Diet to Prevent Kidney Disease

Taking affirmative steps to insulate your body against disease is one of the best things you can do to ensure a long and healthy life. Whether you have a history of kidney disease in your family, or you are just proactively concerned about the matter, you can act to reduce your likelihood of developing kidney disease through some simple dietary adjustments. While nothing can guard you fully against kidney disease, you will at least know that you are doing everything within your power to avoid this condition.

Pre-emptive Renal Diet

• Following a renal diet can help to remove stress from the kidneys and boost their overall ability to function. According to information from the health website Davita.com, a renal diet is a diet which restricts protein, sodium, and phosphorous. According to the American Association of Kidney Patients, protein needs will vary depending on the individuals, but on average you should strive to keep your protein intake limited to between 80 to 100 grams per day. Do this by eliminating most consumption of both meat and dairy products, as these items are relatively high in protein.

  Consume no more than four to six ounces of meat per day and only one or two servings of dairy. Limit sodium to less than 2,000 mg per day, keeping away from the use of table salt, along with avoiding frozen or processed foods, as these often contain excess amounts of sodium. Finally, limit your total intake of phosphorous by avoiding the following foods: beans, peas, lentils, bran, wheat germ, soft candy, and foods containing whole grains.

Additional Foods to Consider

• Aside from following a renal diet, you can further boost your immunity to kidney disease by eating certain antioxidant-rich foods. According to info from Davita.com, include the following foods in your diet as much as possible: red peppers, cauliflower, cabbage, garlic, berries, apples, grapes, cherries, egg whites, olive oil, and seafood. All of these foods contain kidney-disease fighting substances which can prevent kidney damage from taking place. Aim for at least two or three servings of these foods per day while eating a diet to prevent kidney disease.