Chronic kidney disease affects 26 million American adults, according to the National Kidney Foundation. Complications from kidney disease are associated with other serious conditions, including hypertension and heart disease. People with diabetes, hypertension and a family history of kidney disease bear the greatest risk of kidney disease, as do African Americans, Pacific Islanders, Native Americans, Hispanics and seniors.
Function
Kidneys remove excess water and waste from the blood, creating urine in the process. The kidneys function as a filter, removing toxins and drugs from your body, while also regulating water in your body and chemicals in your skin, including potassium, phosphorus, calcium and sodium. Your kidneys secrete hormones into your bloodstream that promote bone strength, synthesize blood cells and regulate blood pressure. Dysfunction in the kidneys disrupts these important functions and contributes to high blood pressure, osteoporosis, nerve damage, nutritional deficiencies and cardiovascular disease. When untreated, chronic kidney disease can lead to kidney failure. If this happens, you need an organ transplant or dialysis to stay alive.
Kidney Stones
Crystals in urine can separate within the urinary tract, creating hard masses called kidney stones. Inhibitory chemicals in urine usually prevent stones from developing. Tiny stones can pass without notice, but larger stones can cause extreme pain that has been likened to child birth in intensity. Possible complications from kidney stones can include damage to the kidney, scarring, obstruction of the tube that empties urine into the bladder, urinary tract infection and increased risk of recurrence of stones.
Types
The most common type of stones, calcium stones, form when calcium combines with oxalate, phosphate or carbonate from food you've consumed. Cystine stones occur in those who have the disorder called cystinuria. Struvite stones mostly occur in women who have a urinary tract infection, and uric acid stones occur in conjunction with gout or chemotherapy.
Overall Kidney Health
People with high blood pressure, diabetes or both are at higher risk to develop chronic kidney disease, says the National Kidney & Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Foods that reduce your risk for high blood pressure and diabetes enhance your kidney health. Eat high-fiber foods that stabilize your blood sugar, such as whole grain products, vegetables and fruit, and avoid foods that flood your body with glucose, such as processed flour, sugar, sweets and full-sugar soda. Eat low-fat protein such as skinless turkey or chicken breast, low- or non-fat dairy products and deep-water fish that contain high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce your LDL cholesterol and blood pressure. Eat foods low in sodium, which means fresh, whole foods rather than processed foods. Nuts, such as walnuts, peanuts and almonds contain monounsaturated fats that lower LDL cholesterol and also contain a combination of magnesium and vitamin B-6, which decreases the oxalic content of urine, decreasing the risk of calcium oxalate and calcium phospate stones. Other foods high in magnesium and vitamin B-6 include bananas, soybeans, peas, brown rice, corn, potatoes, yams and wheat germ.
Good Hydration
The most important thing you can do to enhance kidney health and prevent development of stones is drink lots of fluids. Drink six to eight glasses of fluid, preferably water, each day to ensure you produce enough urine. This is true for all kidney conditions, and particularly true of cystine stones. Water dilutes the concentration of stone-forming compounds in the urine. To prevent cystine stones, you might need to drink more than a gallon of water every 24 hours, spread evenly throughout the day and night.
Diseased Kidney Care
If you already have significantly impaired kidney function, dietary recommendations might vary. For example, kidneys help regulate phosphorus in your blood, so with kidney dysfunction you are vulnerable to elevated phosphorus levels, which can decrease calcium in blood and contribute to bone loss. Consequently, if you have chronic kidney disease, your doctor might tell you to reduce your phosphorus intake by avoiding soft drinks, whole wheat products, dairy, starchy vegetables, artichokes, asparagus, broccoli, peapods, mushrooms, organ meats and chocolates.
References
- EnCognitive.com: Nutrients for Kidney Health
- MayoClinic.com; Low-Phosphorus Diet: Best for Kidney Disease?; Eric Castle, M.D.; August 7, 2010
- National Kidney Foundation: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
- National Kidney & Urologic Diseases Information Clearing House (NKUDIC): Kidney Stones in Adults
- National Kidney & Urologic Diseases Information Clearing House (NKUDIC): Nutrition for Early Chronic Kidney Disease in Adults
Member Comments