The diet that helps the kidneys: what to bring to the table and what to avoid

A correct lifestyle and a balanced diet can help prevent kidney disease. Word of the experts who, on the occasion of the World kidney day, provide some advice on ‘diet that helps the kidneys’.

An important aspect, because “People with kidney disease – explains the Dr. Franca Pasticci, dietician at the UOC of Nephrology and Dialysis of the USL 1 Umbria – they never stop being on a diet and their way of eating must adapt to the severity of the disease and to the various problems that may arise. For this reason the role of the dietician is irreplaceable in all phases of kidney disease and continues to be very important even during replacement treatment with dialysis or transplant “.

The first important precaution is the lifestyle: stay active and fit; check your blood pressure and keep your blood sugar under control: “About half of people with kidney disease have diabetes”, reveals Dr. Pasticci. “The diabetes it is often linked to excessive body weight and reducing it is part of the therapy. It is important to measure the glycemia regularly and keep it within the right limits “.

Reduce the salt and drink plenty of it

Kidney disease is accompanied by an increase in blood pressure and it is essential to reduce the salt added in the kitchen. Instead, flavorings and spices can be used to enhance the taste. “Consumption data says most of the salt that we introduce comes from ready-made foods, in which salt is already present as an ingredient. Sliced, cheeses, ready meals both fresh and frozen, canned foods such as tuna, vegetables and legumes, sauces such as mayonnaise or soy sauce, bouillon cubes and meat extracts, baked goods, pizzas but also biscuits, breakfast cereals, snacks … contain salt! Salt is in fact used to give flavor to foods, as a preservative and a pinch of salt is also used in the recipe for desserts. Contrary to what is advertised, the water it is not an important source of sodium and should not be a criterion for choosing a water ”.

In the prevention of kidney disease, drink enough (about 2 liters per day) allows to eliminate the toxins produced by the metabolism and maintain efficient renal function.

Which drink to choose? “The best of all is water, even from the tap!”, Assures Dr. Pasticci. “But homemade, unsweetened herbal teas and teas are fine. Instead, limit commercial drinks or fruit juices that provide unnecessary sugar (and calories); moreover, we often find additives in soft drinks that can harm the kidneys, such as phosphates or potassium ”.

Proteins

The focus of diet in kidney disease is the control of the amount of protein, which varies according to the stage of the disease. There must be enough, but not too much because they contain nitrogen and nitrogen is eliminated by the healthy kidney. Controlling the amount of protein helps not to overload the kidneys.

If we talk about prevention, the Mediterranean diet, rich in fruit, vegetables, whole grains and legumes, also reduces the acidity of the urine with a lower workload for the kidney.

What to eat to prevent kidney disease

Some simple rules can be easily adopted by everyone:

1. Eat fruits and vegetables regularly: they are foods that have few calories and many antioxidant vitamins.
2. Consume cereals with each meal such as pasta, rice, cornmeal, bread, biscuits – both common and wholemeal. There pasta it should be cooked in a simple way, for example with vegetable sauces. Bread and baked goods are to be chosen from those less seasoned, for example: bread without salt and without oil, dry biscuits.
3. Consume legumes at least twice a week (chickpeas, beans, broad beans, lentils, peas, ..) as a source of protein. Dressed with extra virgin olive oil and accompanied by cereals, they are an excellent single dish, rich in mineral salts (iron and calcium) and vitamins.
4. Meat and fish regularly, but in controlled portions. On the contrary, it is advisable to reduce the consumption of cold cuts because they are rich in salt and in any case favor those where it is possible to eliminate visible fat.
5. Reduce the frequency of cheese consumption or dairy products 2-3 times a week.
6. Prefer extra virgin olive oil for seasonings and cooking, moderating the quantities and adding it, when possible, raw.

Watch out for those two: phosphorus and potassium

When kidney disease is present, other nutrients may need to be monitored.

The phosphorus

The phosphorus in kidney disease it has been called a silent killer and needs to be fought. The healthy kidney removes it, but if it is sick this does not happen and this can damage health, leading to the release of calcium from the bones which can cause fractures and pains, but also of heart damage.

Some foods contain a lot of phosphorus such as milk and derivatives; the red of the egg; animal entrails… “But the greatest danger – explains Dr. Pasticci – are phosphate-based additives. THE phosphates they are added to foods for several reasons: to prevent lumps in dough; improve or change the flavor and texture of food; they can be used to give a particular taste; they are useful for keeping foods longer by reducing the appearance of rancidity. They are a danger to people with kidney disease because we have no idea how much phosphorus is present in the food and because this inorganic phosphorus is absorbed 100 percent by raising the level in the blood. Then, let’s learn to read labels because additives are listed among the ingredients and we avoid buying foods with phosphates “.

Potassium

Present in almost all foods, it is a mineral salt necessary for the nourishment of cells, it is used in the construction of proteins and it is the current that causes our muscles, including the heart, to contract. “As well as phosphorus, also the potassium it is eliminated by the healthy kidney – explains the dietician. But if the kidney is diseased the level in the blood can rise. Symptoms include fatigue, muscle cramps, feeling of heavy legs and abdominal pain, but the most important damage of hyperkalaemia is on the heart and may require prompt intervention “.
“First dishes such as pasta, rice, barley, corn, couscous – continues the expert – they are good choices because they are foods rich in calories. But if potassium tends to rise, as in the more advanced stages of kidney disease, seasonings should be considered. For example the tomato it is among the richest vegetables in potassium. Therefore, a person who is on dialysis and who tends to have high potassium, can eat pasta with tomato or other vegetables, but will have to avoid the side dish. A trick to reduce potassium in food is the cooking of vegetables in abundant water that must be thrown away and not reused “.

Defending kidney health through a balanced diet is possible!

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