Chronic Kidney Disease Diet (CKD Diet)

Patients suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD) need a special CKD diet to take extra care of their kidneys. Chronic kidney disease or CKD is a functional breakdown of the kidneys. It can lead to a serious medical condition but with the proper ckd diet it is possible to avoid total kidney failure.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

Being diagnosed with chronic kidney disease may seem scary but the term “chronic” simply means “ongoing or continuing.” CKD is not necessarily a severe or serious illness. There are 5 stages of Chronic Kidney Disease. Stages 1 through 4 are the stages before dialysis is needed. With stage 5 CKD, dialysis or a kidney transplant is required.

A Healthy CKD Diet Is Necessary

CKD can be controlled and managed with the help of routine checkups and a healthy diet. Many patients diagnosed with ckd have only a mild or moderate malfunctioning of the kidneys. With the right ckd diet, a healthy lifestyle, and proper medication, the disease can be kept under control.

Even in its early stages, CKD should not be ignored. Over time, ckd can damage the kidneys’ ability to filter waste and remove excess fluid from the body. Your kidneys will become less effective and you will eventually become ill. A Ckd diet is designed to help the kidneys remain functional for as long as possible. A CKD diet also helps reduce the buildup of waste products and excess fluids in the body.

CKD Diet – Diet for Chronic Kidney Disease

When you have CKD, you must make some changes in your diet, which usually involves the following:

• Limiting the intake of fluids
• Eating a low-protein diet
• Limiting the amount of salt (sodium), potassium, phosphorous, and other electrolytes
• Getting enough calories, especially if you are losing weight

Changes in your diet may be required if your CKD worsens, or if dialysis becomes necessary.

CKD Diet – What You Can Eat

On a Ckd diet, you can still eat a variety of foods. Depending on your symptoms, stage of CKD, age, activity level and other health conditions, a renal dietitian will provide you with the food plan best suited for you. The eating plan will feature the prescribed amount of proteins, carbohydrates and fats to provide the calories that you need.

For your CKD diet, the dietitian will adjust the amount of carbohydrates, fat and protein you can eat in a day. Patients on a ckd diet should eat less protein. Thus, nutritious carbohydrates such as those found in fruits, vegetables and grains are encouraged. Since you will need sufficient calories, healthy fats such as olive oil and canola should be included in this diet.