DIETARY GUIDE TO
                                                                          KIDNEY FAILURE PATIENTS

The main function of the kidneys is to excrete the waste products of the body. When the kidneys are damaged waste products like creatinine, urea etc. are accumulated in the body and becomes toxic condition. Nausea, Vomiting, dyspnoea, weakness and confusion are some of the symptoms of such condition.

The patient is put on a dialysis machine to duplicate the kidney's function or given herbal medicines to clean the blood and body from the toxic elements accumulated. In order to achieve maximum benefit of the treatment it is important to adhere to your diet.
The diet for the kidney patient is arranged in such a way to maintain adequate caloric intake and maximum intake of other nutrients, to minimize the accumulation of waste products to prevent edema and to control the blood pressure.

The basic diet should be adequate in calories mainly from carbohydrate and fat sources. The intake of protein should be restricted to 1 gm/kg body weight. The intake of sodium (salt and salted food) pottasium, phosphrous rich food should be limited. The fluid intake should be limited to an amount equal to urine volume plus 500 ml.

The diet of the kidney patient should be decided on the basis of the level of the waste products like urea, creatinine, sodium, pottasium, phosphorous in the blood as per the blood test.

If the urea and creatinine is above normal level (urea within 75 mg and creatinine within 5 mg) an average of 4gm salt can be consumed.

If the urea is between 75 mg to 100mg and creatinine is upto 7 mg only 2 gm salt should be consumed. If the levels of both urea and creatinine are above these, the use of salt should be stopped completely.

The normal sodium level in the blood should be from 135 mg to 145 mg. If the sodium level is below this use more salted food. If the level is above this salt con- sumption should be restricted.

The normal pottasium level is from 3.5 mg to 5 mg. If the level is below this use green vegetables in food. If the level is higher, the vegetables should be boiled in plenty of water to reduce the pottasium content of the vegetables.

Further the levels of minerals, haemoglobin, fat, protein etc should be analysed and the diet should be controlled accordingly as per the doctor's advice.

The kidney disease is managed not only with the medicines but also with diet restriction. Depending only on the medicines without diet restriction will be fatal. Death may occur if they won't follow strict diet restriction.

FOODS ALLOWED IN MODERATION

Sugar, honey, syrup, peppermints, starchy food, vinegar, unsalted butter, vegetable oils, cream etc. Diabetic should avoid sugar and sweet dishes.

GUIDE TO SODIUM RESTRICTION FOODS LOW IN SODIUM.

Unsalted cheese, fish, chicken, beef, mutton, fresh vegetables, butter unsalted biscuits.

FOODS HIGH IN SODIUM

Salt, cheese, canned products (vegetables and meat) tomato ketch up, souce, salted butter, salted biscuits, salted nuts and seeds, agino moto, pickles, salted chips, popcorn, pappad, soda water etc. should be avoided.

GUIDE TO POTTASIUM RESTRICTION FOODS LOW IN POTTASIUM
Eggplant, cauliflower, turnip vegetables should be boiled in plenty of water for sometime, drain, renew water and boil until cooked.
Fruits: Apple (1 medium sized), dates (2) Grapes (10) Pine apple, peaches, pear plums, in moderate quantity.

FOODS HIGH IN POTTASIUM

Vegetables: Beetroot, baked beans, carrot, cabbage, turnip greens, mushrooms, tomato, tomatojuice.
Fruits: Apricot, banana, black berries, guava, lemon, orange, papaya, pomegranate, water melon, etc. chocolate, cocoa powder, all nuts should be restricted.

PHOSPHROUS

Food high in phosphorous
Milk, cheese, yoghurt, egg. liver fish, shell fish - all should be restricted.

RECOMMENDED MEAL CHART

BREAKFAST: One egg, 2 Pieces of bread or four idlies or two small sized dry chapattis or one cup cereal, tea with milk 1/2 cup.

MID MORNING: A piece of fruit or 2 biscuits

LUNCH: 2 cups of rice or 2 pieces of bread or 2 chapattis. Meat or chicken or fish 30 gm. fruit -1 Low protein dessert (sweet)

MID AFTERNOON: Fruit or biscuit

DINNER: 2 cups of rice or 2 pieces of bread or 2 chapattis. meat or chicken or fish 30 gm

BED TIME: tea or milk 1/2 cup