Renal Diet: Diet Plan for a Healthier Kidney

Introduction

Food that an individual consumes fuels the nutritional requirements of their body. Substances not absorbed within the body are carried to the kidneys through blood. The kidney filters the blood and excess nutrients and forms urine. In the case of renal disorders, excess nutrients accumulate within the kidney, resulting in renal damage. Therefore, a renal diet can protect the kidneys from these adverse effects.

What Is a Renal Diet?

A renal diet is a diet plan that is good for the kidneys. No single diet plan can be fit for all. Therefore, a healthy renal diet depends on the renal disorder the individual suffers from. However, the renal diet does not cure or prevent the progression of renal disease. A healthy renal diet focuses on a whole pattern instead of single foods. Renal diet can differ for individuals with early-stage, late-stage renal disease, or those on dialysis.

What Is the Diet to Be Followed for Kidney Disorders?

Individuals with renal disorders need to control their diet's sodium, potassium, and phosphorus levels. The diet must be started with a consultation with a healthcare provider.

How Much Sodium Must Be Consumed in a Renal Diet?

Sodium is a mineral mainly found in salt and used to prepare various food items. As salt is a necessary component of various foods, it may take time for an individual to adjust to a low-salt diet. However, reducing salt is an important aspect of controlling renal disease. The following measures can be taken to restrict salt intake:

• Avoid cooking food with salt.

• Do not add salt to the food while eating.

• Do not consume packaged food with more than 300 mg of sodium per serving.

• Avoid eating packaged meat like ham, bacon, hot dogs, sausage, chicken tenders, or canned soup. If required, eat one cup rather than a whole can.

• Eat canned vegetables with a label that says no salt has been added.

• Avoid sea salt, kosher salt, garlic salt, onion salt, or seasoned salt.

How Much Potassium Can Be Consumed in a Renal Diet?

Potassium influences how muscles work. During improper kidney function, the potassium level in the blood can increase. It could lead to changes in heartbeat patterns, resulting in heart attacks. Potassium is present in fruits, vegetables, milk, and meat.

Foods with high potassium levels to avoid:

• Bananas.

• Honeydew and cantaloupe.

• Avocado.

• Oranges and juices.

• Prune juice.

• Tomatoes and tomato-based products.

• All types of dried beans.

• Broccoli or Brussels sprouts.

• Nuts or nut butter.

• Pumpkin and winter squash.

• Granola and bran cereals.

• Spinach, kale, or cooked green vegetables.

• Molasses.

• Salt or its substitutes.

Foods with limited potassium content:

• Canned Fruits: They have lower potassium content, but the drenched liquid must be disposed of before consumption.

• Potatoes or Sweet Potatoes: They can be eaten in small quantities if adequately prepared. They must be peeled, cut into small pieces, and soaked in water for several hours. The water must be drained, and the pieces are used for preparing food.

How Much Phosphorus Must Be Consumed in the Renal Diet?

Improper kidney function can cause phosphorus build-up in the blood. Excess blood phosphorus pulls calcium from bones and is deposited in the skin or blood vessels. Therefore, this results in weak and brittle bones prone to fracture. Dairy products are the main source of phosphorus. Hence, renal patients must consume one cup of milk or yogurt and 1.5 ounces of cheese daily.

Foods to be limited:

• Phosphorus-containing vegetables like dried beans, broccoli, mushrooms, and Brussels sprouts are limited to one each week.

• Cereals like oatmeal, bran, wheat, and granola are restricted to one weekly serving.

Foods to avoid:

• Whole-grain bread and crackers are avoided. Instead, white or Italian bread and low-salt crackers made with wheat can be eaten.

• Soft drinks have phosphorus and are avoided.

• All kinds of beer contain phosphorus, which should be avoided.

What Is the Renal Diet Plan For Various Renal Disorders?

The diet can vary depending on the disease stage. The following plans are advised:

• Sodium intake is restricted to 1500 to 2300 mg per day for all stages of chronic kidney disease. Which can help control blood pressure and swelling. The amount of protein excreted by urine is also reduced by controlling salt intake.

• Protein intake must be moderately low for stages 1 to 3a of chronic kidney disease. 0.8 g/kg body weight of a protein can be taken each day during these stages. For 3b to 5 stages of chronic kidney disease, protein intake is between 0.55 and 0.6 g/kg body weight.

• Diabetic patients with chronic kidney disease can consume 0.8g/kg body weight even in the advanced disease state. Dialysis patients have high protein requirements to maintain muscle or prevent poor nutrition. Therefore, they can consume 1.2 g/kg body weight every day.

• Potassium intake is restricted in individuals with high blood potassium levels. During the early stages of chronic kidney disease, a diet with high potassium content can be consumed to control blood pressure and protect the kidneys. During advanced stages of renal disease, hyperkalemia is common, leading to potassium build-up in the body and heart arrhythmia. Therefore, potassium intake is restricted.

• Artificial phosphorus is avoided in all renal diseases. However, natural phosphorus can be restricted in advanced disease stages as they are poorly absorbed.

• Dietary acid load must be reduced to slow renal disease progression. Dietary acid loads are high in animal protein and are neutralized by vegetables and fruits. Therefore, a renal diet must include plenty of fruits and vegetables.

• Dehydration and low fluid intake can hurt the kidneys. Most people on a renal diet can drink two liters of water daily, but individuals with advanced renal disease must limit their fluid intake. Additionally, individuals with liver or heart failure or under dialysis must restrict fluid intake.

• The renal diet for polycystic renal disease depends on the glomerular filtration rate and disease stage. Avoid consuming too much salt, which can increase cyst growth and blood pressure. A three- to four-liter fluid intake is recommended to reduce vasopressin and slow cyst growth.

• Kidney transplant patients are restricted from taking salt and are advised to eat high-protein food.

Conclusion

There is no one renal diet that can be applied to all individuals. A renal diet keeps the kidney healthy by balancing fluids, electrolytes, and mineral levels. Most renal diets restrict the intake of sodium, potassium, phosphorus, and protein. Consultation with a dietitian or a nephrologist may help form a diet plan suitable for the individual.