Although chronic kidney disease has silently afflicted, a strictly regimented diet and lifestyle can ease the disease burden.
Globally, kidney disease is the third biggest killer after cancer and cardiac ailments. Kidney disease has indeed assumed worrisome proportions in India. Once afflicted, it's advisable to follow dietary guidelines rigorously. With CKD, your kidneys can no longer filter waste products and fluids from your blood.
According to Dr Umesh Khanna, chairman, Mumbai Nephrology Group, "One can control a build-up of these substances by avoiding foods that worsen the problem. To begin with, limit the intake of sodium (salt), potassium, protein, fluids (including soups, as well as fruits and vegetables containing water: grapes, oranges, apples, watermelon, cucumber, lettuce, etc), phosphorous and calcium."
Along with heavy medication, diet restrictions can make food flavourless. As a result, patients often complain of their tongue becoming tasteless. Tired of eating bland food daily, they may binge on processed foods. Beware! Gorging on unhealthy foods to savour their flavour does more harm than good. Processed foods contain high levels of salt and preservatives. Be practical. Food need not be tasteless. A squeeze of lemon juice in select foods can enhance flavour. Talk to your renal dietician about kidney-friendly foods. Also, about the foods you can eat within safe limits.
Dietary guidelines:
- Salt (or sodium) is a major cause of CKD, high blood pressure and heart disease. Restrict your daily intake. High salt intake causes fluid retention. Don't add salt after cooking -- the lesser, the better! Low-salt substitutes are no good either, since they contain high levels of potassium.
- A low-protein diet slows disease progression and avoids build-up of excess urea. Protein is however essential for growth, muscle building and tissue repair. So consume enough protein to stay healthy.
- Potassium levels can be high in severe renal failure or for those on dialysis. Very high levels are dangerous and can cause cardiac arrest. A word of caution: restrict intake only after consulting your dietician and checking your potassium level. This is necessary because potassium is present in many healthy foods.
- Phosphorus levels must also be controlled. Excess phosphorus can cause total kidney failure as well as bone disease and heart ailments.
- Calcium is another concern for kidney patients, causing serious bone disease in later years if not controlled.
- Fluid intake must also be monitored. If not on dialysis, however, do not restrict fluids unless there is a fluid overload problem. Drink water only when you are thirsty. If fluid retention is a problem, limit salt intake. You cannot control fluid intake if you consume too much salt – you will keep feeling thirsty.
Since most foods contain phosphorus, it's necessary to take a medication called phosphate binder. When you consume phosphate binders like sevelamer carbonate during or immediately after meals, it binds like a magnet to the phosphorus in your food. This prevents phosphorus from being absorbed by your body. Remember to take your phosphate binder along whenever you travel, so you don't miss a single dose.
Diet, dialysis, and medication are all crucial in their own way. But it takes a combination of all three to have kidney disease under control. Cigarettes and alcohol must also be avoided or reduced. If you follow these guidelines strictly, your life will never be completely knocked down by CKD.
