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Confused about diet for Stage 3 or 4 CKD
I was diagnosed with Stage 3 CKD four years ago, but my doctor didn't tell me. When he retired and I had to find a new doctor is when I found out. I'm new to this and completely confused when it comes to diet. I am currently eating a sandwich for lunch, made with Ezekiel Low-Sodium bread, which is sprouted whole grain bread. In my research I have found some sites that say never eat whole grain bread, while others say you can eat it with no problem. My doctor has told me I don't need to change my diet, but, as you can imagine, my trust factor is pretty low right now. I'm trying to find some solid information about which breads I should avoid and which ones are okay.
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HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Support Group.
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Thank you for your reply, it's good to hear others share a similar experience. I have read that too, that there can be a fluctuation of up to 10 points on creatinine level. I am hoping that is the case for me. As I recall, the day I had my blood work done, I had a hard work out at the gym, then biked to my appointment, I probably didn't have enough water to drink either because I remember being thirsty. When I do go for my next set of bloodwork, I'll be more mindful and not exercise before I go and drink plenty of water for a truer reading. I'll see if it make a difference. Otherwise, I'm continuing to do everything I can to reverse. Thank you again and good luck to you.
I was diagnosed with stage 3 CKD. Does anyone know of a program to help manage Protein, Potassium, and Phosphorus? Does anyone have any meal suggestions already established of planned?
@dee72 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect!
Most all of us here will agree that diet is so important as we handle our chronic kidney disease [CKD]. What I will tell you is you may want to look at the various discussions we have within this support group for kidney and bladder concerns. There are "basic" diet plans, but in truth you would want to tailor it for your own situation. That is, if you have other issues going on, like diabetes, or high blood pressure, or are gluten-free, or have gout, etc. everything needs to work together. It's not always an easy project to take on, but we need to be consistent!
Monitoring sodium, potassium, phosphorous, calcium, protein are important. Stopping NSAIDS and using Tylenol only. No processed/deli meats. Limit dairy to 1/4 cup daily. Ask your doctor for a referral to a renal dietician who can customize a plan for you.
Ginger
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3 ReactionsKidney damage is not reversable, your kidneys are damaged and will remain damaged. The goal is to not damage anymore of the remaining functioning portions of your kidneys. This can be done thru proper kidney friendly diets, staying hydrated, watching the drugs you take to make sure they do not have a risk of kidney side effects and not just the NSAIDs, this includes supplements and other Rx drugs, proper exercise, proper rest, etc. Lifestyle changes are the name of the early phase treatments. I wish you well on your journey.
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2 ReactionsYes, diet is important! I also have CKD 3 and Type 2 diabetes. I eat lots of greens. Salad for breakfast! Mostly, my protein comes from a little chicken and hard boiled eggs. Nuts are good snacks with reduced salt. Green tea for most hydration. I make a "peasant food" of cooked rice and black beans. Using spices including turmeric, onion, garlic, bone broth, and virgin olive oil can give it a nice taste. Stay away from sweets and alcohol. Exercise is vital. Check Dr Attia's book and his podcast. Living a healthy life can be a challenge. Are you up for a challenge?
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1 ReactionWe all need to see a renal dietitian to provide the customization of meal plans to meet our numbers and our preferences. I am having trouble finding a renal dietitian myself. I am using cookbooks and some assistance from Microsoft's AI tool Copilot. Believe it or not it is helping with meal plans. It is certainly not an optimum solution but it is working for me while I continue to look for a renal dietitian I can meet with. I looked into the Mayo Clinic online diet program, pay for participation. They do not have a kidney friendly diet and they are focused entirely on weight loss. Not my primary goal. They do have a heart healthy diet and a Mediterranee diet, both of which would be decent starting places while you search.
I have a leg up because I have eaten organic at home for 20 years. I cut back on carbs five years ago and gave up refined sugar three years ago. You can start by eliminating ultra processed foods - basically foods that have ingredients you cannot pronounce. Ask your doctor for guidance and/or referral to a renal dietitian. I' m seeing my PCP this week for a referral since the one my nephrologist used has stepped back from her position. Keep asking, I am.
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1 ReactionMy physician told me to avoid turmeric.
Can anyone confirm this?
Thanks 🙏🏻