.
