The renal cardiac diet blends the principles of the renal diet for kidney disease and the cardiac diet for heart disease to manage both conditions. Because kidney disease and heart disease have such a close relationship, following a renal cardiac diet helps prevent complications and may even slow the progression of these conditions.
Significance
The American Heart Association explains that persistent hypertension and other complications associated with heart disease increase the risk for kidney disease. Kidney disease also increases the risk for developing heart disease, as kidney problems sometimes result in hypertension or abnormal heart rhythms due to electrolyte imbalances. For people with both of these diseases, diet plays an important role in maintaining normal electrolyte balances, reducing the amount of waste products in the blood, reducing blood pressure and reducing the risk of serious medical complications.
Features
The renal diet portion of this eating plan features foods low in sodium, protein, phosphorus and potassium. Edinburgh Renal Unit indicates that advanced kidney disease may also require patients to limit the amount of fluid they consume each day. The cardiac diet portion of the plan features low-fat, low-cholesterol and low-sodium food choices.
Effects
Reducing the amount of sodium, phosphorus and potassium in the diet prevents these minerals from building up in the blood. The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Institute explains that the body creates waste products called creatinine and blood urea nitrogen, or BUN, after using protein for muscle activity and other functions. In people with kidney disease, creatinine and BUN build up in the bloodstream. Eating less protein each day decreases creatinine and BUN production, resulting in less of these wastes in the circulatory system.
Eating less fat, cholesterol and sodium protects the heart and may prevent heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure and other health problems. The renal cardiac diet also aims to reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels and help patients lose weight.
Meal Planning
Patients on this diet should read food labels carefully to determine the nutrition content of each food they purchase. Items such as canned soups, frozen meals, cheese, salted snacks and luncheon meats have high sodium levels, making them unsuitable for this diet. Fresh fruits and vegetables contain little fat, but some have too much potassium for those who need to restrict their potassium intake. High-potassium fruits and vegetables to avoid include bananas, oranges, potatoes, yams, tomatoes, cantaloupe and apricots. Foods with high phosphorus content include cheese, potatoes, chocolate, corn and dairy products. Cavalier County Memorial Hospital recommends that patients on this diet avoid doughnuts, pancakes, muffins, fried foods, fatty cuts of meat, dairy products made with whole milk, buttered rolls and convenience foods.
Misconceptions
Some people incorrectly assume that the renal cardiac diet consists of one strict meal plan that everyone with heart disease and kidney disease must follow. Because each individual has different needs and medical issues, physicians and dietitians tailor this diet plan to each patient. Someone who struggles with morbid obesity has different needs than someone who is only 10 lbs. overweight. Someone with end-stage renal disease requires more dietary restrictions than someone who is only in the beginning stages of kidney disease.
