Kidney disease may be either a primary condition, such as kidney stones, or a consequence of other disorders, such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, or diabetes—all of which can severely damage the organs’ blood vessels. Older men are susceptible to kidney infections stemming from enlargement of the prostate. Pregnant women and diabetics are vulnerable to infections of the urinary tract. Side effects of drugs are common and preventable causes of serious kidney disorders. For example, acetaminophen, aspirin, and other nonsteroidal anti” inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and calcium with vitamin D supplements are among the nonprescription drugs that can damage kidneys; combining aspirin and acetaminophen is especially damaging. Whenever you see your doctor, be sure to mention any over-the-counter medications or vitamin supplements you have been taking, even if occasionally. Healthy people should not wait for problems to crop up; rather, they should try to follow a diet that will help prevent kidney disorders. Drink plenty of liquids to flush the urinary system and replace lost fluids, and consume a low-fat diet that emphasizes starchy foods, eatables, and fruits. Diet is crucial in treating kidney problems. If you have a serious kidney disease, your doctor will probably refer you to a clinical dietitian for advice concerning changes to your diet. The allowable types and portions of foods differ, depending upon the type and severity of the kidney disorder.
Kidney Stones
Kidney Stones are the most common form of kidney disorders. idney stones form when crystalline mineraIs—normally flushed away in the urine—stick together to form clumps, ranging in size from a grain of sand to coarse gravel. The cause may be inadequate water and fluid intake, metabolic problems, or it may be a structural or metabolic abnormality within the kidney. When kidney stones block any part of the urinary system, especially the ureters or bladder, they cause intense pain. Stones may pass through the system; others must be removed surgically or by sound-wave treatment (lithotripsy).
In order to prevent recurrences, it is important to determine the cause of the kidney stones. Most are formed of calcium oxalate or calcium phosphate. Less commonly, stones may form from uric acid crystals, especially in people with gout. A fourth type, cystine stones, occurs in fairly rare metabolic diseases.
Fluids for healthy kidneys
Liquids are extremely important when it comes to the proper functioning of the kidneys. Water, lemonade, and juices all help to prevent the formation of stones. Most people with stones can reduce the risk of recurrence by drinking plenty of plain water on a daily basis in order to excrete the minerals which contribute to the formation of stones.
Fresh lemonade is also an excellent beverage to flush out kidney stones. Lemons are loaded with citric acid, which helps in the prevention of the deposition of minerals that contribute to the formation of stones. Although most stones contain calcium, it’s not a good idea to cut down on dietary calcium unless your doctor specifically orders it. If the body fails to get enough calcium, it will rob the bones to get the mineral, thus increasing the danger of osteoporosis.
Phosphorus-rich foods contribute to the formation of calcium phosphate stones
The balance of phosphorus and calcium in the diet is very delicate, however, and restricting the intake of one may interfere with the other. A dietitian’s or doctor’s guidance is necessary when changing your intake of either essential mineral nutrition to maintain balanced nutrition.
Cut down on foods high in oxalate
Oxalate-rich foods include rhubarb, beets, nuts, tofu, chocolate, tea, berries, red currants, tangerines, wheat bran and wheat germ, most of the dark green leafy vegetables, sweet potatoes, baked beans, lentils, and beer. It doesn’t pay to take a drastic approach, however; eliminating all these foods depletes the diet of essential vitamins and minerals. A doctor or dietitian will provide a list of foods that can be eaten in moderation with little risk of causing a recurrence. People with gout should keep to a lowpurine diet to reduce the risk of uric acid stones.
Nephritis
Inflammation of the kidney known medically as nephritis may result from bacterial infection or a number of other causes, including side effects of drugs. Infections sometimes arise elsewhere in the body and reach the kidneys through the bloodstream, or enter the body through the urinary tract and travel up through the bladder to the kidneys. Kidney infections, like stones, require a doctor’s intervention and must be treated with antibiotics. No special dietary measures should be necessary; however, people with kidney infections should drink plenty of fluids. A daily glass of cranberry juice helps prevent recurrence of urinary tract infections in susceptible persons.
Kidney Failure
Kidney failure may be either a temporary response to acute shock or injury or a severe long-term state necessitating drastic treatment. Acute kidney failure may be caused by severe infection, burns, diarrhea or vomiting, poisoning (including drug effects or interactions), surgery, or kidney injury. When the problem is resolved, the function usually returns to normal. Chronic kidney failure may be caused by untreated hypertension, poorly controlled diabetes, or an inborn condition that may require kidney dialysis or in a severe case, a kidney transplant.
Diet is extremely important in the management of kidney failure
General recommendations include restricting phosphorus, potassium, protein, and salt. Fluids must be monitored. With too little, the electrolytes are out of balance; with too much, fluid retention causes edema and electrolyte problems and contributes to high blood pressure and perhaps congestive heart failure. Protein needs must be adjusted as kidney function, dialysis, or stress levels change.
Kidney failure requires highly specialized medical care. No changes in diet should be made without a doctor’s approval. Consult regularly with a specialist dietitian who will monitor the diet and intake any necessary adjustments in the amounts of nutrients, including vitamin and mineral supplements.