A cardiac renal diet is used to help keep your heart and kidneys healthy. Your heart is responsible for pumping blood throughout your body. Eating a diet that is low in fat and salt can help keep your heart healthy. Your kidneys are responsible for filtering waste from your blood. When your kidneys are not working properly, eating less of certain foods can reduce the amount of work your kidneys have to perform.
Dietary Fat
Reducing the amount of fat and cholesterol in your diet is one of the keys to a healthy heart. Trans fats and saturated fats are particularly harmful to heart health because they can cause a build up of plaque in your arteries. Saturated fats are usually solid at room temperature and primarily come from animal products such as meats and dairy foods. Trans fats are found in commercial baked goods, fried foods, stick margarine and shortening. Reduce dietary fat by trimming any visible fats from your meats before cooking them and choose leaner sources of protein, such as poultry and fish. Choose 1 percent or skim milk and reduced-fat cheeses and yogurt. Replace unhealthy fats, such as butter and margarine, with healthier oils such as olive oil or canola oil.
Sodium and Fluid
Your kidneys are responsible for regulating the amount of sodium and fluid in your body. Too much dietary sodium can cause fluid accumulation, which can make it difficult for your heart to pump. To reduce the amount of sodium in your diet, do not use salt to season your foods. Limit high sodium foods such as processed cheeses, cured or processed meats such as ham, bacon and lunch meat, canned soup, vegetables and fish, frozen entrées, boxed dinners, pickled foods and salty snacks such as chips, pretzels and crackers. Limiting the amount of fluid you consume can help prevent excess fluid build-up in your body. Fluids include anything you drink as well as any foods that are liquid at room temperature such as ice pops, gelatin, soup and ice cream.
Potassium
Your kidneys regulate the amount of certain elements in your bloodstream, including potassium. Reducing the amount of potassium in your diet can decrease the amount of work your kidneys have to do. Potassium is found in many fruits and vegetables. Avoid high-potassium fruits and vegetables, which include papayas, prunes, bananas, melons, raisins, kiwis, mangoes, oranges, pears, tomatoes, potatoes, avocados, sweet potatoes, asparagus, pumpkin, mushrooms and asparagus.
Phosphorus
Your kidneys are also responsible for regulating the amount of phosphorus in your bloodstream. Reduce dietary phosphorus to decrease the amount of stress placed on your kidneys. Limit high-phosphorus foods such as cola drinks, dairy products such as milk, cheese and yogurt, legumes, nuts, and whole grain products.
