I have just been diagnosed with CKD.3b and have gone onto a diet restricting phosphates and potassium. In just a week I feel less tired and weak and the swelling in my feet and legs has almost disappeared. I confess it is not easy as the fruits I enjoy most all have high levels of phosphates and potassium, e.g. Bananas, mangos, and peaches which have all come into season. But I guess other fruits will make up for it . I would like to try unsweetened black liquorish if I can find a source.
@kenzie Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! As you are already finding out, what we eat can most certainly have an effect on how we feel.
As for black licorice, simply, don't! https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-881/licorice
There is a compound in licorice called glycyrrhizin which can cause bad side effects to those of use with kidney disease. I don't think you want that!
Focus on the healthy foods you can eat, and get some moderate exercise!
Ginger
I have just been diagnosed with CKD.3b and have gone onto a diet restricting phosphates and potassium. In just a week I feel less tired and weak and the swelling in my feet and legs has almost disappeared. I confess it is not easy as the fruits I enjoy most all have high levels of phosphates and potassium, e.g. Bananas, mangos, and peaches which have all come into season. But I guess other fruits will make up for it . I would like to try unsweetened black liquorish if I can find a source.
@kenzie Welcome to the club! I was in End Stage 5 from the first week that I was diagnosed and lasted for 10 years without ever going on dialysis before I finally had to opt for a transplant 2 years ago. One thing that I found helpful was learning portion control. Don't make life any more miserable than it is already. You like bananas, mangos and peaches? Then allow yourself a tiny bit without going overboard. There is nothing poisonous about those fruits, they just are very loaded with stuff that your kidneys have trouble handling. Instead of eating that banana, just eat half of it, or maybe only a couple of slices on your oatmeal. I try to eat very slowly and mindfully so that I am really savoring and enjoying that banan slice. Work with your doctor and consult with a renal dietician about what would be appropriat for you. Stage 3B is still a long way from stage 5. You may be able to find a way to still enjoy eating the fruits that you like.
I have stage 3 CKD and Ive been managing it with help from my kidney doctor. I eat low protein, lots of veggies, drink water and a number of other things. Low phosphorus is important as is low salt.My weight was about 168 but since taking Ozempic and watching my diet carefully ive gotten it down to around 147.I broke my hip in a collision on my bicycle and had to go to the hospital . Spent approximately 1 week in the hospital after the accident then went to a rehab facility for PT and got CDiff , a terrible disease , when I was admitted to the hospital after being dehydrated severely had to spend another week there getting better. Then went home got blood t est and my doctor called me telling me my calcium skyrocketed and had to go to the hospital again to control the calcium levels. All of that in addition to a broke hip recovery has most likely contributed to my weight loss . I havent beeded to even take my Ozempic for a couple months and my weight keeps very low . Had to quit work as I cannot move as fast as I used to to do the job so now Im retired and living off of social security and pensions. Am waiting for PT to end so I can sue the other party in my collision that broke my hip.
@kenzie Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! As you are already finding out, what we eat can most certainly have an effect on how we feel.
As for black licorice, simply, don't! https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-881/licorice
There is a compound in licorice called glycyrrhizin which can cause bad side effects to those of use with kidney disease. I don't think you want that!
Focus on the healthy foods you can eat, and get some moderate exercise!
Ginger
@gingerw Glad you posted this. I purchased some herbal teas, several have licorice root in them. I wonder how much of the glycyrrhizin ends up in a cup of tea? Guess I can always donate the tea to our church fellowship group. I did have some of the tea to sooth the throat and coughing during a recent cold/flu. It would be wonderful if companies were made aware of the issues they cause for people with high BP. Or, the licorice root for CKD. I think of the amount of sodium being dumped on food when dining out. Many of those foods have 2000-5000 mg of sodium in them, extremely high levels. Seems like a letter writing campaign needs to happen with restaurant companies, food producers and to the NIH and others.
I had to make major changes due to CKD 3. Seem to be doing better after going vegan. Focus on Dr. Gregor's list of what to eat, nutrition.org. At any rate, my GFR was getting low, and now has improved. Limit sugar, salt and oil/the big 3! Salt is in so many products, hard to monitor. Sugar was a bit easier to cut back on.
I just met with a renal dietician. Very thorough and talked to me over an hour. It was recommended to go vegetarian, which is a bit difficult for me. I don't eat red meat; however love chicken and fish. So far my potassium, phosphorus, sodium, and protein levels are all in the normal range. I just want to keep things in the normal range! I highly recommend a renal nutritionist. She opened my eyes to a lot. Also, the app Chronometer is excellent. You log your food each day and everything is broken down as to the percentage you are eating for all the vitamins and minerals! This has really helped!
@susangail53 Unfortunately you did not mention that any use of Cronometer [sic] (*) requires a paid subscription. There is no free option that I have found. Why didn't you mention that or at least refute my statement? (* Chronometer is what you stated above. That is not the spelling of the app I found. If I downloaded the incorrect app, I apologize.)
@kenzie Welcome to the club! I was in End Stage 5 from the first week that I was diagnosed and lasted for 10 years without ever going on dialysis before I finally had to opt for a transplant 2 years ago. One thing that I found helpful was learning portion control. Don't make life any more miserable than it is already. You like bananas, mangos and peaches? Then allow yourself a tiny bit without going overboard. There is nothing poisonous about those fruits, they just are very loaded with stuff that your kidneys have trouble handling. Instead of eating that banana, just eat half of it, or maybe only a couple of slices on your oatmeal. I try to eat very slowly and mindfully so that I am really savoring and enjoying that banan slice. Work with your doctor and consult with a renal dietician about what would be appropriat for you. Stage 3B is still a long way from stage 5. You may be able to find a way to still enjoy eating the fruits that you like.
@m1rmiller
Do you mind sharing your kidney disease? I have a first cousin who stayed at stage 5 for 10 years and still going. She took NSAIDS daily for many years and that destroyed her kidneys. I was on lithium for many years and am at late stage 4. I hope to maintain without going on dialysis until a possible transplant.
@susangail53 Unfortunately you did not mention that any use of Cronometer [sic] (*) requires a paid subscription. There is no free option that I have found. Why didn't you mention that or at least refute my statement? (* Chronometer is what you stated above. That is not the spelling of the app I found. If I downloaded the incorrect app, I apologize.)
@ruffkid - I've been using Chronometer for over 15 months - they do have a free version. You 'can' pay for additional features, but for my needs, the free app has been working fine. https://cronometer.com/index.html
There isn’t a single “kidney diet” for everyone, but there are certain foods that can strain the kidneys—especially if someone has chronic kidney disease (CKD), reduced kidney function, or issues with potassium or phosphorus.
Foods that are generally not good for the kidneys (especially in CKD):
1. High-sodium foods.
Too much salt makes the kidneys work harder and raises blood pressure.
Processed meats (bacon, sausage, deli meats).
Canned soups and frozen meals.
Fast food and restaurant foods.
Chips, salted snacks, pickles, soy sauce.
2. Foods very high in potassium:
If kidney function is reduced, they can’t clear potassium well.
Bananas.
Oranges/orange juice.
Potatoes and sweet potatoes.
Tomatoes and tomato sauces.
Avocados.
Spinach.
3. High-phosphorus foods:
Too much phosphorus can weaken bones and damage blood vessels.
Dark colas.
Processed foods with “phosphate” additives.
Organ meats.
Dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt—needs moderation in CKD).
4. Very high-protein diets:
The kidneys must filter protein waste products.
Large amounts of red meat.
High-protein keto diets.
Protein powders/shakes.
Protein is still needed—just not in excess.
5. Foods high in oxalates (if prone to kidney stones):
Beets.
Spinach
Almonds / nuts.
Rhubarb.
Chocolate.
Sweet potatoes.
These can increase stone formation in some people.
6. Sugary drinks:
They can worsen diabetes and obesity—two major causes of kidney damage.
@ruffkid - I've been using Chronometer for over 15 months - they do have a free version. You 'can' pay for additional features, but for my needs, the free app has been working fine. https://cronometer.com/index.html
@gwladj76, thank you for clarifying about the Cronometer and its free version for @ruffkid. I can understand why people would use the correct spelling chronometer for the name of the app. In this case, @ruffkid, it is purposefully misspelled as Cronometer.
Scroll down on this page to see what is available in the free version https://cronometer.com/gold/
Please note, I have not used the app and cannot vouch for it. I'm just helping to answer the questions you asked about it.
Connect
Connect
Like
Helpful
Hug
@kenzie Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! As you are already finding out, what we eat can most certainly have an effect on how we feel.
As for black licorice, simply, don't!
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-881/licorice
There is a compound in licorice called glycyrrhizin which can cause bad side effects to those of use with kidney disease. I don't think you want that!
Focus on the healthy foods you can eat, and get some moderate exercise!
Ginger
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 Reactions@kenzie Welcome to the club! I was in End Stage 5 from the first week that I was diagnosed and lasted for 10 years without ever going on dialysis before I finally had to opt for a transplant 2 years ago. One thing that I found helpful was learning portion control. Don't make life any more miserable than it is already. You like bananas, mangos and peaches? Then allow yourself a tiny bit without going overboard. There is nothing poisonous about those fruits, they just are very loaded with stuff that your kidneys have trouble handling. Instead of eating that banana, just eat half of it, or maybe only a couple of slices on your oatmeal. I try to eat very slowly and mindfully so that I am really savoring and enjoying that banan slice. Work with your doctor and consult with a renal dietician about what would be appropriat for you. Stage 3B is still a long way from stage 5. You may be able to find a way to still enjoy eating the fruits that you like.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
5 ReactionsI have stage 3 CKD and Ive been managing it with help from my kidney doctor. I eat low protein, lots of veggies, drink water and a number of other things. Low phosphorus is important as is low salt.My weight was about 168 but since taking Ozempic and watching my diet carefully ive gotten it down to around 147.I broke my hip in a collision on my bicycle and had to go to the hospital . Spent approximately 1 week in the hospital after the accident then went to a rehab facility for PT and got CDiff , a terrible disease , when I was admitted to the hospital after being dehydrated severely had to spend another week there getting better. Then went home got blood t est and my doctor called me telling me my calcium skyrocketed and had to go to the hospital again to control the calcium levels. All of that in addition to a broke hip recovery has most likely contributed to my weight loss . I havent beeded to even take my Ozempic for a couple months and my weight keeps very low . Had to quit work as I cannot move as fast as I used to to do the job so now Im retired and living off of social security and pensions. Am waiting for PT to end so I can sue the other party in my collision that broke my hip.
@gingerw Glad you posted this. I purchased some herbal teas, several have licorice root in them. I wonder how much of the glycyrrhizin ends up in a cup of tea? Guess I can always donate the tea to our church fellowship group. I did have some of the tea to sooth the throat and coughing during a recent cold/flu. It would be wonderful if companies were made aware of the issues they cause for people with high BP. Or, the licorice root for CKD. I think of the amount of sodium being dumped on food when dining out. Many of those foods have 2000-5000 mg of sodium in them, extremely high levels. Seems like a letter writing campaign needs to happen with restaurant companies, food producers and to the NIH and others.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI had to make major changes due to CKD 3. Seem to be doing better after going vegan. Focus on Dr. Gregor's list of what to eat, nutrition.org. At any rate, my GFR was getting low, and now has improved. Limit sugar, salt and oil/the big 3! Salt is in so many products, hard to monitor. Sugar was a bit easier to cut back on.
@susangail53 Unfortunately you did not mention that any use of Cronometer [sic] (*) requires a paid subscription. There is no free option that I have found. Why didn't you mention that or at least refute my statement? (* Chronometer is what you stated above. That is not the spelling of the app I found. If I downloaded the incorrect app, I apologize.)
@m1rmiller
Do you mind sharing your kidney disease? I have a first cousin who stayed at stage 5 for 10 years and still going. She took NSAIDS daily for many years and that destroyed her kidneys. I was on lithium for many years and am at late stage 4. I hope to maintain without going on dialysis until a possible transplant.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@ruffkid - I've been using Chronometer for over 15 months - they do have a free version. You 'can' pay for additional features, but for my needs, the free app has been working fine. https://cronometer.com/index.html
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionThere isn’t a single “kidney diet” for everyone, but there are certain foods that can strain the kidneys—especially if someone has chronic kidney disease (CKD), reduced kidney function, or issues with potassium or phosphorus.
Foods that are generally not good for the kidneys (especially in CKD):
1. High-sodium foods.
Too much salt makes the kidneys work harder and raises blood pressure.
Processed meats (bacon, sausage, deli meats).
Canned soups and frozen meals.
Fast food and restaurant foods.
Chips, salted snacks, pickles, soy sauce.
2. Foods very high in potassium:
If kidney function is reduced, they can’t clear potassium well.
Bananas.
Oranges/orange juice.
Potatoes and sweet potatoes.
Tomatoes and tomato sauces.
Avocados.
Spinach.
3. High-phosphorus foods:
Too much phosphorus can weaken bones and damage blood vessels.
Dark colas.
Processed foods with “phosphate” additives.
Organ meats.
Dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt—needs moderation in CKD).
4. Very high-protein diets:
The kidneys must filter protein waste products.
Large amounts of red meat.
High-protein keto diets.
Protein powders/shakes.
Protein is still needed—just not in excess.
5. Foods high in oxalates (if prone to kidney stones):
Beets.
Spinach
Almonds / nuts.
Rhubarb.
Chocolate.
Sweet potatoes.
These can increase stone formation in some people.
6. Sugary drinks:
They can worsen diabetes and obesity—two major causes of kidney damage.
Soda.
Sweet teas
Energy drinks.
Juice in large amounts.
Important point*
What’s “bad” depends on:
the stage of kidney function.
whether potassium or phosphorus is high.
diabetes or heart issues.
medications.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
6 Reactions@gwladj76, thank you for clarifying about the Cronometer and its free version for @ruffkid. I can understand why people would use the correct spelling chronometer for the name of the app. In this case, @ruffkid, it is purposefully misspelled as Cronometer.
Here's the link again, if you didn't see it in the post above https://cronometer.com/index.html.
Scroll down on this page to see what is available in the free version https://cronometer.com/gold/
Please note, I have not used the app and cannot vouch for it. I'm just helping to answer the questions you asked about it.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 Reactions