ThS.BS. Nguyen Thi An Thuy - Center for Nephrology and Blood Clotting, Bach Mai Hospital said that chronic kidney disease is a condition of non-reversible impairment of kidney function that lasts for more than 3 months, affecting the ability to filter blood, excrete and balance electrolytes. The disease progresses through 5 stages; in the final stage, the patient needs to have blood filtered, the abdominal dish or a kidney transplant.
Common causes include diabetes, high blood pressure, chronic nephritis, and polycystic kidneys. Symptoms are often silent such as fatigue, edema, nighttime tieuation, loss of appetite... so the disease is often detected late.
Nutrition plays an important role because weak kidneys cannot eliminate toxins, water, potassium, phosphorus... from food. A reasonable diet helps reduce the burden on the kidneys, limit complications and slow the progression of the disease.
ThS.BS. Nguyen Thi An Thuy advises that people with chronic kidney failure need to follow the following golden nutrition principles to control the disease and prevent complications:
Ensure enough energy, providing 35-45 kcal/kg/day to avoid malnutrition. Because patients are often bored with food, they should choose foods that are rich in energy but low in protein such as sweet potatoes and vermicelli.
Reduce protein in moderation: Only consume about 0.8g of protein/kg/day, prioritize high-quality protein from eggs, milk, and fish to limit the burden on the kidneys.
Limit salt: Less than 2g of sodium/day. Avoid canned foods and salty foods to control blood pressure and prevent edema.
Control potassium: Avoid dark leafy vegetables, dried fruits, beans... because the weak kidneys cannot filter out excess potassium, easily causing heart rhythm disturbances.
People with kidney failure should prioritize: Low-starch starches such as sweet potatoes, dong vermicelli, white rice - helping to provide energy without increasing the burden on the kidneys; High-quality starches such as eggs, low-fat milk, fish, poultry - easy to absorb and less causing waste accumulation; Low-shaped vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower, apples, pear... both supplement fiber and are safe for the heart.
People with kidney failure need to limit: Foods rich in potassium such as bananas, avocados, water spinach, tomatoes - which can easily disrupt the heart rate if the kidneys cannot excrete excess potassium; Salty foods such as pickled melons, instant noodles, fish sauce - which cause the body to retain water, increase the risk of edema and high blood pressure; Foods high in phosphorus such as organs, dried shrimp, thick milk - can easily cause mineral imbalance, increase the risk of osteoporosis.
Bad fats: animal fat, fried foods - affect the heart and cause inflammation.
Reduce phosphorus: Limit red meat, egg yolks, dried nuts... to prevent the risk of osteoporosis.
Balance water intake: The constipation depends on the stage of the disease, the level of edema and urine. Simple calculation formula: total urine output + fluid loss (due to vomiting, diarrhea...) + 300-500ml per day.
