DIET AND LIFESTYLE FOR KIDNEY PATIENTS

DIET AND LIFESTYLE FOR KIDNEY PATIENTS

The first line of treatment described by most ancient Ayurvedic texts is: - "NIDAAN PARIVARJANA" or the modification of diet and lifestyle. It is the most effective and easy way of bringing back a state of health in a diseased body. Following are some of the recommendations that should be followed by patients of kidney disease and kidney failure for an improved renal function and longer and better life.

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

• Drink plenty of water but only in ample amounts. Don't overdo it if you don't feel thirsty. Prefer taking Luke warm or just normal water.
• Don't hold on to your urge to urinate. Keep on evacuating the bladder at regular intervals.
• Keep the genitalia and pubic area clean to prevent catching any secondary infection.
• Manage blood sugar levels if you are diabetic. High blood sugar levels are detrimental to the kidney function and may cause rapid deterioration of kidney function.
• Avoid medications that may be unknowingly harming the kidney tissues, for example, NSAIDs.
• Refrain from the use of alcohol and tobacco. They both cause kidney damage.
• Exercise regularly according to the capacity.
• Manage blood pressure well and try lead a stress free life, maintaining a positive attitude in every situation.

DIET

• Drink fresh fruits and vegetable juices in plenty. Prefer herbal tea instead of the regular ones.
• Avoid food products that are rich in potassium and sodium. These include table salt, potatoes, peas, nuts, beans, dry fruits etc.
• Avoid use of too much fat in diet as CKD patients are prone to hypercholesterolemia.
• Take the right amount of protein in diet. Green gram, lentil, pink lentil are some of the safe proteins that kidney patients should prefer. Avoid meat, eggs and non-veg food as far as possible. Red meat should be completely prohibited. Same goes for packaged and frozen foods and high sugar based artificial products.
• Include a lot of vegetables, fruits and whole grains in diet such as, Pumpkin, Radish, Carrot, Onion, Eggplant, Cucumber, Lettuce, Turnip etc.
• Fruits include Papaya, Watermelon, Apricots, Amla, Bael, Grapes, Blueberry, Olives, peaches, pears, figs, and Cranberry etc.
• Avoid use of spices also if potassium levels are deranged.
• Vitamin-D is also recommended in such patients.
• Dont drink fruit juices as they are rich in Potassium.