Introduction
“Doctor, my reports say that my kidneys are failing. What should I eat now?”
This is the usual beginning of our conversation.
The patients ask with an anxious look in their eyes.
They have a lot of questions. They are curious to know as to what more is in store for them.
This is common! Be it an elderly lady or a chemistry student, a young mother of a 6-year-old, a tall and handsome executive or gentleman with already pre-existing illnesses, someone with coronary bypass surgery or angioplasty.
All are similarly anxious when they meet me for the first time.
Kidney diseases have such an impact on our minds, that we all become cautious or extra-cautious about everything we do.
Diet is no exception. It is a priority nowadays. Patients of all age groups tend to find information on the internet, read books and seek advices.
The Vicious cycle of Malnutrition and Reduction in Kidney Functions
In all such cases, expert and authentic advice needs to be sought in pursuit of preventing further damage to the kidneys or to delay the progression of kidney disease.
However, all that the majority of patients know is that we have to religiously follow some kind of a Kidney-friendly diet or the Renal diet.
Breaking News! Renal diet, per se, is not just boiled, no salt no taste food!
In fact, kidney disease diet or the ‘Renal diet’ is really a diet with plenty of options to choose from. Many tasty recipes can be made which we never thought was allowed with kidney disease.
It should always be kept in mind that every individual is different.
Every patient has different lifestyle, food habits, education status, economic status and most important – disease status.
The doctor prescribes medicines to all chronic kidney disease patients. These medicines are based on their parameters as height, weight, pulse, blood pressure, blood parameters and the stage of kidney failure by estimating Glomerular filtration Rate, the eGFR.
As every medical prescription is different, so is every dietary prescription or advice.
Remember, as medicines change or their doses change according to the kidney “status”, so should the diet.
This book is a small attempt to reach patients with the general guidelines about Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) diet.