Diet for Kidney Disease – Recipe to Improve Kidney Function

Written by Elsa October 16, 2011
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Besides getting the right diet, there are other things you need to consider if you really want to treat kidney disease and improve the function of your kidneys. Therefore, before I give you the food recipe for kidney disease, first of all I would like to give you the following “recipe”:

1. Exercise regularly – make it fun, practice with friends to increase your motivation

2. Get enough vitamin D from the sun

3. Avoid all kinds of alcohol

4. Drink water slowly, instead of in a hurry so you won’t give a pressure to the kidney

5. Manage high blood pressure

6. Treat and reverse diabetes (if you are diabetic)

7. Practice yoga, tai chi, or qigong

Probably you don’t believe in everything I say, since I’m not a doctor nor naturopath. Therefore, I recommend you check out Duncan Capicchiano’s Beat Kidney Disease. He is an Australian naturopath that has been helping his patients improve their health and avoid dialysis.

Now for a food recipe that is delicious and healthy for kidney disease, you can try the following.

Salad – Asparagus, Green Bean, and Lemon Zest

If you want a healthy and delicious diet for kidney disease, you can try asparagus and beans salad, since they are known to be able to provide healing benefits for the kidneys. Following is the recipe (for 4 servings) shared by Duncan Capicchiano, whom I mentioned previously.

Ingredients

¾ oz. asparagus (trimmed off ends)

½ oz. green beans

½ an onion (red is preferred)

1 cup parsley, flat-leaf parsley preferred

2 tomatoes (sliced thinly and lengthwise)

1 lemon, zested and juiced

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

¼ cup grated hard cheese (for example Parmigiano-Reggiano or Parmesan)

½ cup basil

Salt and pepper

1 clove garlic (skinless)

Directions

Bring water to a boil, and put in a small amount of (a pinch).

After that, put in the green beans, place the lid on the pot, and cook for about 2 minutes.

Unlid the pot, put in the asparagus and then cook for about 3 minutes (blanch for 1 up to 2 minutes if they are pencil asparagus).

Drain and then run the veggies under cold water to discontinue cooking process, then drain once again.

Use clean kitchen towels to completely dry the veggies.

Cut the beans as well as asparagus into segments of 2-inches (the heads of the asparagus should be left whole).

Mix the asparagus and beans with the ½ a cup of parsley plus onion in a shallow bowl, then mix the lemon zest and juice.

After that, put herbs and the remaining ½ a cup of parsley into a food processor (with grated cheese).

Put in the extra-virgin olive oil through mixing shute with the food processor turned on.

Season the dressing with pepper and salt, then pour over the salad.

Garnish the salad with sliced tomatoes seasoned with salt.

10.16.2011 // 1 Comment // Continue Reading »

Alkaline-Forming Foods to Help Improve Kidney Function

Written by Elsa October 15, 2011
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Keeping the alkaline balance in the body is one of the functions of the kidneys. Since maintaining alkalinity will be difficult for kidney disease sufferers, eating alkaline diet is the perfect solution to improve kidney function.

Before we go on to the alkaline-forming foods, please consult your doctor or health care professional prior to taking a new diet, especially if you have chronic kidney failure.

So, what foods are actually alkaline-forming?

To help improve kidney function you should avoid acid-forming and eat alkaline-forming foods instead. Acidic foods include alcohol, soft drinks, chips, coffee, and meat. Remember that foods having acidic taste are not always acid-forming. Let’s take tomatoes for example. They taste acidic before ingestion, but in fact leave alkaline residue once digested. Another example is fish. It is indeed acidic, but it contains healthy fats that can be beneficial to your kidneys.

Following are some other alkaline-forming foods you should consider:

1. Lemons – it may taste sour, but it is in fact alkaline.

2. Cabbage – it is alkaline, and also rich in vitamin A, C, as well as potassium and magnesium.

3. Cauliflower – this alkaline-forming veggie is a great to help keep the cells functioning properly.

3. Kale – it is a great antioxidant

4. Cucumber – it can also help to cleanse sugar in the body

5. Turnip greens – it is also beneficial in helping the cells to be fully functional

6. Spinach – it is in fact the most alkaline food

7. Raw juices – they can help normalizing acid-alkaline balance in your body

8. Herbal teas – although teas are acid-forming, herbal teas are not.

If you’ve followed the diet, how do you know that it’s successful or not?

You can check for yourself if the diet works by using litmus paper to test your level of pH. Make sure that you are able to reach a pH level of 6.75 to 7.2.

To make the diet work better, it is recommended that you exercise (particularly do aerobics) or get more active physically. It is also suggested to practice yoga or qigong. Watch the video below for an example of qigong for kidney disease:

 

 

For more tips on the diet for kidney disease, I recommend you check out Duncan Capicchiano’s Beat Kidney Disease. Duncan is an Australian Naturopath, co-founder of a leading natural therapies clinic (Vitalchi Wellness Sanctuary) in Melbourne and a member of Australian Traditional Medicine Society. Find out the natural ways to improve and possibly start healing kidney disease without expensive and ineffective drugs.

10.15.2011 // 1 Comment // Continue Reading »

Kidney Disease Questions & Answers

Written by Elsa May 17, 2012
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When it comes to kidney disease, there may be some doubts or uncertainties as you may find some conflicting information when you’re browsing the Internet for solutions. These questions & answers may help to clarify things up:

Q: What actually causes kidney disease?

A: Generally, this health issue is caused by diabetes and hypertension (about 60% on average). However, it can also be caused by long-term use of drugs (prescribed medications are included) and alcohol.

Q: Why is this blog talking about healing kidney damage? Isn’t it irreversible?

A:  According to Duncan Capicchiano, a qualified Aussie naturopath and creator of Beat Kidney Disease, natural medicines have been proven to work through personal experience, scientific testing, as well as 1,000s of years of natural medicine practice all over the world. Kidney disease cannot be cured if the only thing you do is focusing only on drugs or medications given by your doctor. The truth is, drugs will only address the symptoms and help you manage, not heal, this condition.

Q: If I can treat kidney disease naturally, how long will I be able to see improvements?

A: Since it generally takes many years for kidney disease to develop gradually, treating this issue will also take time. When you treat it naturally (by following a full regime), initial improvements may occur in about 90 days although it still depends on the level of the damage. Therefore, it is recommended to take kidney function tests at this point so you can measure the results.

Q: If prolong use of medications causes renal disease, what can I do if I need to take certain prescribed drugs for another condition?

A: First of all, immediately stopping medications can be life-threatening, so don’t do that. It is best to consult with your physician before withdrawing from any drug. Since they can add burden to the kidneys, you can ask your doctor of whether you can take any alternative such as natural remedies or other drug that is more “friendly” to your kidneys.

Q: I’ve read that caffeine is not good for the kidneys. Can I still drink decaffeinated one?

A: If you’re having kidney problems, caffeine (which can also be found in tea, chocolate & cola nuts) should be avoided. Even though coffee is decaffeinated, it is generally done by using chemical processes so this can still give damaging effects to the kidneys. In addition, some decaffeinated drinks may still have caffeine, although in a small amount. Therefore, it is better for you to get healthier beverages without caffeine at all, unless you can find coffee that is non-chemical decaf (although it is still not recommended).

Q: Can dialysis cure renal disease?

A: Unfortunately, no. Dialysis can only help the renal system clean the toxins so you can keep doing normal activities.

05.17.2012 // Leave a comment // Continue Reading »

When to Start Dialysis?

Written by Elsa January 20, 2012
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Want to find out when to start dialysis?

Dialysis is basically the process where excess waste and water are removed from the body through the means of a machine attachment. This is usually done because the kidney is no longer capable of performing the screening process, therefore necessitating the use of an outside tool to keep the body healthy. Although an imperfect system, dialysis is the treatment of choice for patients whose kidneys have ceased functioning.

When is the best time to start dialysis?

The argument about when to start dialysis hasn’t been settled until recently. Experts previously believed that dialysis should be started as early as possible, preferable as soon as a person shows any sign of kidney problems.

However, this isn’t really the case at all.

According to the “Coping with Kidney Disease” book by respected MD Mackenzie Walzer, the best time to start dialysis is not as soon as possible. In fact, studies show that dialysis should only be done when the patient’s condition is so severe that only dialysis can improve it.

What happens when dialysis is started too soon?

As mentioned, the best time to start dialysis would be when the condition is severe enough to matter. But what happens when the dialysis is started too soon?

In Dr. Walzer’s book, he cites several studies comparing predialysis patients from those already undergoing dialysis. According to Stockholm, people who have switched to dialysis are experiencing fatigue, functional disability and lack of energy.  Hence, this really falsifies the original belief that dialysis improves the patient’s quality of life.

Another remarkable point made in the book is the mortality rate between late and early dialysis starters. It was widely believed that the best time when to start dialysis is at an early stage because this significantly lengthens the patient’s life. When compared to late dialysis starters however, no difference in mortality rate was perceived between the two.

When to start dialysis and what are the signs?

The common method of finding out when to start dialysis with a patient is when they start eating less protein. The argument is that as the patient suffers more from renal insufficiency.

The assumption is that once the patient shuns meat and other proteins, they will automatically develop a protein deficiency and would therefore need dialysis. However, Dr. Walzer states that this lack of protein does not automatically mean stopping the dietary therapy and proceeding to a dialysis. Instead, it only proves that the patient should have a restricted protein intake while still making sure that their diet remains nutritious.

All in all, patients who are coping with kidney problems are in line for a dialysis are advised to postpone the treatment as long as they are physically able. At the very least, talk about the situation with the doctor and discuss dialysis options. Considering all the research backing it up, starting dialysis early will not really produce extraordinary results for the patient, and instead would only reduce the quality of their life.

01.20.2012 // 1 Comment // Continue Reading »

Creatinine Levels – How to Lower Yours Naturally

Written by Elsa December 18, 2011
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One of the best indicators to assess kidney function is to measure creatinine levels. There are a few reasons why this is so:

1. The level of creatinine in the body is relatively constant (the only exception is during strenuous exercises when the levels increase)

2. The elimination route for creatinine is through the kidneys

3. There is hardly any reabsorption of creatinine in the kidney; this means that this compound is not absorbed back into the blood circulation and hence is the best indicator.

Nevertheless, decreasing creatinine levels should not be the main goal for a person who is suffering from kidney disease. This is simply because the level of this compound is only a measure of the kidney’s function and is not the causative reason for the same.

A treatment method which focused on only lowering the creatinine levels will not be a beneficial one for addressing kidney disease. The person could still be suffering from poorly functioning kidneys due to some other reason like low hemoglobin, decreased vitamin D levels or elevated potassium levels.

Now you must be wondering why this article is about how to bring down the level of creatinine naturally. This is only because I know that when you started searching for ‘methods to lower creatinine naturally’ or ‘how to bring down creatinine levels’ on the internet, you were actually looking for a way to improve your kidney function.

Now let me share with you a few tips which can be incorporated into your daily diet and lifestyle to improve kidney function and also lower the levels of creatinine.

1. Avoid Intake of Creatine Supplements

In high dosages, this large molecule is bound to do more harm for your kidneys than good and can also cause swelling of this organ. This is because creatine gets converted into creatinine which adds to the load already present.

2. Nettle Leaf Tea

Tea brewed from this leaf is an excellent tonic for the kidneys; hence consume one to two cups every day to improve kidney functioning and also decrease the level of creatinine. Make sure that you use only the leaf and not the root for brewing the tea.

3. Vegetarian Diet

A diet rich in vegetables and fruits can absolutely benefit your body in many ways, because:

  • Many animal or meat products contain creatine and creatinine which when consumed adds to the load already circulating in blood. Taking a vegetarian diet reduces this burden which is beneficial for the kidney.
  • Consumption of red meat must be avoided as studies have proven that this is harmful to the health of the kidneys.
  • Dairy products such as cheese, milk, butter, etc. are also known to augment kidney dysfunctions and hence must be avoided.

4. Avoid Strenuous Exercises

This will help to decrease the amount of creatine that gets broken down into creatinine in the body.

5. Chitosan

Though this one is considered to be the magic pill for weight management, it can be beneficial for your kidneys too. Chitosan supplements can reduce the levels of blood urea, cholesterol and also creatinine in the body. This compound is also great for elevating hemoglobin levels especially in people suffering from chronic kidney disease. Dosage recommended is around 1000 to 4000 mg per day.

6. Take Vanadium Only In Small Doses

Vanadium is a beneficial mineral for lowering blood sugar levels and is recommended for diabetic patients but over consumption of this can lead to high creatinine levels. The recommended dosage is under 100mcg per day.

7. Alpha Lipoic Acid

This is one compound that everyone who wants to improve kidney function must take. Apart from providing energy, it neutralizes the toxins present in our system which can then be harmlessly eliminated by the kidneys. And of course creatinine levels are also lowered by this wonder compound.

Hopefully the tips above will be beneficial for you. Find out also how to improve your kidney function naturally with the proper diet by checking out this article.

12.18.2011 // 1 Comment // Continue Reading »

Changing Lifestyles to Avoid Kidney Complications

Written by Elsa December 17, 2011
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Photo by yourdon

Lifestyle choices create an impact on a person’s overall well-being, and if they’re not careful, it can lead to health problems such as kidney diseases. Kidneys become vulnerable to failure and other symptoms if some lifestyle and eating habits go unchecked. However, there are still ways to deal with this problem and avoid further complications.

In order to alleviate the progression of kidney disease, you need to undergo some lifestyle changes, such as the following:

First of all, you should always monitor and control your blood pressure.

You can start by following healthy living through right diet and regular exercise to prevent further damage to the nerves and blood vessels. Your doctor may determine your general health and the stage of the disease so he/she can give the right recommendations towards your improvement.

One of the primary indicators your doctor may check is hypertension or high blood pressure, since this is a common cause of kidney disease. You may be prescribed medications if you have the need to maintain or lower blood pressure.

Eating habits is another significant factor.

Food with high salt and protein content can make the kidney symptoms worse. If the kidneys are not working properly, certain minerals like phosphorus builds up in the blood and a high phosphorus concentration can cause weak and brittle bones.

It’s important to minimize the intake of foods with high salt, protein, phosphorus, and fat content. Some examples include dairy products, peas, nuts and cola products. Dietitians will be able to suggest a healthier and more suitable diet to help alleviating kidney disease.

Maintaining healthy weight is also a good way to avoid kidney complications.

Obesity is another major concern, as it can develop other problems like diabetes and hypertension. If you have excess weight problems, you should consult your doctor on the best and safest ways to shed off the extra pounds. Dietitians or nutritionists will also be able to provide some diet schemes to help you achieve an ideal weight.

Also, don’t forget to control blood sugar levels if you are diabetic.

If you have diabetes, having high blood sugar levels can also contribute to kidney problems. In fact, high blood sugar worsens chronic kidney disease. To check whether you have diabetes or not, you can diagnose it with simple blood tests. Prescriptions will be given to help treat this condition.

Another important lifestyle change is to stop smoking

Smoking is especially hazardous to those with kidney problems. The likelihood of developing abnormal urinary protein excretion, an early symptom of renal failure, is higher among persons who smoke, especially if they already have diabetes or high blood pressure.

There’s also enough evidence to show that kidney problems grow at a faster rate with men who smoke. People with kidney problems should realize the harmful effects of smoking and take necessary steps to quit the habit. If you are a smoker, nicotine gum and patches can be used as an alternative, and there any many support programs that help you stop smoking.

Keeping your heart strong – do this!

Since one of the complications of kidney disease is coronary heart disease, a precursor to heart attacks, regular exercise, as well as the other tips previously mentioned, can help you avoid complications by keeping the heart strong.

Some studies conducted on predialysis patients have shown that their breathing capacity, blood pressure and muscular strength have some shown some positive changes after four months of regular exercise. However, there is no clear impact of regular exercise on dialysis and there’s no evidence to suggest that it affects the progression of kidney disease.

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