Since the kidneys place an essential role in removing waste from the body, what we eat plays an essential role in protecting the health of our kidneys. For those with kidney disease, watching what you eat is even more important.
Eating to Lower Blood Pressure
One of the most important vital signs to watch for when you have kidney disease is high blood pressure. This is because high blood pressure increases the risk of kidney disease getting worse, so it is important to monitor this parameter and do what you can to lower your blood pressure. The foods you choose to eat help play a role in this.
For those with kidney disease, one of the best diets to follow is the DASH diet, which stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. This diet is recommended by the National Kidney Foundation, among other organizations such as The American Heart Association, The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
So many organizations promote this diet because it has been proven to help decrease blood pressure, reduce the risk of kidney stone formation, and lower the risk for heart disease, stroke, and cancer.
The primary focus of the DASH diet is meals rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, poultry, fish, seeds, and nuts. In addition, it is low in salt, added sugars, fats, and red meats, as these foods and components are proven to raise blood pressure.
The DASH Diet for Kidney Disease
The DASH diet has been proven to slow the progression of kidney disease due to its ability to lower blood pressure. However, this diet is not best for everyone with kidney disease to follow.
For example, those on dialysis should not follow the DASH diet as these individuals have special dietary needs that the DASH diet may not meet. Anyone else with existing chronic kidney disease should also speak with a doctor and dietitian before starting any new diets due to potential restrictions, which must be taken into consideration.
Choose Heart-Healthy Foods
Your heart, blood vessels, and kidneys are all connected. And so, to keep fat from building up in these parts of your body, specifically the kidneys, you will want to make sure that you each food that is healthy for your heart.
This includes the type of food, such as lean cuts of meat, fish, beans, fruits, and vegetables. It also consists of the way the food is prepared. For example, grilling, broiling, baking, or roasting is better for your heart health than frying. When eating meats, you will also want to trim the fat before eating.
Eating these foods, and preparing them in these ways, will help to lessen the buildup of fat in your heart, blood vessels, and kidneys.
Final Remarks
Many things factor into the progression of your kidney disease, and diet is one of them. If you want to keep your kidney disease from worsening, make sure you eat foods that keep your kidneys and heart healthy, such as those low in sodium and excess fat. Diet is one risk factor for kidney disease progression that is controllable, but always be sure to speak to a doctor before starting anything new.
References
[1] https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/chronic-kidney-disease-ckd/eating-nutrition
[2] https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/Dash_Diet
