Vegetarian diet for kidneys

Eating Vegetarian Foods While Living With Kidney Disease

Historically, vegetarianism has been met with skepticism in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. However, we now know that with careful planning vegetarianism, or even part-time vegetarian eating is not only safe, but also beneficial to CKD management.1,2 Research shows eating vegetarian proteins can actually slow down the progression of kidney disease and other complications associated with this disease.1,2

Nutrition management focuses on decreasing waste product build up from digested foods, which would normally leave the body as urine. The primary goals of planning a diet with plant-based foods are three fold: 1.) obtaining the appropriate amount of plant protein to meet protein needs while minimizing waste product build up in the blood 2.) maintaining sodium, potassium and phosphorus balance and 3.) maintaining good nutrition. The following information is meant to be an initial guide to those with early kidney disease (30-50 percent of normal kidney function) and not receiving dialysis treatments. More careful follow up is recommended, especially when kidney function decreases below 30 percent or when regular dialysis treatment is required.

Sodium, Potassium, & Phosphorus

Sodium
Though vegetarian foods are healthy in general, some can be very high in sodium. A few foods to avoid for limiting sodium in plant-based foods include:8

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Convenience foods such as frozen meals, canned soup, dried soups, miso or packaged vegetable broths
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Soy-based cheese
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Processed dairy cheese
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Meat analogues — this includes such foods as tofu hot dogs, veggie burgers or other canned or frozen soy products
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Salt, soy sauce, tamari sauce or any spices that contain the words sodium or salt

Potassium

In general, potassium does not need to be restricted unless the function of the kidney decreases to less than 20 percent. Routine blood testing is the best way to know your potassium requirements. An estimated two-thirds of diet potassium comes from fruits, vegetables and juices. So initially, the easiest way to limit this mineral will be to minimize fruit and vegetable selections to five servings per day.

A potassium serving size:
1/2 cup fresh fruit, canned fruit or juice
1 cup fresh vegetables
1/2 cup cooked vegetables

If this does not decrease your serum potassium to the normal range, limit these foods:
High Potassium
Limit 1 per day
Textured vegetable protein 1/4 cup
Soy flour 1/4 cup
Nuts and Seeds 1/4 cup
Dried, cooked beans or lentils 1 cup
Dried cooked soybeans 1/2 cup
Tomato products 1/4 cup
Potatoes 1/2 cup
Dried fruit 1/4 cup
Tropical fruit 1/2 cup
Melons 1/2 cup

If you use a lot of beans or textured vegetable protein, alternative protein selections may be needed in order to keep potassium levels from going too high. This will mean using more tofu, tempeh, seitan and eggs or if you prefer some meat, fish or poultry to meet protein needs.

Phosphorus
Some plant proteins are high in phosphorous, but because of the high phytate content (a naturally occurring compound which blocks phosphorous absorption) these foods alone usually do not increase serum phosphorous levels.8 This includes dried cooked beans and nuts. Dairy products are the main source of concentrated phosphorus.14 This will mean decreasing dairy products to one serving or less per day. For the vegan a few other high phosphorus foods are worth noting:
High Phosphorus
Limit 1 per day
Milk 1 cup*
Cottage Cheese 2/3 cup
Cheese 2 ounces
Pudding or custard 8 ounces
Yogurt 8 ounces
Soy cheese 4 ounces
Soy yogurt
(non fortified) 12 ounces

*Non-dairy creamer, rice milk and up to two cups of soymilk per day can be used as a replacement for milk.

Good Nutrition
A plant-based diet is often lower in calories and higher in fiber than an animal-based diet. As a result, you need to be careful you do not lose weight. Here are some ideas to help add healthy calories to your eating plan:

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Soy shakes: Make shakes with soymilk, tofu, rice milk and non-dairy frozen dessert.
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Adding fats: Use more oils such as olive oil, peanut oil or canola oil in cooking. Drizzle flaxseed oil on food after it is cooked, or mixed with salad dressing over lettuce.
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Snacks: Eat small frequent meals if you fill up quickly.
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Sweets: Even though a high sugar diet is not the best choice for food, on occasion these calories can be beneficial to avoid weight loss. Good choices are jellybeans, hard candy, sherbets or sorbet.

Vitamins and Minerals
Supplementation of vitamins and minerals in kidney disease needs to be treated on an individual basis. Most people will require a water-soluble vitamin without fat-soluble vitamins or minerals. Mineral levels will need to be checked individually to determine if a supplement is needed. High dosages of any vitamin and or mineral in kidney disease are discouraged since the poor clearance from you kidney can cause toxic levels in the blood.15

Where To Turn For Further Help

It is best to be guided by a nephrologist and a registered dietitian that is familiar with vegetarianism for the optimum nutrition planning. Together these professionals can help manage kidney disease while assisting in appropriate vegetarian food selections. The following organizations can help in locating a dietitian who works with vegetarians:

Herbs for kidney care: Time tested safe herbal medicine
- Punarnava (Boerhavia diffusa); Red or Spreading Hogweed – It is a good diuretic and anti-inflamatory.
- Gokshur (Tribulus terrestris); It is a diuretic herb useful in kidney dysfunction, renal stones, and dysuria.
- Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia); Helps in improving immune system

Diet in kidney diseases:
Main aim of dietary plan is to decrease load on kidney by eliminating food that produces lot of by-products which in turn need to be filtered by kidney. The dietary plan also ensures that all the essential nutrients are made available thus allowing cleansing, repairing, and reconstruction. It also works towards restoring the natural balance of the body chemistry.
The diet plan is designed taking into consideration individual’s body constitution, state of disease and general health condition.

Main food items used for kidney care:
- Bottle gourd juice
- Rice & Rice water
- Green gram water
- Banana water
- Vegetables – bottle gourd, pointed gourd (parval), ivy gourd (tindora), ridged luffa (galka), smooth luffa (turiya), papaya, radish, pumpkin.

Role of Yoga in Treatment of Kidney:
Asanas are selected to promote blood flow towards kidney e.g. Uttanpadasana. Yogasana which gives gentle twisting, stretching, contracting spine through which natural massage to kidney is experienced and smooth muscles are also involved in the practise (this doesn't happen in exercise), thus decreasing lethargic tendency of kidney & increasing functioning of kidney.

Pranayama and Meditation - Ancient breathing technique called Pranayama and meditation, bring perfect balance between Sympathetic Nervous System and Parasympathetic Nervous System, increase anti-stress hormone, and help to completely get rid of stress e.g. Nadi Suddhi Pranayama (Anuloma- Viloma), Bhramari, meditation etc.

Suddhi Kriya - Through different Suddhi Kriyas like Kapalbhati lot of toxic element is thrown outside through breath. This brings purification in blood as well as purification at cellular level thus decreasing work load on kidney.

Prana (Vital Force for life) - Above mentioned details are medically approved, but something which can only be experienced is Prana, Vital Force. Prana is major factor for health either physical or mental. All above practices brings balance in Prana (Vital Force) at subtler level of our existence where chemical or medicine can't reach, this opens many possible doors when medically we find the disease is un-curable.

Very good knowledge post shared by Gulshan and Neetu.. :) :)

Sometimes lengthy paragraphs in forums are difficult to read.Can we think of some other ways to present the points? :)

Thanks neetu for highlighting vegetarian food.....Many people are turning themselves to vegetarian food.........

People who are suffering from kidney disease,They are suggested to consume vegetarian food as kidney patients need phosphorus to their body as it help to avoid accumulating toxic level and minerals in their body.

Thanks for the updated information shared here Neetu and Sarala. :) :) :)

fluid like water, juice and milk are good for the health of kidneys health.The more you have fluids, that much health you gave to you kidneys. But dont concentrate on cooldrinks, alcohol which are harmful to your health.

DIET TO IMPROVE KIDNEY HEALTH

Have you ever heard the expression - "You are what you eat"? Well, you are certainly affected by what you consume. The road to kidney health starts with your diet. This is probably the single largest contributor to many kidney problems. While advances in medical science has made it possible for our generation to live longer, the quality of our health is comparatively poorer than our ancestors.

Modernization has caused many of us to adopt poor eating habits, with emphasis on convenience rather than quality. Unlike our ancestors, we consume a lot more refined foods loaded with artificial ingredients, salt, sugar, and cholesterol. Not only do we consume poor diets but our consumption is excessive... leading to obesity. It is no wonder that many degenerative diseases have increase significantly over the last decade.

Part of the solution to this problem is to change our eating habits. A balanced diet will go a long way to improving kidney health and the quality of life. Medical experts increasingly advocate a healthy diet to counteract everything from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to depression. At the top of the dietary tree are so-called "super foods" which include fruits, vegetables, pulses, and nuts... that boost the immune system, ward off cancer and heart disease and even slow down the aging process. Many of these superfoods also contain antioxidants that play an important role in defending the body against diseases and eliminating free radicals.

It is important to note that everything we consume is eventually absorbed into the blood, through the process of digestion. In addition to eating healthier foods it is also important to incorporate good digestive habits as an integral part of kidney health. For example, chewing your food properly and eating well in advance bedtime (3 to 4 hours before), will contribute to better digestion of food. A healthy diet together with good digestive practices will help to maintain a good quality of blood, tissues and organs (including the kidneys). On the other hand, if you consume foods which are unhealthy and toxic, digestion is affected, the blood becomes contaminated, and this puts a lot more strain on the kidneys and other organs.

WATER AND KIDNEY HEALTH

Consumption of adequate amounts of water is very important in promoting good kidney health. Most people already know that it is important to drink at least eight glasses of water per day. If you have a kidney disorder such as kidney stone, however, this is probably not enough. Some medical practitioners recommend drinking the equivalent of half your body weight in ounces of water, per day. For example if your weight is 160 lbs, then you should drink at least 80 ozs of water which is equivalent to approximately 10 (8 oz) glasses. This is only a guide and would probably be inappropriate for persons with excessive body weight.

Adequate water consumption is not only important for kidney health but many other biological functions. Water helps to maintain the correct concentration and volume of blood as well as aiding in digestion, regulating body temperature and blood circulation, and helps to flush toxins and other waste products from the body.

The kidney needs a lot of water in order to perform its crucial function of removing toxins from the body and maintaining the correct concentration of the blood and other body fluids. Adequate water consumption also reduces the chances of developing some kidney stones.

KIDNEY HEALTH AND SUPPLEMENTATION

Lets face it, not many of us are able to eat properly on a consistent basis, for various reasons. Sometimes we make poor eating choices due to ignorance, convenience, taste preferences, or in some cases unavailability of healthy foods. Even those of us who are able to eat a balance diet consistently, the quality of food is sometimes poor. This is largely due to pollution and poor farming practices.

So how do we acquire the required nutrients to promote efficient biological functions? Supplementation is the answer. Optimum kidney health is dependent on having the right nutrients, in the right amounts.

Persons with kidney failure, though, must be careful of the supplements they take. Depending on the cause of kidney failure, some supplements may not be recommended. You must work in conjunction with your dietitian to determine the best supplements to use.

DETOXIFICATION & KIDNEY HEALTH

Detoxification is the removal of toxins from the body. It is an important element of any kidney health program. Over time, toxic elements enter our bodies through the air we breathe, the water we drink, the foods we eat, and also medications we take and personal care products we apply to our hair and skin. Additionally, toxins are naturally produced in the body through metabolic processes. If these toxins are allowed to accumulate for too long, they will disrupt our health.

The kidneys help to eliminate some of these toxins but not all. In fact if the kidneys are not functioning well there could be a build up of toxins in the kidneys. To maximize kidney health and overall health, a periodic removal of toxins is necessary.

It is also important to promote natural detoxification by making correct food choices. It is a good practice to periodically detoxify the major organs (including the kidneys), using specialized natural products in addition to diet. This helps to promote the efficient functioning of biological systems and reduce the stress placed on the kidneys and other organs.

Kidney health or kidney care involves adherence to some basic principles of health, as outlined above. Continuous violation of these principles will result in disease and eventually, premature death. These are very broad principles which, if followed will result in improved kidney health and overall health and quality of life.

If you are afflicted with a kidney problem, you should always seek professional medical attention. Special diets and treatments such as dialysis may be required.

The best treatment of kidney disease, though, is to prevent it. Optimize kidney health by consuming the right types and quantities of foods, exercise regularly, drink adequate amounts of water, and observe other healthy habits, such as adequate rest, recreation and reduce stress levels. At all cost, avoid destructive lifestyle habits such as smoking and drug and alcohol abuse.

How to Do a Kidney Cleansing Fast

Kidneys filter mercury, copper, DDT and arsenic-bound chemicals from your bloodstream. They are very sensitive to infections and do their job much better when functioning smoothly. The following diet is designed to keep your kidneys clean and able to perform their duties. See "Understand a Kidney Cleansing Fast" before you begin.

INSTRUCTIONS:

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Prepare for your fast by gathering all the items you will need and eating a light meal the day before.
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Avoid the temptation to eat a large "last supper" before your fast. Cutting down on your meals a few days before you fast will signal your mind, stomach and appetite that less food is okay.
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Fast for one day by drinking fresh organic apple juice diluted in half with filtered water. Drink as much as you desire whenever you are hungry.
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Mix 1 cup of celery leaves and 1 cup parsley leaves with 1 1/2 quarts of pure distilled water, boil for 20 minutes and strain away the leaves. Simmer for 20 minutes. Drink three to four cups of this between your cups of juice.
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Continue alternating these two drinks, along with the following diet, for the next 2 to 10 days.
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Eat muesli or plain yogurt with fresh fruit for breakfast. Drink celery and parsley broth, apple juice or chamomile tea.
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Eat raw or cooked vegetables for lunch. You may also eat salad with olive oil and lemon juice dressing, rice or barely soup, egg yolk, millet, baked potato, broiled fish or turkey. Continue breakfast drinks. Lunch should be your largest meal of the day, but don't stuff yourself.
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Eat two or three items from the lunch menu for dinner. Eat lightly. You may also include some dark rye bread, vegetable soup or brown rice.
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Give yourself an enema, or see a hydro-therapist, if possible, at the end of your fast to aid your colon in expelling the toxins that your body has released during the fast.
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Break your fast by slowly adding in the other foods that constitute your normal diet.

There are many reasons for becoming vegetarian. It's a highly personal and individual decision being Vegetarian diet

Very useful information given. Thanks for sharing this information.