Dietary habits are the most important aspect to pay attention to after getting kidney disease. You can’t just eat whatever you want according to your own preferences. You need to eat foods that can regulate the kidneys and accelerate kidney recovery. If you continue with the same indifferent attitude as before, eating the wrong foods can exacerbate kidney disease, which would be a great loss. I have a kidney disease snack recipe here that you can take a look at.
First, we need to determine our goal: all three meals a day should be light, nutritious, and balanced, without increasing the burden on the kidneys.
1. Drink Water
If there is edema due to kidney problems, you need to pay attention to your intake of water and salt. Drinking too much water can worsen edema, while consuming too much salt can lead to high blood pressure. If you don’t control these amounts, excessive intake can harm the kidneys. The average daily water intake for healthy individuals ranges from about 1200ml to 1700ml. Kidney disease patients don’t need to follow the same standards as healthy individuals; instead, they should consider their daily urine output. If there is edema, avoid drinking too much water. If urine output is normal and there is no edema, you can drink water normally. Besides plain water, you can also drink some honey water, tea, and fruit juice, which are all fine for kidney disease patients but should be consumed in moderation. Avoid drinking beverages because they contain too much sugar and additives, which can burden the kidneys.
2. Eat Meat
The kidneys continuously filter toxins from the blood and excrete them in urine to maintain proper functioning. Therefore, daily intake of protein is necessary to support metabolic functions. Meat is the primary source of protein, so our daily protein intake should be regulated according to age, weight, etc., neither too much nor too little. Kidney disease patients can eat some fresh lean meat but should avoid consuming too much fatty meat, canned, or preserved meats, as they can strain the kidneys. Patients with kidney disease urgently need to supplement protein by consuming animal-based proteins like meat, eggs, and milk, which are more easily absorbed compared to plant-based proteins. They also need to consume high-calorie foods to meet the body’s energy needs, such as millet congee. Avoid eating greasy foods and foods high in animal fats as these have no benefit for kidney disease. Therefore, for kidney disease, eat less greasy and more light, high-protein foods, and supplement with vitamins.
What should kidney disease patients avoid eating?
First, consume less soup. There is a misconception that drinking soup can ensure our nutritional intake while sick, so many patients make chicken or fish soup. However, soups simmered for hours contain a lot of purines. Excessive purine consumption can cause high uric acid levels, disrupting metabolic functions and exacerbating kidney disease.
Secondly, quit smoking and alcohol. Smoking and alcohol both cause significant damage to our bodies, affecting not only the respiratory system but also organs such as lungs, liver, and kidneys. To recover from kidney disease faster, quitting smoking and alcohol is necessary.
Maintaining healthy dietary habits will make our bodies feel our efforts, and our kidneys will recover faster.
