You may be needed to change what you are eating during chronic kidney disease if you want to stay well. To endure a healthy diet plan you need to work with a registered dietician who can suggest a meal plan with the foods you can enjoy while making your kidneys functional.
When the kidneys become nonfunctional, they may not eliminate waste from the blood as intended and eating a diet rich in nutrients that your kidneys cannot process at this time will further deteriorate the condition. So, it is necessary to work on a diet but not to forget the fact that you will also need the best chronic kidney disease treatment in Ayurveda.
The steps to managing a kidney-friendly diet include:
1. Choosing a diet low in salt and sodium
Too much salt in the diet can make the body retain more water which raises blood pressure inevitably. So, your diet should contain less than 2300 mg of sodium, as suggested by the DASH diet.
To control your sodium intake, follow these steps:
• Buy fresh fruits and vegetables and cook at home instead of buying processed and canned foods.
• Use less salt when cooking at home. Also, use salt supplements which are low in phosphorus and potassium.
• Rinse vegetables before consuming them.
• Look for the nutritional label of the food before buying and avoid foods with less phosphors, potassium, and sodium.
2. Eat the right type of proteins
Proteins are essential sources to promote bone and muscle development. But during kidney disease, protein may retain in the body and may lose it as the filters do not work properly at that time. Also, when the body consumes protein it produces waste which is hard to process by the kidneys. To limit your protein intake:
• Eat small portions of protein
• Consume only plant-based sources of proteins. Protein can be derived from animal and plant-based sources both. Talk to your dietician about which source you can include, primarily he will suggest you to avoid animal sources as they are hard to process by the kidneys.
Animal-protein foods:
• Chicken
• Fish
• Meat
• Eggs
• Dairy
Plant-protein foods:
• Beans
• Nuts
• Pulses or lentils
• Grains
3. Eat less phosphorus
When the kidneys are ill, they may not process phosphorus well enough. This too much phosphorus can buildup in the blood and pulls out calcium from the bones. This may make your bones weak and fragile, skin too itchy and patchy.
• Look for phosphorus or PHOS on ingredient labels before buying packaged products.
• Deli meats, fresh meat, and poultry also have added phosphorus so eat them only after a recommendation from your dietician.
Foods low in phosphorus
• Fresh fruits and vegetables
• Brown rice
• Corn and rice cereals
• Homemade ice tea
Foods high in phosphorus
• Meat, poultry, fish
• Bran cereals and oatmeal
• Dairy foods
• Beans, lentils, nuts
• Dark-colored sodas or drinks
4. Avoid foods with high potassium content
To help the muscles work in the right way, the body needs potassium. But the problem can occur if the potassium level in the blood reaches high or become too low. The damaged kidney may not process potassium which stays in the blood. Too much potassium can cause serious health problems while a low one can also create many complications. So, ask your dietician about the right quantity of potassium when you are taking the best CKD treatment in Ayurveda.
Follow these guidelines:
• Salt substitutes are high in potassium, so avoid them.
• Fruits and vegetables are also rich in potassium, so drain them or leach them before consuming them.
Foods Lower in Potassium
• Apples
• Peaches
• Carrots,
• Cooked brown rice
• Cranberry juice
Foods high in potassium
• Oranges
• Bananas
• Orange juice
• Potatoes, tomatoes
• Brown and wild rice
• Bran cereals
• Dairy foods
• Whole-wheat bread and pasta
• Beans and nut
5. Choose heart healthy foods
Saturated fats may buildup in the blood vessels and disturb the function of the kidneys and the heart.
Follow these measures to avoid cholesterol and saturated fat buildup in the blood:
• Bake, roast, or boil food before consuming
• Cook with a limited amount of oil
• Try to limit saturated and trans fats
• Avoid junk food
Heart-healthy foods:
• Lean cuts of meat
• Fish or poultry
• Beans
• Vegetable
• Fruits
• Low-fat or fat-free milk, yogurt, and cheese
For more information on kidney problems, the best chronic kidney disease treatment in Ayurveda, dietary plans, and lifestyle changes, contact us at Karma Ayurveda Hospital.
