Kidney failure diet: how important is it and how?

In fact, patients with kidney disease can live longer without being too affected by the condition. Although it may not fully restore kidney function, there are several things you can do so that the level of damage does not get worse. One of them is undergoing a special diet for kidney failure patients, both adults and children.

The importance of having a special diet for kidney failure patients

The purpose of this special diet for kidney failure patients is to maintain electrolyte, mineral, and fluid levels in the body. This turned out to be important, especially for patients on dialysis.

Meanwhile, kidney failure patients who also have high blood pressure also need this diet plan to control their blood pressure.

This special diet is even needed to control blood sugar through the selection of food and drinks. Thus, this diet can help protect the kidneys from further damage.

Tips for a special kidney failure diet

The first step that needs to be done is to consult a nutritionist. There are several nutritionists who focus on diets for kidney disease. They can also help you create a meal plan that suits your body condition.

After the consultation, here are the steps that patients with kidney failure need to take to prevent complications.

1. Choose foods low in sodium and salt

Reducing the levels of sodium and salt in food can help you control high blood pressure. A diet low in salt and sodium also makes kidney failure patients less thirsty and prevents the body from retaining excess fluids.

In addition, you should limit your intake of foods that contain less than 2,300 mg of sodium per day. Here's how to limit your daily sodium intake according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive, and Kidney Disease.

Buy fresh food because sodium is often found in fast food.
Cook food from scratch instead of preparing frozen food.
Replace salt with sodium-free spices and seasonings.
Check the sodium content on the nutrition facts label on each food.
Wash vegetables, meat, and fish with water before cooking.

You can also look for food labels that contain words like 'sodium free' or 'low salt'. It may seem difficult at first. However, one to two weeks after starting this diet you will get used to it.

Try not to use substitutes for salt, such as potassium, unless your doctor or nutritionist recommends it.

2. Limit certain types of protein

A low protein diet is actually needed by patients with kidney failure to prevent further damage. Protein is needed to grow and get energy.

However, eating too much protein, especially for patients with kidney failure, makes the kidneys work harder to remove waste.

As a result, the kidneys that have been damaged will get worse and the buildup of protein waste cannot be avoided. Therefore, you need to limit foods high in protein. Protein can indeed be found in plants and animals and many people consume both types of protein.

A nutritionist will help you choose the combination and amount of protein you need. However, low protein foods still have their limits, so you still shouldn't eat too much.

What about the protein needs of children with kidney failure?

Just like kidney failure patients in general, children with kidney failure also need to limit protein intake in their diet. The following is a list of protein requirements for children with kidney failure according to their age.

0-6 months: 2.5-3 grams / kg of body weight per day.
6-12 months: 1.2-2.1 grams / kg of body weight per day.
1-2 years: 1-1.8 grams / kg body weight per day.
Over 2 years: 1-1.5 grams / kg body weight per day.

Meanwhile, children who are undergoing dialysis treatment have more protein needs. This is because the dialysis process causes more protein to be wasted through urine.

Following are the protein requirements for children on dialysis.

0-6 months: 2.6 grams / kg body weight per day.
6-12 months: 2 grams / kg body weight per day.
1-6 years: 1.6 grams / kg body weight per day.
7-14 years: 1.4 grams / kg body weight per day.

For example, a 6 year old child weighing 21 kg is undergoing dialysis. Then, the protein requirement he needs is 33.6 grams per day. Keep in mind to prioritize animal protein sources that are easily absorbed by the body rather than vegetable protein.

3. Eat low-fat foods

Kidney failure patients should pay attention to fat intake. This is because the wrong type and amount of fat can increase the risk of clogged blood vessels and the risk of heart disease.

Fat is a source of energy and helps produce substances that can regulate blood pressure. However, it turns out that this low-fat diet is necessary for patients with kidney failure. What needs to be done to avoid excess fat consumption?

Replace frying techniques with grilled, grilled, or sauteed food.
Cut the fat from the meat and remove the chicken skin before eating.
Replace cooking oil and butter with olive oil or sesame oil.
Limit your intake of saturated and trans fats by reading food labels.

Too much saturated and trans fat content in the body can increase LDL (bad cholesterol) and lower HDL (good cholesterol). If this happens, the risk of heart disease is high and cannot prevent complications of kidney failure.

4. Cut down on alcoholic drinks

Preventing complications due to kidney failure is not only about food, but you also need to pay attention to alcohol consumption.

This special diet for kidney failure also limits alcohol consumption, which is no more than one glass per day for women. Meanwhile, for men no more than two glasses.

It is no secret that drinking excessive alcohol can damage organs, including the kidneys. What's more, patients with kidney failure who already have problems with these organs certainly need to reduce them to prevent damage.

5. Limit foods high in phosphorus

Phosphorus is a mineral that can be found in almost every food and helps the kidneys filter waste that is not needed by the body. However, kidney failure patients cannot get rid of this mineral that strengthens the bones.

The body that contains too much phosphorus will actually weaken the bones and damage blood vessels. Therefore, kidney failure patients need to undergo a low phosphorus diet so that the kidneys don't work too hard.

Depending on the degree of kidney damage, your doctor may give you a phosphate-binding drug. This medication helps reduce the risk of phosphorus buildup in the blood. Even if you have been given medication, you need to pay attention to the amount of phosphorus that is consumed.

Some low-phosphorus foods that can be a way to prevent complications of kidney failure include:

fresh fruit and vegetables,
corn cereal or whole grain rice, as well
popcorn without added salt or butter.

6. Limit fluid intake

Meeting the needs of daily fluids is necessary so that the organs of the body can work properly. However, this does not apply to patients with kidney failure, both adults and children. This special kidney failure diet sounds strange, but the damaged kidneys are unable to get rid of the extra fluids maximally.

If there is too much fluid in your body, you are at risk of developing high blood pressure, swelling, and heart failure. Excess fluid can also fill up your lungs and make it difficult for you to breathe. Therefore, the fluid needs of kidney patients are different from other people.

For example, patients with kidney failure are discouraged from drinking coffee. The reason is, caffeine can aggravate the condition of kidney failure, especially when you have metabolic syndrome.

7. Eat foods low in potassium

Potassium is important for the body because it helps maintain fluid balance and control blood pressure. However, kidney failure patients actually need to reduce foods high in potassium because their kidneys are no longer able to control the level of potassium in the blood.

Choosing low-potassium foods will help your nerves and muscles work properly and prevent complications of kidney failure in the form of heart problems. If possible, try to choose foods and drinks that can lower potassium levels, such as:

fresh fruit, such as apples and peaches,
vegetables, such as carrots and green beans,
apple and grape juice,
white rice, and
pasta and white bread.

Tips for serving meals for children with kidney failure

Sometimes children with kidney failure will experience a decrease in appetite which affects their growth and development. As a parent, you need to work out how to get your child to eat without destroying the diet plan recommended by the doctor.

Here are tips that might help you persuade a child with chronic kidney disease to want to eat.