CONTENTS
|
DIET FOR KIDNEY FAILURE Diet in general The food we eat is assimilated in the body and used for following purpose -
Life can not exist without food and it is for this reason that every living organism strives its utmost to obtain its food requirements. Food material can be broadly classified as CEREALS, PULSES, NUTS, OILSEEDS, VEGETABLES, FRUITS, MILK PRODUCTS AND FLESH FOOD. These foods contain substances known as nutrients and it is for obtaining these nutrients which perform various functions in the body that is consumed by any living organism. The nutrients includes protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins & minerals salts. Energy in foods is measured by the calories. The number calories you need is influenced by height, weight, sex and the amount of exercise in which is engaged. Every person needs about 15 to 20 kilo calories for each pound of ideal weight, for example a 160 lb. man will need to eat 2400 - 3200 kilo calories to maintain ideal weight. Planning the diet for kidney failure For kidney failure patients diet plays very very important role. Any diet we eat and any fluid/water we take contain PROTEIN / CARBOHYDRATES / FATS / MINERAL SALTS & VITAMINES. AND FOR KIDNEY PATIENT each of above nutrients play important role. Before we plan out the diet for kidney failure patients let us know about dietary importance of PROTEIN, CARBOHYDRATES, FATS , MINERAL SALTS, VITAMINS, FLUID AND WATER. PROTEIN Protein is used for (i) building and repairing of all tissues, and (ii) energy production. When it is used for energy production waste products like UREA NITROGEN is produced. The damaged kidney no longer removes all the waste products tike Urea Nitrogen, the amount of protein may have to be decreased or increased to give just the amount of protein needed for maintenance. There are two kinds of protein. High quality protein and Low quality protein. High quality proteins are found in animal products like milk, cheese, eggs, fish, meat. They contain all the building blocks our body needs to build and repair tissues. For kidney failure patients 50% of protein should be high quality. Low quality protein is found in breads, cereals and vegetable and contribute more protein WASTE PRODUCTS. CARBOHYDRATES Carbohydrates such as sugars and starches give energy. Sugar is found in cane sugar and syrups, desserts fruits and even in milk. Starch is present in breads, cereals, noodles, rice and some vegetables. FATS Fats gives energy. Ghee, Butter milk fat, Groundnut oil, Sunflower oil, Soyabean oil, Coconut oil, Corn oil, Cottonseed oil and Safola oil contain lot of fats. There are two kinds of fats: Saturated fat & Unsaturated fat. Butter, ghee, milk fat, groundnut oil, coconut oil contains saturated fat. Corn oil, cottonseed oil, Safola oil, Sunflower oil and Soybean oil contains unsaturated oil. Eating unsaturated in place of saturated fat helps in controlling blood CHOLESTEROL & LIPID LEVELS. MINERALS & VITAMINS Minerals and vitamins do not give energy but they play important role in the regulation of several essential metabolic processes in the body. Some minerals like calcium, magnesium and phosphorus are important components of the body structures like bones and teeth. Iodine is necssary for the proper formation of the hormone thyroxine and minerals like zinc, molybdenum and manganese are constituents of some enzyme, Sodium and Potassium are necessary to control water balance and muscle action. Iron is necessary for formation of red blood cells (Haemoglobin). WATER & FLUID Water and fluid is used (i) for control our body's temperature, and (ii) to get rid of waste products. Majority of patient's fluid and salt intake is more than required. Excess amount of fluid, salt and water is removed by kidneys. Minimum amount of urine necessary to get rid of waste material from body is around 600 to 750 ml per day. In early stages of renal insufficiency, kidney looses its ability to concentrate urine. So large amount of dilute urine is produced in this state. During this time majority of patients state that they have to get up at night to pass urine two to three time or more (Nocturia). During this time large amount of fluid intake is advised to the patient. Salt intake may be restricted if patient has swelling or high Blood Pressure. As kidney damage progresses, urine output decreases and patient may start developing swelling. At this stage large amount of fluid intake is harmful to the patient. Fluid restriction is necessary and plays very important part in patient's management. Fluid restriction is necessary if patient has low urine output inspite of adequate intake, swelling or even breathlessness. If fluid intake is not restricted at this stage, patient may require early dialysis. To prevent these problems the amount patients drink each day must be limited. About 2 and half cups of water/fluid is lost through breathing and perspiration. Thus the amount of patient's urine output +2 and half cups of water will be the amount of fluid patients are allowed in 24 hours period. Any solidified quid such as ice cream, ice, Jelly is counted as fluid. POTASSIUM Potassium is present mainly in fruits, fruit juices, coconut, chocolates, raw salads, water, dry fruits and soft drinks. Potassium intake is not necessary to restrict till kidney failure is advanced or patient has low urine output. Only word of caution is that kidney failure patient should never use salt substitute as it contains potassium salt. Potassium has adverse effect on heart and many cases of sudden death in kidney failure patients may be related to high potassium intake. CALCIUM & PHOSPHORUS In kidney failure patients phosphorus level goes up as our daily intake of phosphorus is higher requirements. Excess phosphorus is excreted in urine in normal person. In patient with kidney failure this does not occur and so phosphorus increases in blood. Increased phosphorus level causes lowering of calcium level in blood. Decreased calcium level causes secretion of parathyroid hormone in blood to maintain normal calcium blood. This hormone works by removal of calcium from the bone. This is known as secondary hyperparathyroidism. So kidney failure patients are more susceptible to fracture, only, we can prevent this is by decreasing phosphorus level in blood and in diet (difficult as almost all food contains variable amount of phosphorus) or by reducing its absorption by giving patient calcium carbonate or aluminum hydroxide. This helps patients very significantly over longer period. Diet for kidney failure patients For kidney failure patients, diet plays very very important role. AII food contains proteins, fat, carbohydrate and minerals in varying proportion. After above details about diet (protein/fats/carbohydrates/minerals etc) & fluid/water following table is prepared for Kidney failure patients who has to pass through following three stages:
|
 |
 |
 |
