Continue to read about the renal diet. When food is broken down in the stomach and intestines, waste is made. The
kidneys remove the waste from the blood. If the kidneys are not working
properly, the waste builds up in the bloodstream and you may feel weak, tired,
and sick.
The other balancing act the kidneys perform is the regulation of the body's
fluid balance. Some people with kidney disease may retain fluid, which leads to
puffiness, swollen ankles, hands and feet and breathlessness.
Advice on nutrition needs to be personalized as it is based on individual kidney
function. If you have already seen a dietician, this information should not take
the place of the diet that has been prescribed for you. Your renal doctor can
refer you to a renal dietician who will design a specific diet for your needs.
The following substances feature in renal diets: protein, sodium, potassium, phosphate, fluids, fats, carbohydrates.
Proteins are what keep your body tissue healthy and replace old or damaged
tissue. To stay healthy, you should eat some protein every day. A low protein
diet may reduce the load on the still functioning kidneys, helping to avoid
renal failure.
Your body only needs a small amount of sodium to help control blood pressure.
Normally, when the body has too much sodium, healthy kidneys filter extra sodium
into the urine. But when kidney function slows down, sodium builds up in your
body. This is not good for your health. Too much salt will also make you
thirsty, which may make it hard for you to cut down on fluids and stay within
your fluid allowance.
Potassium is a mineral that helps muscles and nerves work the right way. Healthy
kidneys get rid of any extra potassium from food you have eaten. But damaged
kidneys are not able to get rid of potassium well enough, causing potassium to
build up in your body. Too much potassium can make your heart beat irregularly;
in some cases, the heart can stop without warning. However, too little potassium
is also harmful. Your body needs a balance.
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