When it comes to living with a chronic health condition like renal disease, it is very important to focus on the positives. You should not simply focus on the myriad of things that you should not do or eat. Thinking of things this way can cause you to become discouraged and possibly even give up. When your health is at stake, you cannot afford to drag yourself down in this way. Instead, focus on what you can do.
Making a list of foods that you can eat, especially foods that can ultimately be very good for you and your condition, is a great idea. Not only will it help you make good decisions when it comes to grocery shopping and eating, but it could help your overall train of thought to know what foods are good to eat.
The majority of fresh fruits and vegetables are going to be okay to eat, but there are some exceptions to this. You have to watch out for any foods, including fruits and vegetables and even beverages that may contain large amounts of the nutrients phosphorus and potassium. Since the kidneys are unable to filter out excess by products from your body, even typically healthy nutrients like these can become dangerous. Phosphorus, for example, can lead to dangerously brittle bones. Excess potassium build up can cause heart failure. So there is absolutely a rhyme and reason for each and every rule and restriction in a kidney disease diet.
Fruits and veggies that are high in potassium and phosphorus include bananas, avocados, potatoes, spinach, oranges, and more. Many dried fruits are also potentially harmful because of added phosphorus as a preservative.
As for what you can eat, the list is still extensive. As you progress into the disease, however, the list may shorten as your condition becomes more serious. The good news here is that if you follow through with a strict kidney safe diet and follow the directions of your physicians, you could stop the progression of kidney disease. So the better you do, the fewer restrictions you will need to add to your list.
Best Foods for CKD
• Berries: strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, cherries
• Grapes (red)
• Bell Peppers
• Onions and Garlic
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Apples
• Fish
• Egg Whites
• White Bread and Rice
Those are some foods that are generally safe to eat when on a chronic kidney disease diet. These might be subject to differences in your particular case, so you should absolutely talk to your doctor. Your doctor will be able to take anything off this list that might be harmful to you, but he or she can also add a lot to this list. You should always talk to your doctor about your diet and any changes you want to make before making them, to ensure that you are taking the right steps to maintain every bit of kidney function that you can.
If this list, with the additions from your physician or nutritionist, still seems very restrictive, start getting creative. Do not just look at these as a short list of foods that are good for you, instead consider them as potential ingredients for some really great meals. It could be a fun challenge to come up with different and surely delicious meals using a set list of ingredients. Again, there are a lot more foods you can eat, but these foods will be on your list of the best and most healthful for a chronic kidney failure. Check out a free 3 day diet plan.
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