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What Is The Best Diet For Kidney Disease

Limit Your Alcohol Consumption

Kidney Disease Diet: How To Eat Right With CKD!

You may still be able to drink alcohol if you have kidney disease, but it’s advisable not to exceed the recommended limits of more than 14 alcohol units a week.

Speak to your GP or care team if you find it difficult to cut down the amount of alcohol you drink.

Find out more about cutting down on alcohol.

Learn More About Nutrition For People With Ckd

Proper nutrition for people with CKD is extremely important. For people in the early stages, a lower sodium diet may be prescribed if blood pressure is high. Major changes in food intake may not be the primary focus of treatment, but this doesnt mean you cant take steps to be as healthy as possible. A balanced diet helps our bodies function efficiently and gives us enough energy to sustain our activity level. Too much food leads to a calorie surplus, which is stored as fat and leads to weight gain. Too few calories lead to weight and muscle loss.

If youre in the later stages of CKD, your doctor will refer you to a kidney dietitian. Your dietitian will create an eating plan designed to help keep you healthy and lengthen the life of your kidneys.

Keeping Your Cholesterol Level Low

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is an important type of fat found in the body. It is carried around in the blood and can build up on the walls of blood vessels, making them narrow. Most of the cholesterol found in your blood is produced in your own liver.

A tendency towards high cholesterol can run in families. If you eat a lot of fat , this may also cause a high cholesterol level. In addition, people who have CKD with very high levels of protein in their urine may also have high levels of cholesterol in their blood.

The ideal cholesterol level

Scientists have discovered that low cholesterol levels are associated with low levels of heart disease. Advice about the ideal levels for cholesterol is changing as researchers find out more. Recent analysis suggests that high cholesterol levels in people with chronic kidney disease should be treated in the same was as in people with normal kidney function. There is no ‘target level’ for cholesterol that is right for everybody, your doctor will be able to advise you according to your level and your individual risks of developing disease related to high cholesterol levels.

Eating to reduce your cholesterol level

foods that are high in cholesterol include dairy products, eggs and red meat. Many processed foods contain a lot of cholesterol, so it is a good idea to get into the habit of always checking the information on the labels.

Drugs to reduce cholesterol

Who should have cholesterol-lowering drugs?

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How Can I Follow A Kidney

Your kidney-friendly eating plan may change over time, but it will always give you the right amount of these nutrients:

  • Protein: One of the nutrients that gives you energy. Your body needs protein to grow, build muscles, heal and stay healthy.
  • Fat: Fat is another one of the nutrients that gives you energy. Your body needs fat to carry out many jobs, such as to use vitamins from your food and keep your body at the right temperature.
  • Carbohydrates or “carbs”: Your body’s main source of energy. Your body can more easily convert carbs into energy than protein and fat.

Work with your dietitian to follow the steps below for a kidney-friendly eating plan.

Can I Continue Working

Best Foods for Healthy Kidneys

If you’re well enough, you can keep working for as long as you feel able.

Talk to your employer as soon as you feel your condition is affecting your ability to do your job so you can find a solution that suits both of you. For example, it may be possible for you to work part-time.

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 requires employers to make reasonable adjustments to help a person with a disability.

This might, where possible, include changing or modifying tasks, altering work patterns, installing special equipment, allowing time off to attend appointments, or helping with travel to work.

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Oranges And Orange Juice

While oranges and orange juice are arguably most well known for their vitamin C content, theyre also rich sources of potassium.

One large orange provides 333 mg of potassium. Moreover, there are 473 mg of potassium in 1 cup of orange juice .

Given their potassium content, oranges and orange juice likely need to be avoided or limited on a renal diet.

Grapes, apples, and cranberries, as well as their respective juices, are all good substitutes for oranges and orange juice, as they have lower potassium contents.

SUMMARY

Oranges and orange juice are high in potassium and should be limited on a renal diet. Try grapes, apples, cranberries, or their juices instead.

Processed meats are meats that have been salted, dried, cured, or canned.

Some examples include hot dogs, bacon, pepperoni, jerky, and sausage.

Processed meats typically contain large amounts of salt, mostly to improve their taste and preserve flavor.

Therefore, it may be difficult to keep your daily sodium intake to less than 2,300 mg if processed meats are abundant in your diet.

Additionally, processed meats are high in protein.

If you have been told to monitor your protein intake, its important to limit processed meats for this reason as well.

SUMMARY

Processed meats are high in salt and protein and should be consumed in moderation on a renal diet.

Pickles, processed olives, and relish are all examples of cured or pickled foods.

Usually, large amounts of salt are added during the curing or pickling process.

SUMMARY

Consult For Your Dogs Kidney Disease

If your dog has kidney disease and you would like to know more on how to help support them with good nutrition or you would simply like some assistance with making that switch to real food, we offer consults and wed love to help you and your dogs.

Link to Part 3 why low protein diets are NOT recommended

Link to Part 4 the ideal diet and supplements for a dog with chronic kidney disease

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Diet And Kidney Disease

Dietary restrictions vary depending on the level of kidney damage.

For example, people in the early stages of kidney disease have different restrictions than those with kidney failure, also known as end-stage renal disease .

If you have kidney disease, your health care provider will determine the best diet for your needs.

For most people with advanced kidney disease, its important to follow a kidney-friendly diet that helps decrease the amount of waste in the blood.

This diet is often referred to as a renal diet.

It helps boost kidney function while preventing further damage .

While dietary restrictions vary, its commonly recommended that all people with kidney disease restrict the following nutrients:

  • Sodium.Sodium is found in many foods and a major component of table salt. Damaged kidneys cant filter out excess sodium, causing its blood levels to rise. Its often recommended to limit sodium to less than 2,000 mg per day (

Talk To Your Doctor About Whether You Need To Limit Phosphorus And Potassium

KIDNEY DIET | What To Eat With Chronic Kidney Disease

Phosphorus and potassium are minerals that your body needs for certain processes. Phosphorous helps build strong bones, while potassium helps regulate your heartbeat and keeps your muscles working properly.

If you have CKD, however, these minerals they can build up in your blood, causing problems throughout your body. High levels of phosphorus can pull calcium from your bones, making bones weak and more likely to break, and may cause itchy skin and bone and joint pain. You may need to limit foods high in phosphorous, such as animal protein, dairy, and dark-colored sodas. High levels of potassium can cause heart problems. Your doctor will run blood tests to check your potassium and phosphorus levels. Be sure to ask if youre not sure whether you need to keep tabs on your intake of these minerals.

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Exercising With Lupus Nephritis

Exercise has many physical and emotional benefits. Not only can it strengthen parts of the body lupus affects, but it may also help make muscles less stiff, reduce the risk of heart disease, control weight gain, and improve wellbeing. Low-impact activities such as walking, swimming, low-impact aerobics, certain types of yoga, and using an elliptical exercise machine can strengthen your bones and tone your muscles without aggravating inflamed joints. Exercising with a friend can give you moral support and help you stick to a routine.

Always talk with your physician before you start or make any changes to your exercise plan.

Dry Food Contains Many Chemicals And Additives

Dry food is packed full of chemicals that must be filtered by the kidneys. Have a look at the ingredients on a dry food/dental product pack. Remember the saying if you cant pronounce it you probably shouldnt eat it?

Dry food by necessity contains preservatives and colourants. It contains anti-caking, curing, drying, firming, oxidising, reducing, pH control and surface active agents, not to mention synergists, texturisers, emulsifiers, humectants, and stabilisers to control the exact texture of the pellet. All of these need to be filtered out by the kidneys.

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Eat The Right Amount Of Calories

Calories are like fuel and give your body energy. Calories come from the protein, fat and carbs in your diet. How many calories you need depends on your age, gender, body size and activity level.

You may need to adjust how many calories you eat to stay at a healthy weight. Some people will need to limit the calories they eat. Others may need to have more calories. Your doctor or dietitian can help you figure out how many calories you should have each day.

How Is A Kidney Disease Diet Different

Best Diet in the Food of Chronic Kidney Disease Patients

People following a kidney disease diet might need to change the amount of fluids and/or the following nutrients in their diet:

  • Sodium
  • Phosphorus
  • Protein

Eating the right amount of these nutrients may help control the buildup of fluid and waste in your body. This helps your kidneys to not work as hard to filter out the extra waste and fluids from your blood.

You will most likely still be able to include small amounts of foods with these nutrients. If your kidney function worsens, however, you might need to be more strict or make additional dietary changes. Based on your blood test results, your healthcare team will let you know if you need to change anything in your diet.

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Periodontal Disease A Real Issue With Dry Fed Dogs

Nine out of ten dogs are dry fed and nine out of ten dogs have periodontal disease by three years old. Periodontal disease is linked to kidney disease in dogs.

We know that bad gums are linked to kidney disease in humans. Gum disease is a constant threat to the immune system. Due to it, bacteria pose a constant threat to the body through the bodys capillary-rich gum line. This means patients with kidney disease have a constantly aroused and engaged immune system fighting back the daily threat.

Not only do bacteria get past the defences and lodge in kidneys but the constant battle creates an enormous amount of immuno-debris, which must be cleaned up by the kidneys, every day.

What Happens If I Can No Longer Work

If you have to stop work or work part-time because of CKD, you may find it hard to cope financially.

You may be entitled to one or more of the following types of financial support:

  • if you have a job but cannot work because of your illness, you are entitled to Statutory Sick Pay from your employer for up to 28 weeks
  • if you don’t have a job and cannot work because of your illness, you may be entitled to Employment and Support Allowance
  • if you’re aged 65 or over, you may be able to get Attendance Allowance
  • if you’re caring for someone with CKD, you may be entitled to Carer’s Allowance
  • you may be eligible for other benefits if you have children living at home or a low household income

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Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate Tells Your Kidney Disease Stage

Another name for creatinine clearance is the estimated glomerular filtration or estimated glomerular filtration rate . This number is the most accurate way to measure kidney function. It is based on the results of the creatinine clearance, your age, body size, and gender.

Your doctor can calculate the eGFR to determine the stage of kidney disease. The lower the number the worse the kidneys are functioning. See below for the breakout of eGFR based on each stage of kidney disease.

CKD Stage 1 eGFR

CKD stage 1 is when there is still 90 to 100 percent of kidney function left. This stage has kidney damage with normal kidney function. The eGFR is at 90 mL/min or higher.

CKD Stage 2 eGFR

CKD stage 2 is when the kidneys have 60 to 89 percent of function. This stage has kidney damage with mild loss of kidney function. The eGFR falls between 60 and 89 mL/min.

CKD Stage 3 eGFR

Stage 3 kidney has two stages: 3A and 3B.

CKD Stage 3A

The 3A stage of kidney disease is when there is mild to moderate loss of kidney function. At this point, the kidneys are functioning between 45 to 59 percent. The eGFR for stage 3A is between 45 and 59 mL/min.

CKD Stage 3B

The 3B stage of kidney disease is when there is moderate to a severe loss of kidney function. The kidneys are operating at only 30 to 40% capacity. The eGFR in stage 3B is between 30 and 40 mL/min.

CKD Stage 4 eGFR

CKD Stage 5 eGFR

Preparing Meals For A Dog With Kidney Disease

6 of the Best Foods for People With Kidney Problems

Whatever you and your veterinarian decide to go with, whether canned or dry dog food, or fresh and cooked meats, the hardest thing about having a dog with kidney disease is often not what to fix but to make sure your dog is eating regularly, Dr. Bailey says.

“Dogs with kidney disease tend to have trouble keeping weight on,” Dr. Bailey says “They tend to not have a great appetite, so I would lean towards feeding your dog a few times a day.”

She adds that you’ll also want to make sure your dog has easy access to water. That’s vital for all dogs, of course, not to mention all living creatures, but especially so if your dog has kidney disease.

If your dog has not been diagnosed with it, it may be hard for you to know for sure whether your dog has kidney disease. But at least at feeding times and every time you fill the water bowl you can feel good knowing that you’re making a difference in your dogs quality of life and possibly extending his or her lifetime by years.

“As a general statement, a lot of what you do at home has a very good chance of extending your dog’s life,” Dr. Bailey says.

“We can only make the recommendations. What you do at home definitely matters in this case. It’s kind of like going to your cardiologist. They tell you to go on certain medications, and it’s your decision whether you do it or not,” she says. “Your pet’s health is to some extent in your hands, so you want to make sure you make good choices.”

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Special Steps For People With Diabetes

If you have diabetes, work with your dietitian to make a diet plan that allows you to avoid the nutrients you need to limit, while also controlling your blood sugar. If you do PD, keep in mind that PD solution has dextrose in it. Dextrose is a type of sugar. When you do PD, some of the dextrose is taken in by your body. If you have diabetes, it is very important to count the dextrose in your PD solution as extra sugar in your diet. Talk to your health care provider or dietitian if you have questions about managing your blood sugar if you do PD.

Kidney Failure In Dogs Could Dry Food Be Fueling This Disease

In veterinary circles, the jury is still out on why so many pets today are suffering from kidney disease. Cats are twice as likely to get kidney disease than dogs which largely rules out a genetic cause.

If genetics were solely to blame, then dogs should suffer more than cats, as they have been isolated into smaller gene pools than cats. The fact that cats are more prone to the illness than dogs, suggests that an environmental factor is most certainly involved.

The biggest environmental factor by far is ultra-processed, cereal-based pet food.

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Discuss Your Food Choices With Your Healthcare Provider

If you have kidney disease, your healthcare provider will want to regularly check your blood to ensure certain nutrients are within a safe range. This might include sodium, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, vitamin D, and albumin. Based on your blood test results, your doctor or dietitian may recommend you limit or avoid certain foods.

To achieve and maintain healthy blood levels of these substances, its important to discuss your food choices with your healthcare team to ensure the best specific kidney-friendly diet, as the foods you eat can impact your kidney function.

A registered dietitian can help educate you on foods to limit and help you find food and beverages that are safe for you to eat.

Diet And Nutrition Goals For People With Stage 3 Chronic Kidney Disease

Kidney Disease Diet: 7 Foods to Avoid

In stage 3 chronic kidney disease , the kidneys still function sufficiently to remove fluid, potassium potassium and a moderate amount of waste. In order to help slow the progression of CKD, managing blood pressure, glucose and weight, among other things, is important and can be done through adhering to a kidney diet.

To get started, check out these eight diet and nutrition goals when you have stage 3 CKD:

1. Count your calories.

Adequate calories can either prevent weight loss if youre at a desirable weight or provide extra calories if you are underweight. Weigh yourself often and keep track to see if you need additional or fewer calories. Your dietitian will determine a desirable weight and monitor your progress.

2. Eat the right kinds of fats.

If you have cardiovascular disease or your blood cholesterol is high, unhealthy fatssuch as saturated fats and trans-fatsshould be replaced by poly- and monounsaturated fats from vegetable oil, canola oil and olive oil. A limit on high cholesterol foods is recommended.

3. Watch for symptoms of fluid retention.

Fluid is not restricted in stage 3 CKD unless you experience fluid retention. Sudden weight gain, shortness of breath, swelling in the feet, hands and face and high blood pressure are signs of fluid retention. These symptoms may indicate a decline in kidney function and decreased urine output.

4. Reduce your phosphorus intake.

5. Monitor your potassium levels.

6. Know your recommended daily intake of protein.

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