7th September 2020Rishabh SaxenaKidney Diet Tips

In this article we will explore potassium rich vegetables that CKD patients should avoid. Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients undergoing dialysis treatment need to monitor their food sources and quantities. This considerably reduces the risk of any toxic build up in the bloodstream.

Potassium is required in small quantities for us to be healthy. But in a CKD patient the kidneys are not flushing out the excess potassium. This can cause weakness, numbness & tingling and in extreme cases can also lead to cardiac arrest.

Many of the veggies listed here, being the staple of most diets, are difficult to replace. But a patient on dialysis, for sake of a healthier life, must limit their consumption or avoid them completely.
Here are 5 potassium rich vegetables that CKD patients should avoid:

Spinach

Spinach is one of the most nutrient rich vegetable around. It contains Vitamin A and K, folate and magnesium. However, raw spinach (100 grams) contains (558 mg) of potassium whereas frozen spinach (156 grams) contains (540 mg) of potassium.

Potatoes

Potato is a starch rich vegetable & a staple food for most people. A potato (136 grams) can provide (515 mg) of potassium which is a quarter (¼) of the daily limit for CKD patients.

Beetroot

Beetroot are deep purple vegetables used in salads & pickles or are boiled. It contains nitrates and folates but also contains a lot of potassium. One cup of beetroot (170 grams) can provide (518 mg) of potassium.

Soyabean

Soyabean is a legume that is used to make products like soya milk, tofu and more. They are high in potassium content with (100 grams) of raw soyabean containing (1797 mg). They are a good replacement for animal protein, but should be consumed in limited quantities only.

Kidney Beans

Kidney Beans are from the family of legume. Kidney beans are good source of proteins and sodium. But they also contain very high potassium content. A cup of raw kidney beans (100 grams) contains a whooping (1406 mg) of potassium.

Source(s)

• Health Line
• Web MD

FIND OUT MORE

Read More

26th August 2020Rishabh SaxenaKidney Diet Tips

In this article we list a few potassium rich fruits that CKD patients should avoid. Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a condition where a person’s kidneys are damaged & they gradually lose their function. This may eventually lead to kidney failure.

In this event a person requires dialysis or a kidney transplant to sustain life. Once a person is on dialysis, they need to take special care of what they drink & eat. This is because unlike healthy kidneys (that filter the blood 24/7), one can only take dialysis 3 times a week on average.

Excess potassium in body can cause weakness, numbness & tingling. Very high levels can also result in a heart attack.
Here is a list of 5 potassium rich fruits that CKD patients should avoid:

Avocados

Avocados are considered a healthy food but not in the case of CKD patients. A cup of avocados (150 grams) can provide well over 700 mg of potassium in a single go. That is enough to exceed the daily recommended 2000mg limit in less than 3 intakes.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes can be an indispensable part of most dishes. Unfortunately, they have very high potassium content per serving. An estimate shows that just 1 cup of tomato sauce (230 gm) contains greater that 900 mg of potassium which is a great threat to patients of CKD. Even a fresh medium sized (123 gm) fresh tomato contains 293 mg of Potassium.

Apricots

Apricots are fruits that have high saturation of vitamin A & C, fibers and potassium. Although the vitamin A, C & fibers are beneficial, potassium content however is alarmingly high. A cup of fresh apricots (165 gms approx) complete 25% of the daily recommended 2000 mg potassium intake limit.

Oranges

Oranges are vitamin C rich fruits that are often recommended. But due to their considerable potassium content, it is considered inappropriate for renal patients. Oranges contain great reserve of potassium by weight (184 grams of orange contain 333 mg of potassium).

Banana

Bananas are high source of energy but also contains high amounts of potassium. They should be avoided as a daily staple diet inclusion for renal patients. (118 grams contain 422 mg of potassium)

Source(s)

• National Kidney Foundation
• Healthline

FIND OUT MORE

Read More

25th April 2020Bhavini BhardwajKidney Diet Tips

Water is life. Without it, nothing would live on the planet.

So it is really difficult when you start dialysis, and you are told by your clinical care team to restrict your daily intake of water.

But it is very important for dialysis patients to limit their fluid intake. They cannot stay healthy otherwise.

So, we are sharing here a few tips that will help you to stick to your daily fluid quota.

Few Tips to control thirst & limit fluid quantity:

• Use small glasses, such as juice glasses, at meals. If you use larger glasses, don’t fill them up completely.
• Stay cool. Keeping cool will help reduce your thirst.
• Eat a piece of cold or frozen fruit, like grapes, strawberries or blueberries.
• Freeze your favorite beverage in a bottle and sip as the fluid melts.
• Suck on a piece of sugar-free hard candy or chew sugar-free gum. This will keep your mouth lubricated and you won’t feel thirsty.
• Rinse your mouth with mouthwash. This helps get rid of the dry mouth feeling and reduces thirst.
• Weigh yourself at the same time every day and adjust fluid intake accordingly. This works very well if the amount of food your consume daily does not vary much.
• Take one cup of tea or coffee per day. Remember that fluid intake includes not only water but also tea, coffee, milk, juice, ice cream, cold drinks, soup, and other foods with a high water content such as watermelon, grapes, lettuce, tomatoes, celery, gravy, gelatin, and frozen treats like popsicles.
• When you are thirsty, take only a small amount of water or try ice. Take a small ice cube and suck it. Ice stays longer in the mouth than liquid, so it is more satisfying than the same amount of water.
• Take sips, not gulps. Try to savor whatever liquid you’re drinking and make it an experience, not just a thirst quencher.
• Divide your fluid allowance into manageable parts. For example, if you can have 1 litre per day, you could drink at 4 different times of the day.

FIND OUT MORE

Read More

23rd April 2020Team 7MedKidney Diet Tips

Dialysis patients need to limit their fluid intake to be healthy. Too much fluid can raise blood pressure, cause damage to the heart, result in swelling, and make your next dialysis treatment uncomfortable.

It is, hence, really important to get a grip on how to manage your thirst. And the sooner you do this, the better.

So, what can you do when that thirst bug hits? You can practice the ‘Art of Savouring’.

To ‘savour something’, as defined by oxford learner’s dictionary, is to enjoy a feeling or an experience completely. To savour something, you need to immerse yourself in the experience and thoroughly enjoy every bit of it.

To savour something, is to deliberately prolong and enhance the positive emotions you feel. When you do this, your sense of satisfaction derived from the activity increases exponentially.

As a patient on dialysis you can only drink limited quantities of water. If you drink your daily quota hurriedly to quench your thirst, then you will feel immediate relief. But this will only be momentary. And you might feel an overwhelming desire for another drink. This would, on most days, stop you from sticking to your daily fluid goals. And we know what this means when dialysis is the only way to regulate the fluid in your body.

So, when you drink water or any other fluid, take sips and enjoy every drop of it. Don’t make every drink a thirst quencher. Be mindful about your experience and pay conscious attention to the experience of pleasure that you are feeling.

Savour every sip, every drop that you drink. It might not be easy at first, as Savouring is surely an Art.

It is the art of gaining conscious control over your impulses and building positive energies by thoroughly enjoying what you are doing, which for us is ‘taking a drink’. It is also the art of using these positive energies as a reservoir that powers you till the next time you can treat yourself to another glass of water or juice.

Practice the art of savouring and master the management of your daily fluid goals. Once you start doing this, rest assured, you will never have to worry about excess fluid build-up again.
Source(s)

• The Speaking Tree Blog
• Oxford Learner’s Dictionary

FIND OUT MORE

Read More

20th April 2020Bhavini BhardwajKidney Diet Tips

We are told that a healthy body normally needs up to eight glasses of water a day to maintain fluid balance. However, this is not true if you are suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD) that has progressed to its later stages. Then drinking this much water would lead to fluid retention in your body and can have drastic implications.

Most dialysis patients need to limit their fluid intake to 1 litre per day (4 cups of 250 ml). Certain studies have shown that fluid gains greater than 1.5 kg between dialysis treatments were common in 86% of patients examined. This fluid gain has also been associated with cardiovascular death.

Why is regulation your fluid intake important if you are on Dialysis?

• You will feel better and stay healthier when you limit your fluid consumption.
• Excess fluid in your body may give you headaches and you may feel low on energy.
• Excess fluid can also cause swelling in your face, hands and feet.
  You will have trouble breathing if fluid accumulates in your lungs.
  Too much fluid will also stretch your heart muscles and cause damage to your heart.
• Too much fluid in your body will result in high blood pressure & that can lead to a stroke.

How can you easily track & manage your fluid intake?

• Talk to your doctor and dietician about specific weight and fluid restriction goals for you.
• Divide your daily fluid quota into smaller parts and consume it at different times during the day.
• Make note of your fluid intake in a diary or notebook. Include the liquids you consume with meals, snacks and medications.
• Measure fluid amounts to ensure correct portion sizes.
• Use a mobile app that helps you track fluids.
• Use a water bottle that is marked with your daily liquid goal in litres or millilitres.

So it is recommended to measure your fluid intake because it will help get the best out of your dialysis treatment. Reducing fluids will help you feel better and stay healthier.
Source(s)

• Journal of Renal Nutrition

FIND OUT MORE

Read More

17th April 2020Bhavini BhardwajKidney Diet Tips

“A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.”

The quote holds a strong message as balanced intake of every necessary ingredient is important for a fit body. Being affected by any sort of kidney disease, it becomes really very important to take care that each and every ingredient is being included in the diet in appropriate amounts.

Although salt is a vital part of any dish but in order to have the boon of health your diet should contain very limited quantities of it. To do away with the harmful effects of salt, quite a few of us adopt the usage of Artificial Salt Substitutes in our diet.

These salt substitutes are not a healthy option for patients suffering from kidney ailments. Many such salt substitutes contain potassium chloride in place of sodium chloride, due ti their similar tastes.

As you must already know, potassium consumed in excess is harmful. This is especially true for people with kidney problems as they are unable to rid their bodies of this excessive potassium. This can result in a deadly situation. If you have kidney problems or are on medication for your heart, kidneys or liver, it is best to check with your physician before using salt substitutes that have potassium in place of sodium.

Ideally, the best way is to go completely “Salt Free”. Instead of mimicking the taste of sodium with salt substitutes, start experimenting with other more flavourful herbs and spices to add zest to your meals.

Some Natural Salt Substitutes that you can use are:-
1. Mint
2. Rosemary
3. Nutmeg
4. Basil
5. Cardamom
6. Chili
7. Cinnamon
8. Chives
9. Coriander
10. Dill
11. Cumin
12. Ginger
13. Oregano
14. Turmeric

These precautions must be taken by a dialysis patient to live a healthy life. And when you manage to obtain health, happiness follows suit!

Source(s)

• Cleveland Clinic Health Articles
• British Heart Foundation – Heart Matters Magazine

FIND OUT MORE

Read More

13th April 2020Chahat RathourKidney Diet Tips

Our cravings for Salt go strong. Because Salt is a mineral and electrolyte which maintains right amount of fluid in our body that helps in good functioning of our health. And, it is rather Tasty.

When we want to bring out the flavours in our food, salt seems to be the first thing we use. But it has also been clearly proven that over consumption of salt in appetite will raise your blood pressure and your risk of developing heart disease, stroke or kidney failure.

How to put sodium hankering to an end:

• The Best thing could be to remove the salt shaker from your dining table. Also, with this trick, the younger family members won’t develop the habit of adding salt.

• Never pass the Salt – make it your plan of action.

• Even though the taste of salt is absorbing, try to love it a little less each day. The taste buds will gradually adjust even in a week’s time.

• Make a habit of reading the food labels and ingredients carefully. Look out to see monosodium glutamate (MSG), baking soda, baking powder, disodium phosphate, sodium alginate and sodium nitrate or nitrite in your food.

• Skip Salt or use minimum salt for yourself when you cook.

• Maintain distance from spices and seasonings which contains sodium.

You can margin the quantity of salt by limiting its usage. Also, If you don’t see the salt, you don’t tend to put it in the food. Always be aware of salt substitutes because it approximately contains some salt.

You can learn to consume less Salt. Your taste buds should become more alert after 3 weeks with less salt so you get the same flavour from less salt.

Keep Going On with it!

Lookout for how many other flavours and spices can be used instead of Salt.

FIND OUT MORE

Read More

13th April 2020Chahat RathourKidney Diet Tips

If you are suffering from kidney disease, you need to follow a confined diet to help control chemical and fluid levels in your blood. This diet should limit sodium, potassium, and phosphorus in your food. It might seem hard for you to make tasty meals for yourself every day without the use of salt or any of its replacement.

But, when a recipe needs only a pinch of salt, substitute it with another herb or spice. You can help yourself by freshening up your dish by flavouring it with aromatic seasonings and herbs.

Spices that can be used:

For vegetables:

• Basil (Tulsi leaves)
• Bay leaf (Tej Patta)
• Cumin seeds (Jeera)
• Ginger (Adarak)
• Garlic (Lahsun)
• Thyme seeds (Ajvaayan)
• Star anise (Chakra Phool)
• Ground cloves (Laung)
• Black pepper (Kaali Mirch)

For fruits:

• Black Pepper (Kaali Mirch)
• Basil leaves (Tulsi)
• A squeeze of Lime (Nimbu)
• A pinch of Cardamom (Ilayachi)
• A pinch of Cinnamon powder (Dal chini)
• Coriander leaves (Dhaniya)
• Mint leaves (Pudina)
• Garlic (finely chopped)
• Ginger (finely chopped)

Tips for cooking with herbs and spices – not more than 1/4th teaspoon of dried spice (or it can be 3/4th of fresh herbs) should be added in for a meal for one.

Why limit salt?

If you eat more than 3 – 6 grams of salt (when your kidneys are not healthy), the extra sodium and fluid will buildup in your body Salt is needed for water balance in our body, but when your kidneys aren’t healthy, they lose the ability to control sodium and water balance.

How salt in your food can affect your kidneys?

Consumption of salt can affect the sodium balance, It may also result in reduced functions and less water retention which might reflect high blood pressure in your body. This puts pressure on the kidneys which harm your kidneys.

If kidney disease is left untreated and blood pressure is not reduced, the damage can lead to kidney failure. This is when kidneys are no longer capable of filtering the blood and your body gradually is compromised by its toxic waste products.

FIND OUT MORE

Read More