Kidney Disease: Eating Right

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

02 Feb 2007 02:27 PM

If your doctor tells you that you are in the early stages of kidney disease, it's time for you to make some changes!

Other health considerations -- like diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure -- may take priority in your diet choices. Incorporate the following tips into your diet if you are in the early stages of kidney disease:

1. Choose smaller portions of meats. Men should eat six ounces or less of meat every day; women should eat four ounces or less. Restricting protein in your diet can help slow the progress of kidney function loss.
2. Limit dairy foods, including milk, yogurt, and ice cream. Dairy products can be high in potassium; when kidney function is decreased, potassium is not removed from the body efficiently.
3. Limit cheeses.
4. Avoid foods that are high in phosphorus, like beer, chocolate, soda, nuts, peanut butter, dried peas, dried beans, bran, and some whole grains. When kidney function is decreased, phosphorus levels can stay too high in the blood. Too much phosphorus can lower bone calcium levels, leading to bone weakness.
5. Talk to your doctor before adding a multi-vitamin supplement to your diet. Your kidneys are responsible for metabolizing several different vitamins and minerals. That vitamin may provide more than your kidneys can handle.

If you have diabetes, kidney disease can make your diet even more difficult to navigate. You already have to worry about what to eat and when to eat it; with kidney disease, your diet may become even more restricted. Talk to your health care professional about the best diet for your particular situation.

Some basic guidelines:

• Be consistent with your meal times and meal sizes.
• Try not to skip meals or snacks.
• Try to eat approximately the same amount of carbohydrates at each meal to keep your blood sugar levels on an even keel.

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