Info on kidney Disease

What is kidney disease?

When you have kidney disease, your kidneys are no longer able to remove waste effectively from your body or to balance your fluids. The build up of wastes can change the chemistry of your body causing some symptoms that you can feel, and others that you don't.

Your kidneys -- two bean-shaped organs located in your lower back -- are your body's filtration system, cleaning wastes and extra fluids from your body and producing and balancing chemicals that are necessary for your body to function. Healthy kidneys also:

Clean and filter your blood
Produce urine
Produce hormones
Control blood pressure
Keep bones strong

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How do I slow the progression of kidney disease?

Ways to take control:
-Exercise
-Eat right by limiting foods that are high in protein, saturated fats, phosphorus, potassium and sodium, all of which can put extra strain on your kidneys.

Diet and Nutrition: Food IQ for People with Kidney Disease


As kidney function declines, protein waste and minerals become hard to remove, and diseased kidneys must work harder to get rid of them. Each person’s kidney diet prescription is different, but the main nutrients limited in kidney diets include protein, phosphorus, potassium and sodium. Read on to enhance your kidney-friendly food IQ.

Wise up with water

Choose tap or plain bottled water, mineral water or flavored sparkling water. Specialty waters may be enhanced with sodium, potassium or phosphate additives.

Choose your brew

Home-brewed tea and homemade lemonade are ideal alternatives to water. Some bottled or canned beverages are loaded with phosphates, so it’s better to limit them.

Pick your poultry

Choose fresh poultry and pork. Many enhanced and pre-cooked products (including broth, nuggets and strips) contain greater amounts of sodium, phosphate and potassium additives.

Go organic

Make homemade low-sodium soup with organic or homemade stock.

Tap into your vegetarian side

Eat meatless meals or plan entrées that use modest amounts of meat to reduce protein and thus added stress on your kidneys. Meatless meals have fewer saturated fats to boot, which is good news for your heart.

Some cheese, please

Select strong-flavored natural cheesesand limit the amount you eat to 1-2 ounces to help decrease your intake of saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium and phosphorus.

“A” is for antioxidants

Eat antioxidant-richapples, berries, cherries, red grapes, cabbage, cauliflower, garlic, onions and red bell peppers to help decrease chronic inflammation associated with kidney disease, cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Power up with protein

Choose egg whites and high omega-3 fish as your protein source. Regardless of your protein level, plan at least half from high-quality sources such as these to receive all the essential amino acids. Egg whites are very low in phosphorus; fish such as salmon, trout and tuna reduce inflammation associated with kidney and heart disease.

Trim the fat

Replace unhealthy fats such as shortening, animal fats and hydrogenated margarine with healthy fats, such as olive oil and trans fat–free margarine.

Foods you should eat with kidney failure include
starches such as bread, cereal, rice, pasta, popcorn, and unsalted crackers, vegetables that are low or medium in potassium like bean sprouts, eggplant, lettuce, asparagus, celery, and mixed vegetables, fruits with low to medium potassium content like grapes, pears, peaches, mangoes, and blueberries, as well as dairy and small amounts of protein including beef, pork, poultry, and eggs.

Fats like butter, margarine, or oil should be limited to either one teaspoon or one tablespoon a day.


The following are some of the best foods to eat for people with kidney disease:

Red bell peppers:
This vegetable is low in potassium, making it ideal for the kidney diet. Red bell peppers are also a great source of vitamin C and A as well as vitamin B6. They are also a great source of lycopene, an antioxidant that protects against certain cancers.
Cabbage:
These vegetables are packed with phytochemicals that help break up free radicals before they can do damage. These chemicals are also known for protecting against cancer as well as being great for cardiovascular health. Cabbage is a great source of vitamin K and C and it has an abundant amount of fiber.
Cauliflower:
Being rich in vitamin C and a good source of folate and fiber, cauliflower can be a great addition to any diet. This vegetable is packed with indoles, glucosinolates, and thiocyanates— compounds that help the liver neutralize toxic substances that could potentially damage cell membranes and DNA.
Garlic:
This aromatic food can help prevent plaque formation on your teeth, lower cholesterol, and even help reduce inflammation.
Onions: Rice in flavonoids, especially quercetin, which is a powerful antioxidant that works to reduce heart disease and protects against many cancers. Onions are known for being low in potassium and a good source of chromium—a mineral that helps with carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism.
Apples:
Known to help reduce cholesterol, prevent constipation, protect against heart disease, and reduce cancer risk. Apples even contain anti-inflammatory compounds that are great for reducing inflammation.
Cherries:
Packed with antioxidant and phytochemicals, helping protect the heart. Cherries have also been shown to reduce inflammation when eaten daily.
Red grapes:
Known for containing several flavonoids to give it is characteristic red color and help protect against heart disease by way of preventing oxidation and reducing the formation of blood clots.
Ginger:
Known for having analgesic, sedative, antipyretic, and antibacterial properties, ginger can be a great addition to any diet. It also contains vitamin B5, magnesium, and manganese. Ginger can be used to help treat joint pain and also reduces nausea
Coriander:
This herb has a pleasant aroma and flavor making it a wonderful addition to many food dishes. It is a good source of vitamins A, C, B2, and K. It also packed with calcium, selenium, iron, manganese, and fiber.