How to Create a Balanced Diet for Kidney Disease: Tips and Meal Ideas

Avoid the following things in kidney disease:

1. Processed and fast food in kidney disease:
Processed and junk foods often contain salt, sugar and unhealthy fats. The best way to avoid kidney disease is to stay away from them. This includes snack foods such as chips, crackers and cookies as well as pre-packaged food, canned soups and other diets. Even foods that look healthy - such as canned vegetables and fruits - may be high in sugar or salt. 1. Low-sodium canned or frozen fruits and vegetables prepared without added sugar are good options if you don't have access to fresh produce.

(Read more - Kidney Stones)

2. Avoid foods rich in potassium and phosphorus:
Depending on the severity and type of kidney disease, your doctor may advise you to stop consuming high amounts of potassium and phosphorus. These minerals tend to accumulate in your blood when your kidneys are not functioning properly. Your doctor may also advise you to avoid potassium-rich foods as a salt substitute. These include milk, yogurt, avocados, bananas and other vegetables and fruits, nuts and beans. Foods rich in phosphorus include soft drinks, dairy products, beans, etc.

(Read more -Urinary tract and genital diseases)

3. Avoid eating too much protein:
Control your protein intake as excessive protein intake increases the risk of kidney disease. Eggs, chicken, fish, meat and dairy products are high in protein. Eating them in excess leads to accumulation of toxins in the body, which becomes difficult for your damaged kidneys to clear on time. When you have kidney disease, take a less high protein diet.

(Read more - Home Remedies for Kidney Stones)

4. Do not eat too much salt:
Consuming too much sodium can increase blood pressure and due to improper functioning of the kidneys, the level of fluid in the body also increases. Use herbs instead of salt to make food tasty. Processed food, packaged food, outside food etc. contain high amounts of sodium. To know the right amount of sodium, consult your doctor once.

(Read more - Kidney Transplant Surgery)

1. Reduce alcohol consumption:
People who drink alcohol more than four times a day have twice the risk of kidney disease as compared to those who do not drink alcohol. On the other hand, if a person smokes and consumes excessive alcohol, then this risk increases five times more. Therefore, reduce the consumption of alcohol to avoid kidney disease.

(Read more - Acupressure Points For Kidney Stone Pain)

2. Do not eat too much sugar:
Many foods and beverages contain a lot of sugar, which can lead to weight gain. Obesity increases the risk of high BP and sugar. Both of these are the most common causes of kidney disease. Therefore, before taking any packaged food, check the ingredients written on the box once and reduce sugar in your diet.

3. Do not eat processed food:
Many people who have kidney disease should reduce the amount of phosphorus in their diet. On the other hand, processed food contains a lot of sodium and phosphorus. Which can be dangerous for kidney patients. Some studies say that consuming excessive amounts of phosphorus from processed food can harm the kidneys even if they are healthy. This means that if the kidneys are not healthy, the less you consume processed food, the better it is.

(Read more - Health Benefits of Kulthi Dal for Kidney)

4. Do not smoke:
Everyone knows that smoking is harmful for the lungs or heart, but do you know that it is also harmful for your kidneys? People who smoke have an increased risk of having protein in their urine, which is a symptom of kidney failure.

5. Do not use painkillers excessively:
Painkillers available in medical stores reduce your pain, but they can harm your kidneys, especially if you already have kidney disease. Therefore, before taking any medicine, consult your doctor.

(Read more - Fruits to eat and avoid in kidney stone)

It is very important to follow the right diet and abstinence in kidney disease, so that there is no excessive pressure on the kidney and its function can be improved. Such patients should take a diet low in protein, sodium, potassium and phosphorus. Kidney patients should consume lentils, gram, peas and non-vegetarian food in limited quantities in protein. Reduce salt and avoid packaged food or fast food, as they contain high sodium. Potassium-rich fruits like banana, orange, and tomato should be avoided in fruits. Also limit the intake of milk and dairy products, as they contain phosphorus. Consume fluids as advised by the doctor, especially if there is swelling or decreased urine.