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Diet for Renal Disease

Renal disease is a serious condition that affects the kidneys. Because kidneys are part of the digestive system, a proper diet can assist in the health and comfort of someone suffering with renal disease. To properly do this, you must understand the role of the kidneys and find ways to adjust what you eat to put the least amount of strain on them.

  1. Identification

    • Kidneys assist in keeping the body properly balanced by keeping what is needed and removing what is not. Renal disease, also referred to as kidney disease, affects these two organs responsible for removing waste and extra water from the blood stream. Kidneys also are necessary to regulate some of the body's minerals, such as sodium, calcium and potassium. People with renal disease lose the functioning of their kidneys. Normally this happens gradually through five stages, starting with minimal loss of function to kidney failure. Eating a proper diet can help prevent kidney disease from progressing as quickly.

    Concerns

    • It is necessary for the body to have a specific balance of minerals and other nutrients, and when the kidneys are unable to do their job a proper diet is necessary to help out. Blood tests will determine exactly how much work the kidney is doing and what needs to be adjusted. Potassium needs to be watched because it can cause problems with heart rhythms if the body has too much. Phosphorus and calcium both need to be considered because proper levels are vital for bone health. If adjusting what is eaten is not enough, it might be necessary to take supplements or medication.

    Diet

    • Complex carbohydrates, often called starchy foods, are where the majority of calories should come from. Examples of these are whole-grain foods, legumes and starchy vegetables. It is also important to make sure your fat calories are either monounsaturated or polyunsaturated, such as from meat and dairy products. Most diets will be lower in protein because that allows the kidneys not to work as hard. Sodium might also be limited to improve blood pressure and lower amounts of water retention. Excessive amounts of water can build up that may require reducing intake of fluids. Other food choices depend on specific blood levels, making it important to be in constant contact with a medical professional or nutritionist.

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