LIVING AN EXCEPTIONAL LIFE #95

By Rhonda Jones

Recently, in conversations with two good friends, I found out that both had stage three kidney disease. I was amazed, but I also have a good friend who is in stage five of her kidney disease and has been waiting several years for a transplant.

She spends 11 hours a day on kidney dialysis. Kidney disease seems to be rampant right now, and I wondered why and what could be done to treat it. Of course, my thought is always a plant-exclusive eating plan, but would that really help? I began researching kidney disease. Turns out the two biggest culprits in promoting kidney disease are diabetes and high blood pressure. Some medications can also promote kidney disease, and repeated UTIs can also be a culprit.

Of course, my first thought was high-protein diets. Animal protein is definitely harder for the body to digest because it produces nitrogenous waste such as urea, ammonia, and creatine during digestion. Because of this, kidneys need to increase their filtration system by a process called glomerular hyperfiltration to remove these byproducts.

Individuals with already compromised kidneys create more work for the kidneys when they eat animal protein, which can exacerbate kidney disease. However, animal protein in itself does not cause kidney disease. It can contribute to diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure, so it is probably a responsible party in a roundabout way.

So, once the disease has started, can anything be done to stop the progression or slow it down? Yes, and you guessed it: a plant-exclusive diet can certainly slow the progression of the disease.

Potassium is compromised with kidney disease, so even some plant foods must be avoided when dealing with it. It is also important to have those potassium levels checked regularly, as high and/or low potassium can be problematic and lead to several complications such as irregular heartbeat and chest pain.

What are the best foods to eat if you have kidney disease? Blueberries, cauliflower, garlic and herbs, red bell peppers, olive oil, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, cashews, leafy greens, sweet potatoes, onions, white rice, grapes, apples, fermented foods, and salmon as a leaner source of protein.

If you want to avoid animal foods altogether, soy (especially tofu) is a great protein with all the amino acids your body needs and less strain on the kidneys, as it is a plant protein and not an animal protein.

Foods that really need to be avoided include all dairy, salted nuts and seeds, processed foods including processed meat, red meat, protein supplements, starfruit (can be toxic), and canned anything, including vegetables and soups.

Avoiding salt is essential, and staying hydrated by drinking lots of water is vital with kidney disease. Some other foods to avoid mainly because of their potassium content are bananas, oranges, avocados, dried fruit, potatoes, tomatoes, whole wheat bread, brown rice, and dark sodas.

This diet seems somewhat limiting, but there is still a lot of fruit and vegetables to eat. Green leafy salads with green onions, pumpkin seeds, radishes, beets, and a little sauerkraut on top for a fermented food. Top it with a nice olive oil and balsamic dressing, or skip the olive oil and just drizzle with a really good balsamic.

The ranch dressing I wrote about a couple of weeks ago would be good. Also, add some cubed tofu that has been baked with some no-salt seasoning. A great meal.

Consult your doctor about getting more disease-fighting foods into your diet. You can get healthy even with kidney disease.