Best diet for kidney disease
Nutrition plays a vital role in managing kidney disease and overall health. Renal diet is one which is low in sodium, phosphorous, and proteins. Learn about the best diet for kidney and health
Low sodium diet
Always prepare and choose food with low sodium. Salt intake is directly associated with faster progression of kidney disease. It not only lowers blood pressure, but also lowers the cholesterol levels. It reduces the chances of stroke and prevents congestive heart failure. Daily recommended salt intake is less than 5 grams.
Avoid food with high sodium intake like
- Smoked, cured, salted or canned meat, fish or poultry including bacon, cold cuts, ham, frankfurters, sausage, sardines, caviar and anchovies.
- Frozen breaded meats and dinners, such as burritos and pizza.
- Canned entrees, such as ravioli, spam and chili.
- Salted nuts, pickles and fries.
- Beans canned with salt added
Low phosphorous diet
Phosphorous is a mineral present in bones. Phosphorous along with calcium helps in building the bones. Phosphorous level in blood is regulated by kidneys by removing extra levels from the blood. High phosphorous harms the body.
Always avoid food which has higher phosphorous content. Click the link to download file listing phosphorous content of various food
Avoid high potassium food
Potassium is very important electrolyte in the body which helps in proper functioning of muscles and regulation of heart beat. It is present in many of the foods which we eat. When kidneys fail, the level of potassium in the blood raises and is called hyperkalemia which is a medical emergency.
What is a safe level of potassium in my blood?
If it is 3.5-5.0………………………You are in the SAFE zone
If it is 5.1-6.0………………………You are in the CAUTION zone
If it is higher than 6.0……………..You are in the DANGER zone.
Here is the list which shows various food items which are categorized depending on potassium content.
Protein intake in chronic kidney disease (CKD)
For a chronic kidney disease patient as the glomerular filtration rate declines, it is better to get more plant based proteins than animal proteins as they break down to less urea. Simply restrict your protein intake to no more than 0.8 grams per kilogram body weight. If you weigh 70 kilograms , then your protein intake should not be more than 70 kg x 0.8 g/kg = 56 grams in a day. Sometimes a CKD patient may be prescribed ketoanalogue supplements to counter the malnutrition because of very low protein intake.
South Indian diet for kidney and dialysis patients
South Indian diet refers to foods from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala.
Below table shows recommended proportions of various macronutrients to be consumed daily.
Portion of food | Recommended daily allowances |
Carbohydrate | 337 milligrams |
Protein | 50 grams |
Fats | 25 grams |
Calcium | 500 milligrams |
Sodium | 1000 milligrams |
Iron | 17 milligrams |
Dietary advise is the integral part in the management of any kidney or a diabetic patient. These weekly and daily dietary chart would be helpful as a powerful tool in guiding a kidney patient into a right path. With stict dietary discipline one can delay or even stop the progression of chronic disease. These links for the dietary plan will be helpful for not only kidney patients, but also for every individual in safeguarding their kidneys.
Indian diet plan for diabetes mellitus
Diabetes plate method
The Diabetes Plate Method is a simple way to control blood sugars by creating a healthy meal. Now you can make your own perfectly balanced meals containing vegetables, protein, and carbohydrates—without any counting, calculating, weighing, or measuring. All you need is a plate!
1. Fill half your plate with nonstarchy vegetables.
Nonstarchy vegetables do not raise blood sugar very much as they are low in carbohydrates. They make a major portion of healthy diet as they are high in vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Filling half your plate with nonstarchy vegetables means you will get plenty of servings of these superfoods.
Some of the examples are as follows.
- Asparagus, Brussels Sprouts
- Broccoli or Cauliflower, Cabbage (green, red, napa, bok choy, chinese)
- Carrots, Tomatoes, Celery, Cucumber, Eggplant
- Leafy greens such as kale, collards, mustard greens, or Swiss Chard
- Mushrooms, Okra
- Green beans, pea pods, snow peas, and sugar snap peas
- Pepperssuch as bell peppers and hot peppers
- Salad greens such as lettuce, spinach, arugula, endive, and other salad mixes
- Squash such as zucchini, yellow squash, chayote, spaghetti squash.
2. Fill one quarter of your plate with lean protein foods
Proteins can be derived from both plant and animal origin. Foods from animal sources usually contain saturated fat, which may increase your risk of heart disease. Lean proteins are lower in fat and saturated fat, making them a healthier choice.
Examples of lean protein foods include:
- Chicken, turkey, and eggs
- Fish like salmon, cod, tuna, tilapia, or swordfish
- Shellfish like shrimp, scallops, clams, mussels, or lobster
- Lean beef cuts such as chuck, round, sirloin, flank, or tenderloin
- Lean pork cuts such as center loin chop or tenderloin
- Lean deli meats
- Cheese and cottage cheese
3. Fill one quarter of your plate with carbohydrate foods
Foods that are higher in carbohydrate include grains, starchy vegetables, beans and legumes, fruit, yogurt, and milk. These foods have the greatest effect on blood sugar. So limit them to only one quarter portion of your meal.
Examples of carbohydrate foods:
- Whole grains such as brown rice, bulgur, oats/oatmeal, polenta, popcorn, quinoa, and whole grain products (bread, pasta, tortillas)
- Starchy vegetables such as acorn squash, butternut squash, green peas, parsnips, plantain, potato, pumpkin, and sweet potato/yam
- Beans and legumes such as black, kidney, pinto, and garbanzo beans
- Fruits and dried fruit
- Dairy products like milk, yogurt, and milk substitutes (i.e. soy milk)
4. Choose water or a low-calorie drink.
Water is the best choice because it contains no calories or carbohydrates and has no effect on blood sugar. Other zero- or low-calorie drink options include:
- Unsweetened coffee (hot or iced)
- Unsweetened tea (hot or iced)
- Sparkling water/club soda
- Flavored water or sparkling water without added sugar
- Diet soda or other diet drinks.
What can I eat to manage my diabetes in an Indian setup?
One should be aware of the affects of nutrition on his glycemic control. Dietary management has gained lot of attention in recent days not only in the management of diabetes but also in many weight controlling pogrammes. The foods your eat, your total caloric intake, physical activity and body weight are some of the factors that can affect blood glucose levels. Foods that contain carbohydrates can raise blood glucose levels. Fats and protein can also affect weight, if eaten in excess.
Click the link below to download the pdf which explains in preparing a diabetic diet meal and know the calorie burden of each preparation on your body.
Glycemic index and diabetes
The glycemic index, is measure that ranks food from 0 to 100. Higher value is not good as such food raises blood glucose levels quickly. Two foods with same carbohydrate levels can have different glycemic index. So always diabetic patients should choose foods with low GI.
GLYCEMIC INDEX | |
55 OR LESS | LOW GI (good) |
56-70 | MEDIUM |
70 or higher | HIGH GI (bad) |
GLYCEMIC INDEX OF INDIAN BREAKFAST
Every diabetic patient must be aware of the glycemic index of common foods which they prepare at home. The key is to have a balanced diet.
A perfect mixture of low GI foods, with medium GI foods and high GI foods. Avoiding either of them is not beneficial. And, taking too much of any one of them is also not beneficial to a diabetic individual.
S NO |
| Glycemic Index |
1 | IDLI | 69 |
2 | POORI | 57 |
3 | PONGAL | 55 |
4 | UPMA | 68 |
5 | DOSA | 66 |
6 | PESARATTU | 60 |
7 | MENDU VADA | 82 |
8 | APPAM | 58 |
9 | TAPIOCA
| 85 |
10 | PUTTU | 58 |
11 | WHEAT ROTI | 62 |
GLYCEMIC INDEX OF FRUITS
Below table shows the glycemic index of various fruits. Cherries, apples and oranges are low GI fruits, whereas pineapple, and watermelon are GI fruits
S NO | GLYCEMIC INDEX | |
1 | CHERRIES | 22 |
2 | APPLE | 38 |
3 | PEACH | 42 |
4 | ORANGES | 44 |
5 | GRAPES | 46 |
6 | KIWI | 52 |
7 | BANANA | 54 |
8 | CUSTARD APPLE | 54 |
9 | MANGO | 56 |
10 | APRICOT | 57 |
11 | PAPAYA | 60 |
12 | RAISINS | 64 |
13 | PINEAPPLE | 66 |
14 | WATER MELON | 72 (HIGH) |
GLYCEMIC INDEX OF INDIAN FOODS
The glycemic index not only helps you be aware of what you are putting in your body but also helps in maintaining your weight loss journey and keeping your cholesterol in check. So let us take a detailed look into glycemic index of various commonly consumed Indian foods.
S NO. | HIGH GI FOODS | GI | LOW GI FOODS | GI |
1 | Maltose(beer) | 110 | Basmati rice | 50 |
2 | Glucose | 100 | Brown rice | 50 |
3 | Baked potatoes | 95 | Whole wheat bread | 50 |
4 | French fries | 95 | Whole wheat pasta | 50 |
5 | Rice flour | 95 | Sweet potatoes | 50 |
6 | Mashed potatoes | 90 | Fresh peas | 40 |
7 | Potato chips | 90 | Sugar free cereal oatmeal | 40 |
8 | Honey | 85 | Kidney beans | 40 |
9 | Cooked carrots | 85 | Figs | 35 |
10 | Cornflakes, popcorn, instant rice | 85 | Raw carrots | 30 |
11 | Puffed rice | 85 | Dairy products | 30 |
12 | Cooked broad beans | 80 | Dried beans, Green beans | 30 |
13 | Pumpkin | 75 | Chickpeas | 30 |
14 | Sugar | 70 | Dark chocolate | 22 |
15 | White bread | 70 | Green lentile | 22 |
16 | Cola | 70 |
|
|
17 | Soda | 70 | Fructose | 20 |
18 | Cookies, corn | 70 | Peanuts | 15 |
19 | White rice | 70 | Green vegetables | 15 |
20 | Noodles | 70 | Tomatoes | 15 |
21 | Cooked white spaghetti | 55 | Garlic, onions | 15 |