Chronic kidney disease, or renal disease, is a serious condition that can lead to severe complications or death. If you have kidney disease, stay informed about what lifestyle changes you can make to support your kidneys and overall health as well as possible. Your diet influences your renal health, so talk to your doctor about a healthy CKD diet for you.
Background
Chronic kidney disease starts in stage 1 and it progresses as your kidneys lose their ability to filter your blood effectively. After stage 4, you may enter stage 5, or kidney failure, which MayoClinic.com states can be fatal if you do not get dialysis or a kidney transplant. A diet for kidney disease aims to provide essential nutrients for health while it slows the progression of kidney disease by minimizing the strain on your kidneys.
Sodium and Potassium
Your kidneys filter the blood in your body, so you can reduce strain on them by keeping your fluid volume as low as possible. Dietary sodium can lead to water retention, and the National Kidney Foundation suggests that you reduce your sodium intake by avoiding canned soup, frozen meals, fast food and salty seasonings, including salt that you add at the table. Depending on your individual situation, your doctor may recommend that you increase or decrease your potassium consumption by eating different quantities of high-potassium foods, such as potatoes, bananas, beans, milk and dried fruit.
Protein
The National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases explains that your body produces creatinine and nitrogen as waste products when you digest protein from food, and your kidneys' job is to filter these products out of your blood and excrete them. Since this places stress on your kidneys, you should limit the protein in your diet if you have chronic kidney disease. MayoClinic.com recommends reducing your intake of high-protein foods such as meat, poultry, eggs and yogurt, and choosing lower-protein foods like vegetables, fruit or grains, instead.
Other Factors
As your chronic kidney disease progresses and your kidneys have more difficulty eliminating extra fluid, you may need to limit your water intake. Otherwise, your blood volume and pressure may be too high and stress your heart. The National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases states that you can also support your heart health by choosing unsaturated fats instead of saturated or trans fats. Continue to monitor your condition and follow your doctor's advice to reduce your complications from kidney disease.
