Kidneys are two bean-shaped organs in the abdomen below the rib cage. Their two main functions are to filter blood (about 180 liters of blood daily) to remove waste products such as urea, creatinine, and potassium and maintain the body’s fluid and electrolyte balance. In other words, kidneys are needed to prevent cellular waste products from building up in the blood and ensure our bodies have the correct amount of fluid and electrolytes. If fluid volume and electrolytes are out of balance, it can lead to serious health problems.
If you have kidney disease, it means that your kidneys are not working very well. One way to manage this condition and maintain kidney function is by following a special diet. You need to learn what foods to eat and which foods to avoid to help the remaining kidney function, balance your electrolytes, and prevent fluid build-up inside the body. You can still create balanced and nutritional meals if you know what foods you can eat. To help you figure it out, follow our 7-day meal plan for kidney disease pdf.
Professional Nutritionists Know What They’re Talking About
If you have kidney disease, working with a professional nutritionist is essential to create a meal plan that is right for you. A nutritionist has the knowledge and expertise to advise you on what food to eat to meet your daily nutritional needs without causing your kidney function to decline. You can also ask about how to keep your tongue healthy at a local tongue tie center.
One of the benefits of seeing a professional nutritionist is that they can help you understand your lab test results. The lab tests measure the levels of waste products in your blood and urine. They will help your nutritionist determine how well your kidneys are still functioning and how to preserve your kidney function for as long as possible.
In addition to helping you understand your lab test results, nutritionists can also perform consulting services to help you create a meal plan that is healthy and enjoyable to follow. (Learn more about preform consulting by researching online.) They can help you choose foods low in phosphorus, potassium, and sodium and teach you how to cook healthy meals that taste good. Following a 7-day meal plan for kidney disease pdf will show you how to eat food that is good for you every day.
Eating the right foods will help you maintain your overall health and vitality.
Treating Food Addictions and Disorders
When you are diagnosed with a chronic kidney disease, you must change your eating habits to ones that promote kidney health. Suppose you suffer from any food disorders like anorexia or bulimia nervosa. In that case, having a meal plan may not guarantee proper nutrition. You may have to work with addiction recovery services to get help to control your eating habits.
By eating too little food overall or eating too much of the wrong kind of food, your kidney disease may get worse. An addiction recovery service will provide the support and resources you need to overcome your addiction and develop healthy eating habits.
Other food addictions, like sugar addiction and smoking, can also derail your progress in trying to eat healthier. In recent literature, sugar addiction has been recognized as a real condition that can damage your health, including your kidneys.
When you eat sugar, your body releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter that lets you feel pleasure. This can lead to cravings for sweet foods and overeating, which can contribute to obesity, diabetes, and other health problems. In addition to the direct effects of sugar on the kidneys, sugar addiction can also make it difficult to follow a healthy diet. Many processed foods and sugary drinks are high in phosphorus, potassium, and sodium, which are all harmful to people with kidney disease.
If you have kidney disease and are struggling with sugar addiction, it is important to seek professional help. A registered dietitian or other healthcare professional can help you develop a healthy eating plan that helps you manage your sugar cravings.
Smoking can damage the blood vessels in the kidneys, reducing its ability to filter waste products from the blood. This can lead to kidney disease and other health problems, such as heart disease and stroke.
Smoking can also make it difficult to manage kidney disease. For example, smoking can raise blood pressure, which can further damage the kidneys. Smoking can also reduce the effectiveness of medications used to treat kidney disease.
If you have kidney disease, it is important to quit smoking. Quitting smoking can help to protect your kidneys and improve your overall health. There are many resources available to help you quit smoking, such as smoking cessation programs and counseling.
It’s Important to Have a Support System Around You
Being told that you have chronic kidney disease can feel overwhelming. You need to learn new information and change your eating habits. You may feel anxious and depressed about the loss of your health.
But it doesn’t have to be a negative experience. Families often grow closer when one member is going through a difficult time. You need to learn how to accept help when it is given and know that you are not alone in this situation. Many people are willing to be a part of your support team, including healthcare providers, nutritionists, and, of course, your family and friends.
Feelings of denial, anxiety, and anger are common in patients with chronic kidney disease. Anger and depression can isolate you from people who care about you. Talking about your emotions is essential. Many patients can benefit from discussing their feelings with family, friends, and healthcare professionals. If you feel isolated, a visit to a family therapy office could help. Talking with a mental health specialist can put things into perspective for you.
Getting help with nutrition will also help reduce the stress on other family members. Learning about new ways of eating can be a fun bonding activity for the whole family. Getting a 7-day meal plan for kidney disease.pdf will teach you how food can help reduce the negative physical symptoms you are experiencing and help your kidneys work longer.
Prioritize Oral Health
Good oral health is important for everyone, but especially for people with kidney disease. Poor oral health can increase your chances of developing a bacterial infection because bacteria from the mouth can enter the bloodstream and infect your weakened kidneys. Kidney disease also weakens your immune system, and your body finds it difficult to fight off infections.
Gum disease is a serious infection of the gums and tissues that support teeth. It can cause bleeding, swelling, and pain in the mouth. It can also lead to tooth loss. If you lose your teeth, it may be a problem because it will make it difficult to eat a healthy diet. Without teeth, you won’t be able to chew and eat certain foods included in the 7-day meal plan for kidney disease. pdf.
A dental service can help you maintain good oral health by providing preventive care, such as checkups and cleanings, and treating any oral health problems you may have. If any of your teeth are damaged, you may need crown repair to protect your teeth and gums from further damage
It is in your interest to work with your dentist to develop an oral health care plan that is right for you. Your dentist can teach you how to brush and floss your teeth properly, and they can also recommend other oral health products and services that may benefit you.
You Can Eliminate Head and Body Aches
Head and body aches are common problems for people with kidney disease. Various factors, including medication side effects, high blood pressure, low iron stores in the body, and nerve damage, can cause them. As many as 20-34% of people over the age of 55 report developing severe headaches, often accompanied by other symptoms that can be classified as migraines. Episodic migraines affect your central nervous system and other organs like kidneys because the brain and kidneys have similar anatomical functions and microvascular regulation.
Don’t try to treat your symptoms yourself. It is important to talk to your doctor about any treatment options. Over-the-counter medications for pain relief, like ibuprofen or acetaminophen, need to be taken under medical supervision because these medications are excreted from the body through the kidneys. If your kidneys do not work well, you can overdose on the medication. Avoid taking aspirin as it can cause direct damage to the kidneys.
If you experience a sudden and severe headache, or if your headache is accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, stiff neck, nausea, or vomiting, seek medical attention immediately. These symptoms may be signs of a serious medical condition, such as concussion, migraine, or stroke. You may need a concussion and migraine treatment specifically tailored to your condition.
Medication is not the only thing that can help alleviate headaches and body aches when you are living with kidney disease. You can do some things at home to prevent and relieve headaches and body aches. Ensure you get plenty of rest and drink sufficient fluids to stay hydrated but not over-hydrated. Eat a balanced diet that supports kidney function to make you feel better overall. Following a diet plan like the one found in the 7-day meal plan for kidney disease.pdf will ensure you get all the necessary nutrients and keep your kidneys working as best as possible.
You Can Replenish Depleted Energy
Chronic kidney disease is associated with insulin resistance, endocrinological disorders, electrolyte disturbances, and anemia, among other conditions. These disturbances in your body’s functions can rob you of your usual energy, especially when the endocrine system is disturbed and depletes your testosterone hormone levels. Falling testosterone levels in men will lead to low energy levels.
If you feel sluggish with low energy, consult your medical practitioner to do a blood test to check the testosterone levels in your body. If your testosterone levels are low, your doctor will attempt testosterone optimization by prescribing testosterone hormone replacement therapy.
Although testosterone plays a big role in energy levels in men, you should not ignore the positive effects a simple diet change, like following the 7-day meal plan for kidney disease pdf, can have on your overall well-being.
You Can Explore New Diets Safely
When living with kidney disease, it may be daunting to explore new diets. You always worry about how the new food will affect your kidney health. The good news is that you can explore new diets with minimal impact on your kidney health if you follow these guidelines.
People with kidney disease need to eat enough protein, calcium, and potassium from whole fresh foods, and they should avoid processed foods, sugar, saturated fats, simple carbohydrates, and alcohol. Eating processed foods will make you gain weight and reduce your energy levels drastically.
There are a number of diets and eating plans that can be suited for a person living with kidney disease. Your options include a vegetarian diet, a vegan diet, or a keto diet. Each of these diets has its unique benefits and drawbacks, and choosing the one that suits your needs is important.
When exploring new diets, introduce change gradually. Start with small changes like adding more fruits and veggies to your meals or reducing the amount of processed food you eat. While implementing changes, monitor your blood sugar levels and kidney function to identify potential problems early.
When attempting to eat more vegetables, many people look for recipes for vegetarian pies. It is a healthy and delicious option. Make the pies at home to give you more control over the ingredients and allow you to adjust the sodium and phosphorus content. The 7-day meal plan for kidney disease pdf contains delicious recipes for making vegetarian pies at home.
To Summarize
If you need to talk to someone about test lab relocations, those resources are available. Kidney disease is a serious condition that can significantly impact your health and well-being. Still, managing your health and living a fulfilling life is not impossible. Following the 7-day meal plan for kidney disease pdf, you can learn what to eat and avoid to preserve your remaining kidney function while creating balanced nutritional meals.
You should also prioritize your health, treat food addictions and disorders, and learn strategies that help replenish depleted energy. Working closely with your doctor and a registered dietitian is the best way to develop a treatment plan to manage the disease and improve your overall health.
Remember, you are not alone. Help is available, and you can live a healthy and fulfilling life with kidney disease.
