In the diet for kidney problems, it is important to control the intake of proteins, such as chicken, beans, fish and eggs, as their excessive consumption can overload the kidneys, favoring the occurrence of signs and symptoms, such as back pain, tiredness, pain when urinating or frequent urge to urinate.
In the case of kidney failure, it is also important to control the consumption of foods rich in potassium, such as cheese, nuts, coconut and dried fruit, as excess potassium can accumulate in the body, overloading the kidneys and may also cause heart problems. Know the causes and learn how to treat kidney failure.
However, before starting the diet, it is essential to go through a consultation with a nutritionist, so that an assessment of the kidney problem, current health status and individual nutritional needs can be carried out.
See nutritionist Tatiana Zanin for tips on eating for kidney problems:
Diet for kidney failure
The diet for kidney failure varies according to the stage of the disease and is aimed at maintaining adequate weight, preserving kidney function and preventing complications such as fluid retention, tiredness, anemia and high blood pressure.
The diet for kidney failure can vary depending on whether or not the person is undergoing hemodialysis, which is a treatment indicated to filter the blood, eliminating excess toxins, minerals and fluids from the body. This happens because in conservative treatment, when not undergoing hemodialysis, the need for calories, protein, potassium and phosphorus is lower than when undergoing hemodialysis, for example. See more about hemodialysis.
Menu for renal patients
The following table contains an example 3-day menu with general guidelines for kidney failure:
|
Day 1 |
Day 2 |
Day 3 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Breakfast |
1 tea (100ml) chamomile + 2 wholegrain toasts + 1 apple |
1 cup (100 ml) of coffee + 1 tapioca (60g) with 1 teaspoon of butter + 1 fresh plum |
1 small cup (100ml) of lemongrass tea + 2 rice or corn crackers + 1 slice of white cheese (30g) + 1 small mango |
|
Morning snack |
1 medium slice of roasted pineapple with cinnamon |
1 banana apple |
1 cooked pear |
|
Lunch |
1 grilled chicken (100 g) + 3 tablespoons of carrot and cabbage stews + 2 tablespoons of rice with turmeric + 1 fresh peach |
1 piece of fish (100g) cooked with 3 tablespoons of boiled potato + 4 tablespoons of zucchini and eggplants cooked in water (and disregarding water) + 1 small slice of watermelon |
3 cabbage cigars with 100 g (total) of ground beef + 2 tablespoons of white rice + 100 ml of natural cashew juice |
|
Afternoon snack |
1 tapioca (60g) + 1 teaspoon of unsweetened apple jelly |
1 medium sweet potato cooked with 1 cup of butter coffee |
1 baked apple with cinnamon |
|
Dinner |
1 saucer of wholegrain spaghetti with 3 tablespoons of homemade tomato sauce + omelet with 1 egg + 1 dessert plate of lettuce and watercress salad seasoned with 1 tablespoon of olive oil + 1 orange lime |
Omelet with 1 egg, onion and oregano + 3 tablespoons of quinoa + 3 tablespoons of beans cooked in water (discarding water) + 8 strawberries |
1 slice of cooked fish (100 g) + 3 tablespoons of broccoli and cauliflower boiled in water (and ignoring water), seasoned with rosemary and olive oil + 2 tablespoons of brown rice + 1 fresh peach |
In addition to diet, it is also advisable to maintain regular physical exercise, under the guidance of a physical activity professional, to avoid excess weight, control high blood pressure and improve kidney function.
conservative diet
A conservative diet is recommended for people with kidney failure who have altered kidney filtration function and who are not undergoing hemodialysis. In this case, it is important to maintain a balanced intake of the following nutrients:
- Calories: the diet should contain between 25 to 35 calories / kg of body weight per day. A person weighing 60 kg should consume between 1500 to 2100 calories per day, for example, varying according to health status, weight, age and sex;
- Proteins: in this case, protein intake should be reduced to avoid overloading the kidneys, remaining between 0.6 to 0.8 g per kg of body weight per day. A person weighing 60 kg should ingest 36 to 48 g of protein per day, which is equivalent to 1 boiled egg and 100 g of chicken breast, for example;
- Sodium: as high blood pressure is one of the causes or consequences of kidney failure, it is important to reduce sodium consumption, with the recommended intake of up to 2 g of sodium, which corresponds to 5 g of salt per day;
- Liquids: people on conservative treatment generally do not need to decrease their intake of fluids such as water, coffee or tea. However, according to the severity of the disease, the nephrologist or nutritionist may recommend reducing fluid intake, which should be evaluated individually;
- Potassium: the consumption of potassium, present in foods such as silver bananas, dried fruits and pulses, should only be reduced when there is an indication by a doctor or nutritionist. Therefore, in some cases it may be necessary to limit the intake of this mineral to 1 to 3g per day.
Also, if blood phosphorus levels are high, your doctor or nutritionist may restrict your phosphorus intake to a maximum of 1g per day.
It is important to remember that the bedtime must be adjusted according to the degree of kidney failure, health status, age and gender of each person, and therefore it is recommended to go through a consultation with a nutritionist before starting the diet.
Hemodialysis Diet
The hemodialysis diet is important to not overload the kidneys, avoid swelling, weight loss and muscle mass, which can happen during hemodialysis sessions. Therefore, the nutritional recommendations for people on hemodialysis are:
- Energy: the energy recommendation ranges from 30 to 40 calories / kg of body weight per day. A person weighing 60 kg needs to consume between 1800 and 2400 calories a day, for example;
- Proteins: the amount of protein is increased, as a lot of this nutrient is lost in hemodialysis sessions, with the recommended intake of 1.3 to 2g of protein Kg of body weight per day;
- Sodium: the control of sodium intake is important to avoid thirst, fluid accumulation and high blood pressure, being recommended the consumption of 1.8 to 2.3 g of sodium per day, which corresponds to a maximum of 5.7 g of salt per day;
- Liquids: fluid intake must be controlled to avoid swelling, shortness of breath and high blood pressure, with 500 ml + the volume of urine being recommended every 24 hours a day. For example, if the volume of urine in 24 hours is 300 ml, then the intake should be 500 ml + 300 ml, totaling 800 ml of liquids per day, which includes pure water and the water used in the preparation of coffee, soups and teas;
- Phosphor: although control of phosphorus intake is recommended, much of this mineral is lost during hemodialysis. Therefore, the recommended consumption of phosphorus is between 0.8 and 1.2 g per day;
- Potassium: according to blood potassium levels, it is recommended to reduce potassium intake to up to 2.5 g per day.
To reduce the intake of potassium in foods, you can also consume peeled and cooked fruits and vegetables, as cooking in water reduces the content of this mineral in foods. See other tips to reduce the amount of potassium in food.
Kidney Stone Diet
The Kidney Stone Diet helps control the size of kidney stones, preventing symptoms such as painful urination, back pain and fever. In the diet for kidney stones, it is important to prioritize foods with good amounts of calcium and water, which will prevent formation and help with the elimination of stones, including:
- Dairy products, like yogurt, milk and cheeses;
- Fresh fruit, such as orange, apple, pear, strawberry, orange and lemon;
- fresh vegetables, such as tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, carrots, zucchini and chayote;
- Water: drink 2.5 liters of water a day;
- Legumes, like beans, lentils, chickpeas or soybeans.
Legumes contain a high content of oxalate, so it is recommended to soak these foods in water before preparing.
In addition, it is important to avoid foods rich in calcium oxalate, a compound found in foods such as pulses, cereals and some fruits, which, in excess, can cause kidney stones, as well as foods rich in sodium, as this mineral increases the elimination of calcium in the urine. It is also recommended to pay attention to the amount of protein consumed in the day, as it can also favor the formation of kidney stones. See more details on the kidney stone diet.
Kidney Infection Diet
In the case of kidney infection, it is recommended to prioritize healthy and natural foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, dairy products, legumes and lean proteins, as well as increasing the intake of liquids, such as water or teas, which will help increase the volume of urine and promote the elimination of the bacteria causing the infection.
In addition, cranberry can also be included in the diet, as it is a fruit rich in polyphenols, making it difficult for bacteria that cause urinary tract infections to adhere, preventing and fighting kidney infection.
It is also important to avoid the consumption of some foods that can alter the intestinal flora and cause bladder irritation, such as:
- refined cereals, like white rice, white wheat flour and white noodles;
- Candy, like sugar, ice cream, cakes or chocolate;
- Caffeine, like coffee, green tea, black tea and mate tea;
- processed meats, like sausage, bacon, sausage and salami.
In addition, it is also recommended to avoid the consumption of alcoholic beverages, such as beer, wine or sparkling wines, as they can irritate the kidneys, worsening the kidney infection.
