What Foods Should CKDPatients Avoid

Unfortunately this tip cannot be avoided, there are simply foods that are downright bad for your kidneys, and these need to be removed from your renal diet. Here are a list of foods deemed “bad” for kidney disease, and therefore should be avoided in your renal diet:

Red meat: See my article on negative effects of red meat here

Dairy: this includes, milk, butter, cream, ice-cream, yoghurt, and all dairy containing pre-made products.

Alcohol: ALL alcohol, including red wine.

Gluten: is found in flour based products; and therefore in the following grains: wheat, rye, spelt, kamut, oats, and barley. Safe gluten FREE grains and alternatives include: rice, corn, amaranth, millet, quinoa, sorghum, teff, and buckwheat.

Highly processed foods

Sugar

There are many more foods that I could list, but these main categories encompass the best part of them. If you can follow an unprocessed, whole food renal diet, then meal times will be a breeze. If you resist change, and resort to processed, take-away, and pre-packaged foods, then you will struggle, and fail to realise the benefits that a healthy renal diet can have on you and your kidneys.

Best Diet for People with Stage 3 CKD

The first thing is to make clear weather there is chronic kidney disease. According to the guidance in the United States the diagnosis can be confirmed in case of more than 3 months proteinuria, hematuria or abnormal serum creatinine. Another criterion is glomerular filtration rate being lower than 60ml/min. At this time, patients should have low-protein diets.

Then patients should measure the severity of kidney damages and regulate the intake of protein accordingly. Chronic kidney disease can be classified into 5 stages. Stage 3 chronic kidney disease has already exist moderate abnormalities of kidney functions and stage 4 needs preparation for renal replacement therapy and stage 5 patients need to take dialysis and kidney transplant.

Generally speaking, patients need to take scientific and systemic treatments from stage 4. Those that haven’t entered into stage 3 should limit the daily protein intake within 0.8g/kg. And after entering stage 3 should limit protein intake within 0.6g/kg. In stage of uremia , daily protein intake should be controlled within 0.4g/kg.

Then how to calculate the proper protein intake in specific diets? Take a simple example, if your weight is 70kg, the daily protein intake should be about 42g---that is to say one egg, one box of milk, 0.05 kg bread, 0.1g lean meat and 0.1g rice.

However we know that protein is very necessary for maintaining normal life activities and building up the structure and tissues of the body, therefore patients should have moderate amount of protein supply especially in case of protein leakage in urine. It is very hard to balance the proper amount of protein intake, therefore high-quality protein is a good choice because high-quality protein will produce fewer metabolic wastes and at the same time meet the body’s needs. High quality proteins include milk, egg, fish and lean meat.

Can I Drink Beer If I Have Stage 4 CKD

When kidney disease is present, they can not keep the balance of electrolytes and this may easily cause high phosphorus in your body. High phosphorus will lead to low calcium which will make the bone weak and easily broken. In this case, you should avoid high phosphorus foods. The foods include diary products, beverages such as cocoa and beer. From this aspect, you’d better keep away from alcohol.

Drinking alcohol moderately may be ok for patients with CKD who are not on dialysis. However, you’d better consult your doctor or renal dietitian to make sure if alcohol is safe for you. If you can drink alcohol safely, your dietitian will also give you some advice on the types and amounts that are right for you.

If you are on dialysis, drinking alcohol may be allowable, but it must be within your normal fluid allowance and diet, and medicines must be taken into account. Have a talk with your doctor or dietitian before you drink alcohol to find out if the alcohol will have a negative effect on your health.

For patients with CKD, it may be ok to drink alcohol if you have your blood sugar level under control. Your doctor or dietitian may allow you to drink alcohol with food or at mealtime.