People suffering from decreased kidney functions may be advised to change their diet. What is the renal diet food list and who is it for? Find out in this article.
Expertly reviewed by Chris Icamen · Dietetics and Nutrition
People suffering from decreased kidney functions may be advised to change their diet. What is the renal diet food list and who is it for? Find out in this article.
Before we discuss the renal diet food list, let’s first review the main function of the kidney.
In essence, the renal diet is a type of diet that has decreased sodium, potassium, and phosphorus content. It focuses on consuming high-quality protein and possibly, limiting a person’s fluid intake.
It is recommended to anyone who has compromised kidney functions, but especially for those with chronic kidney disease and those undergoing dialysis.
In this section, we will discuss what a person who’ i following a renal diet can eat and what must be limited and avoided. Before we begin, please remember that formulating a renal diet is best done with the advice of your doctor.
Potassium is an important mineral to ensure that our muscles, including the heart, are working well. An insufficiency of potassium poses a great risk to a person’s health. At times, it can even make people collapse.
This is why even in the renal diet food list, the patient needs to ensure that they are getting adequate potassium. They just have to control their consumption by up to 2,000 mg per day.
These foods have low potassium content:
These foods have high potassium content:
When you consume too much sodium, you may feel more thirsty than usual. Additionally, it can cause unnecessary accumulation of water that could raise your blood pressure and make the heart work harder. Moreover, too much sodium is also harmful to the kidneys. Junk food, fast food, and processed food are high in sodium.
Since most foods have sodium in them, references do not recommend foods with low sodium content. Rather, in the renal diet food list, they give some reminders to ensure that the sodium intake is well-controlled.
Phosphorus or phosphate works together with vitamin D and calcium to promote bone health. When the kidneys are compromised, excess phosphorus stays in the blood. This could result in weak bones that could easily break. Try to limit your phosphorus to 1,000 mg daily.
In the renal diet food list, the following foods have low phosphorus content:
The following have high phosphorus content:
As mentioned earlier, the renal diet food list focuses on high-quality protein. You cannot totally remove it from your diet since it is essential in body repair and health maintenance.
The following are good protein sources:
In the renal diet food list, people with compromised kidney functions must also be cautious with their fluids. Although it is important to be well-hydrated, you need to check the amount you take in. This is because damaged kidneys do not get rid of excess fluids as effectively as healthy ones. Additionally, you must also think about your fluid sources.
Since each person – even those with the same kidney condition – is different, the list may also change. What may work for others may not be the best for you, so it is best to talk to a doctor regarding your diet.
Most people who have kidney problems feel that their food choices are considerably narrowed down. But the truth is, there are a lot of kidney-friendly foods in the renal diet food list.
Learn more about Healthy Eating here.
Disclaimer
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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