What should people with weak kidneys eat and drink?

People with kidney failure or weak kidneys should change to a healthy diet, control the amount of protein and fat consumed, eat a bland diet, prioritize steaming and boiling cooking methods, and limit frying and stir-frying.

Specialist Doctor Lam Nguyen Thuy An (Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital - Campus 3) said that nephrotic syndrome is a clinical and biochemical syndrome characterized by massive edema, rapid progression accompanied by effusion of the serous cavities, high proteinuria, decreased blood protein, decreased blood albumin and increased blood cholesterol.

Signs and symptoms of nephrotic syndrome include edema, severe swelling, especially around the eyes, in the ankles and feet. In addition, there will be some characteristics such as foamy urine due to excess protein in the patient's urine, weight gain due to water retention, fatigue, loss of appetite, and loss of appetite.

"In adults, about 80% of glomerulonephritis has no known cause, the rest is associated with systemic diseases or lupus erythematosus, diabetes and amyloid nephropathy. In addition to specific drug treatment according to the doctor's instructions, changing the diet also plays an important role in controlling and improving symptoms," Dr. Thuy An shared.

Protein

For patients without renal failure (blood urea and creatinine levels within normal limits), it is necessary to supplement enough protein to compensate for the amount lost through urine, but should not eat too much to avoid glomerular fibrosis. The average daily protein intake is calculated as 1 g/kg body weight/day along with the amount of protein lost through urine in 24 hours.

Of which, 2/3 is animal protein (meat, fish, shrimp, crab, eggs, milk), 1/3 is vegetable protein (bean sprouts, soybeans, lentils, broccoli, nuts).

Protein intake includes 2/3 animal protein (meat, fish, shrimp, crab, eggs, milk), 1/3 vegetable protein

PHOTO: LE CAM

Energy

Ensure enough energy from 35-40 kcal/kg weight/day.

Fat

Avoid foods high in cholesterol (brains, intestines, animal organs, butter, fat, egg yolks), use about 20-25 g/day. Use vegetable oils (soybean oil, canola oil, peanut oil, sesame oil). Prioritize steaming and boiling cooking methods. Limit frying and stir-frying.

Prioritize steaming and boiling cooking methods

PHOTO: LE CAM

Vitamins, water, minerals

The amount of water consumed daily will be equal to the amount of water excreted + 500 ml. In addition, you should eat a bland diet and reduce salt (1-2 g of salt/day). Eat foods rich in vitamin C, beta carotene, vitamin A, and selenium (green vegetables, red and yellow ripe fruits such as papaya, carrots, mangoes, oranges, and bean sprouts). In cases of little urine and increased blood potassium, you should limit fruits and vegetables.

Foods to eat and avoid

According to Dr. An, foods in the carbohydrate group should be used such as rice, noodles, cassava, the fat group includes vegetable oil, the protein group includes lean meat, lean fish, egg whites, milk, beans, skim milk powder. As for vegetables, you can eat all kinds of vegetables, except in cases of little urination and high blood potassium, then limit them.

Foods that should not be used or limited in the fat group include limiting animal fat. For the protein group, do not use animal organs. If you cannot urinate, urinate little and have high blood potassium, you should not eat fruits with high potassium content (oranges, lemons, bananas, pineapples, plums, avocados). Avoid eating pickled foods, canned foods, dried fruit jams, alcohol, and stimulants.

Suggested daily food intake: 250-300 g of rice; 200 g of lean meat or fish, or replace with 300 g of tofu; 10-15 g of cooking oil; 300-400 g of vegetables, 200-300 g of fruit; 2-4 g of salt, 25-50 g of skimmed milk powder, 10 g of sugar.

Doctor An noted that patients should eat a completely bland diet during the edema phase; when the edema is gone, they can eat 2 teaspoons of fish sauce per day. Not only for patients with nephrotic syndrome, but most cases need a reasonable diet and lifestyle. Patients should go to reputable facilities so that experts can adjust their diet and lifestyle to suit their condition, thereby helping to improve their health, ensuring a safe treatment process and a faster recovery.