A Good Kidney Failure Diet Improves Your Health

Kidney failure is a fairly common disease that affects a lot of people in the United States. Acute renal failure and chronic renal failure are the two types of kidney failure. Acute renal failure is the more common one and occurs when the flow of blood to the kidneys is suddenly cut off. Chronic renal failure is caused over time, usually by conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Both will result in the accumulation of waste products in the body and should be treated as soon as possible after diagnosis.

Ways A Kidney Failure Diet Adds Value to Your Life

Since failure of the kidneys affects most organs, it is imperative that the person receives medical attention and watches their diet closely. Among the various procedures to combat kidney failure, dialysis is a very important one. It is the process of removing the wastes accumulated in the body. Additionally, one can follow a kidney failure diet before starting the dialysis procedure.

Today, there are several ways to follow a pre-dialysis diet specifically for your kidney failure.  The main principle behind a pre dialysis diet is to keep the load on the kidneys to a minimum. A good diet is essential to combat the renal failure, and one of the best ones to follow is a kidney failure diet.

Common Ingredients in A Kidney Failure Diet for Pre-Dialysis

While there are several kidney failure diet plans available today for those with renal failure, most of them have some ingredients in common. Proteins can worsen the kidney disease to a good extent when eaten in excess. Hence their intake should be minimal during stages 1 – 4 of kidney failure. Once the dialysis program has started, the protein intake should be increased.

Sodium, potassium, phosphorous and fluid intake are the other factors that should be controlled. Sodium is the most important factor to consider while choosing a kidney failure diet. Most foods contain sodium in small amounts. The assistance of a professional dietitian should be sought in order to control the intake of sodium and other needed nutrients.

Control Phosphates as Part of A Kidney Failure Diet

Fish, cheese, milk and eggs are some foods which have high levels of phosphate. Such foods should not be included in the pre dialysis diet as high phosphate can cause bone diseases in those with renal failure. Additionally, most diet plans available today are general ones and not specific to any particular individual. It is always better to consult a physician before selecting a pre dialysis diet since the diet requirements vary depending on the individual.  Once you know your limits you can choose a renal diet plan and feel that you can keep it under control.

The internet is a good place to find various diet plans for those with renal failure.  You can watch your diet closely and find a meal plan on our website that will provide for either a dialysis or pre-dialysis meal plan.  In either case, kidney failure diet is required to ensure a successful healthy diet and improve your quality of life. Following a pre dialysis diet plan can be tough for a lot of people. Make it easier by controlling your kidney failure diet through meals and nutrients with a specially designed meal plan, recipes and grocery list.

Also published on Medium.