Diet & nutrition for adults with advanced CKD

When kidneys are healthy, they can balance salts and minerals in the blood. However, in patients with chronic kidney disease or CKD, the kidneys are not able to filter the blood efficiently. In such a scenario, eating and drinking right can enable the kidneys to keep the right balance of salts and minerals and prevent health from deteriorating.

Avoiding foods that are high in sodium, potassium and phosphorus content can prevent or delay certain health consequences of CKD. Hence, comprehending how the body is affected by calories, fats, proteins and liquids in our diet is critical for patients with CKD.

What are the first steps towards eating right?

# Less salt & sodium: To keep your BP in check, your daily diet shouldn’t contain more than 2,300 mg of sodium. You can try:

Buying fresh food. Packaged food contains sodium.
Cooking your food rather than having frozen dinners, fast or canned foods.
Using spices, herbs, etc instead of salt.

Rinsing canned vegetables

Rinsing canned vegetables, beans, meats and fish with water before consumption.

# Right amount & types of protein: Your body produces waste when it uses protein. Hence consuming more protein than you need will put extra load on your kidneys. You can try:

Eating smaller portions of protein foods.
Consulting your dietician on choosing the right balance of plant and animal protein foods.

# Foods for heart health: Choosing foods that are healthy for your heart is necessary to keep fat from building up in your blood vessels, heart and kidneys. You can try:

Having grilled, boiled, baked, roasted or stir-fried foods, instead of deep-fried ones.
Using nonstick cooking spray or some olive oil instead of butter while cooking.
Trimming fat from meat and skin from poultry before eating.
Limiting saturated or trans fats in your diet.
Drinking alcohol in moderation. Too much alcohol can damage the liver, heart and brain.

# Choosing foods & beverages with less phosphorus: In patients with CKD, phosphorus tends to build up in the blood. Too much phosphorus can weaken your bones and damage blood vessels. You can try:

Checking the ingredients labels for foods containing less phosphorus.
Foods lower in phosphorus include fresh foods and vegetables, bread, pasta, rice and corn.
Foods rich in phosphorus include meat, poultry, fish, bran cereals and oatmeal, dairy foods, beans, nuts and dark-coloured sodas.

# Foods with the right quantity of potassium: In patients with damaged kidneys, potassium tends to accumulate in the blood, which can lead to critical cardiac issues. Right choices of food and drinks can keep potassium levels in check. You can try:

Being selective while using salt substitutes, which can be high in potassium content.
Draining canned foods and vegetables before consumption.
Foods lower in potassium include apples, peaches, carrots, green beans, white bread, pasta and white rice.
Foods higher in potassium include oranges, bananas, potatoes, tomatoes, brown rice, bran cereals, dairy foods and whole-wheat breads.

To sum up

A kidney-friendly diet is a habit of eating right that helps protect your kidneys from further damage. Patients with CKD must limit certain foods and beverages so that harmful fluids and minerals like electrolytes don’t build up in their bodies. Simultaneously, it is critical to strike the right balance of protein, calories, vitamins and minerals. Those with advanced CKD have to be even more careful while choosing their diet.