Diet Plan For A Kidney Working At 60 Percent

If your kidney function is approximately 60 percent, you should ask your nephrologist if you can make any dietary adjustments to help preserve the function you have. His answer will be governed by your laboratory results and blood pressure. There may be common sense steps you can take now to help your kidneys. This approach should not be confused with the very restrictive diet required by many patients with advanced disease. These regimens have no preventative value, and there is no sense adhering to them if they are not needed.

Kidney Function

Kidney function is roughly the same as glomerular filtration rate, or GFR. Your GFR measures how fast your kidneys filter blood. Someone with 60 percent function would have a GFR of 60 ml per min per meter squared. "Meter squared" refers to the surface area of your body. For those with kidney disease, a GFR of 60 represents a cutoff point. Any values higher than this are so likely to be inaccurate that many labs simply express them as "greater than 60." As kidney function decreases, the tests becomes more accurate. According to the National Kidney Foundation, a GFR of 60 and under is indicative of moderate kidney disease.

Importance of Sodium

Healthy kidneys help regulate blood pressure. They are less able to perform this role as kidney function declines, which is why kidney patients are often hypertensive. They often take several different blood pressure medications to control this problem. Controlling blood pressure is critical to preserving kidney function because the glomeruli, or kidney filters, are easily destroyed by high blood pressure. Eating a low-sodium diet helps control blood pressure.

Low-sodium Diet Tips

Following a low-sodium diet is less difficult if you eat out less and prepare food from scratch. According to the National Kidney Disease Education Program, your diet plan should aim for less than 1,500 mg of sodium per day. This target is easier to achieve if you focus on eating fresh fruits and vegetables, cooked cereal without salt, meats, unsalted nuts and air-popped popcorn. If you have to watch your potassium levels, be sure to scrutinize foods that are labeled "low-sodium," because these often are high in potassium chloride.

Protein

Many kidney patients with impaired function also have high urine protein, also known as proteinuria. The glomeruli were not designed to filter large molecules such as proteins, which is why high urine protein will eventually destroy kidney function. If you have high urine protein, much of the protein you consume will end up in your urine. The National Kidney Foundation reviewed the literature on protein intake and kidney function and concluded that higher protein intake is associated with loss of kidney function, particularly in women whose GFR is between 55 and 80. To prevent furthur loss of function, nephrologists often recommend a low-protein diet for patients. Double check with your nephrologist before starting such a diet, because low-protein diets are not for everyone. He can tell you how much protein your diet plan should include.