Custom Lighted Kidney Shaped Poker Table
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Article by George McKenzie
If you have a kidney problem, or you want to make sure you avoid having one in the future, you have to be careful about what's in your diet.
The goal of this article is to offer information on a sensible diet for people with kidney problems - whether you already have a kidney problem, or are worried you might have one in the future. The information in this article is also intended to help anyone who is a caretaker for someone who has kidney problems, or has to plan meals everyday for such an individual.
When you're dealing with kidney disease, kidney failure or similar challenges, diet is an extremely important component in controlling your condition. Diet can also be important in avoiding recurring issues like kidney stones.
Decisions about what to eat depend on several factors.
* The current state of your kidney health
* Your overall health and physical well-being, especially in regard to any other conditions or or disorders you may have.
* Your BMI, or body mass index or BMI (the kidneys of obese people have to work harder).
When planning a diet for people with kidney problems, there are five main food groups that must be taken into consideration.
Salt or Sodium
Normal kidneys remove excess sodium from your body by filtering it out of your bloodstream. But unhealthy kidneys fail to do this. They allow salt to accumulate. As a result, there's a fluid build up in the body which causes bloating and usually appears first in the joints and the face.
Sodium or salt is important for metabolism. It helps control blood pressure, keeps a fluid balance in the body, and even influences muscle movement.
But many people eat way more salt than they should. Some don't realize that many of the prepackaged and processed foods that are regular parts of their diets are loaded with sodium - it's not just the salt that comes out of the shaker on the dinner table.
Anyone who has reason to think they might have a kidney problem should avoid making the following foods a big part of their diet:
*dinner mixes that are pre-packaged or processed
*potato chips and salty snacks
*salted nuts
*processed foods like cold cuts
*cheese
*canned, dehydrated, or instant soup or bouillon cubes
*canned vegetables
*bacon
You can also do yourself a favor by reducing the amount of salt from the salt shaker at the dinner table.
Protein
Protein is similar to sodium: it's a good thing as long as you don't eat too much of it.
Eating a diet that includes a large amount of protein is bad for your kidneys. It causes excess waste and increases the risk of kidney disease. Talk to your doctor to find a balance.
A lot of protein can be found in meat and poultry products (which includes eggs). Vegetables and grains typically don't contain much protein.
Potassium
Almost all foods contain some level of potassium So if you're concerned about your kidneys, you have to become aware of how much potassium is contained in your food choices.
Some foods contain a lot of potassium, and you should be careful to watch how much of them you eat.
Foods that contain a lot of potassium include collard, mushrooms, mustard, oranges, potatoes, prunes, raisins, salt substitute, tomatoes, apricots, bananas, beets and broccoli.
Potassium plays an important role in maintaining the health of muscles and nerves. When there's too much potassium in your diet however, you can start having heart rhythm problems.
Phosphorus
Phosphorus is similar to potassium in that it promotes healthy muscles and nerves. When combined with calcium, it also gives you strong bones and teeth.
When you have kidney problems, your phosphorus balances can be affected. This reduces your calcium levels, and your body begins to "rob" calcium from your bones to make up for the deficiency.
But excessive levels of phosphorus is bad too. It can cause skin irritation and itchiness, joint pain and brittle bones.
Here are some foods that contain a lot of phosphorus: peanut butter and many kinds of nuts, liver (both chicken and beef) cheese and caramel. Keep in mind you can get phosphorus from what you drink too. Beer and cola products have relatively high phosphorus levels.
Fluids
One of the most important functions your kidneys perform is filtering fluids. Someone with a kidney problem has challenges in this area. So, it's important to watch your fluid intake carefully as part of a healthy kidney diet.
Consuming a lot of fluids can result in swelling, high blood pressure and shortness of breath.
It's important to remember that some fluids start out as solids and then melt into liquids in your stomach. Ice cream is a good example of this type of food.
Summary
If you're worried that you might have a kidney problem - now or in the future - it's important to eat the right kinds of foods.
As kidney function declines, kidney dialysis or even a kidney transplant become more and more likely. Eating a diet for people with kidney problems today will reduce your chances of ever being faced with such choices in the future.
To learn more about related topics, click on kidney failure.
About the Author
George McKenzie is a former TV news anchor, medical reporter and radio talk show host.
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