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Happy Tummy Expert

5 months ago

Dear Puja Das Saha, Thank you for the question

We request you to kindly specify the kidney ailment whether if it is a case of Nephrolithiasis, Renal calculi, Urinary tract infections (UTIs), AKI (acute kidney infection) or CKD (chronic kidney disease) etc... so that we can guide and help you with appropriate nutritional guidelines accordingly.

Creatinine is a waste product produced by muscles from the breakdown of a compound called creatine. Creatinine is removed from the body by the kidneys, which filter almost all of it from the blood and release it into the urine. 

Serum creatinine level for men with normal kidney function is approximately 0.6 to 1.2mg/dL and between 0.5 to 1.1 mg/dL for women. (Reference: NIH, National Library of Medicine, BUN and Creatinine - PubMed (nih.gov))

A high protein diet which consists of large amounts of protein foods e.g. meat, fish, chicken, eggs, cheese, milk and yoghurt will cause the build-up of urea and creatinine in your blood. It is not recommended to completely avoid protein intake as it may lead to malnutrition. Consume adequate amounts to meet your daily protein needs.

Tips to manage Creatinine levels-

• Limit Protein Intake- Excessive protein-rich diets can also promote an increase in blood creatinine levels. Avoid eating cooked red meat and switch to plant-based Protein sources like pulses, dhals, legumes etc diet.
• Stay Hydrated- Dehydration can also be a cause of high creatinine levels.  If oedema is present water intake should be monitored  and consumed as per the advice of the healthcare professional.
• Limit or avoid Green Tea- Drinking herbal tea made from chamomile, nettle leaf or dandelion root may act as diuretics which help in the elimination of creatinine quickly through urine

Hyperkalaemia is defined as a serum or plasma potassium level above the upper limits of normal, usually greater than 5.0 mEq/L to 5.5 mEq/L. Symptoms usually develop at higher levels, 6.5 mEq/L to 7 mEq/L. Common symptoms such as cardiac arrhythmias, muscle weakness etc. Some of the causes of Hyperkalaemia are excess intake of potassium rich foods, Improper excretion of potassium due to kidney ailments or due to consumption of certain medications.

Tips to manage Hyperkalaemia-

• Limit the intake of high potassium foods such as dried fruits, seaweed, nuts, molasses, avocados, and Lima beans.
• Vegetables that are also high in potassium include spinach, potatoes, tomatoes, broccoli, beets, carrots, and squash.
• High-potassium-containing fruits include kiwis, mangoes, oranges, bananas, and cantaloupe.
• Red meats are also rich in potassium.
• Leaching is a cooking method that helps you enjoy some of your favourite high potassium vegetables. The process of leaching will help pull some potassium out of high potassium vegetables. It is important to remember that this process does not pull out all the potassium. You must still limit the amount of leached high potassium vegetables you eat.

Fruits & Vegetables than can be consumed moderately:

• Apple, Papaya, Pineapple, Guava
• Cucumber, Field beans, Knol kohl, peas, Ridge gourd, bottle gourd, fenugreek leaves, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, brinjal, lettuce, broccoli

Tips to manage sodium levels

• Limit Sodium Intake- Diet high in sodium may lead to high blood pressure and fluid retention that might cause high creatinine levels. Thus, prefer low sodium diet for high creatinine levels. Some of the high sodium foods include salt preserved foods like pickles, sauces, canned foods, salted butter, dry fish, papads, etc.
• Daily Salt intake should be monitored if oedema is present as sodium in salt can cause water retention which leads to swelling of the lower limbs.
• Foods should be cooked without salt and limited salt can be added over the food while eating.
• Salt restriction should be advised by the healthcare professional.

Please consult a health care professional or a registered dietitian for further guidance and management.

Consume a balanced diet which provides all the nutrients in required amounts and proper proportions. It can easily be achieved through a blend of the four basic food groups. The quantities of foods needed to meet the nutrient requirements vary with age, gender, physiological status and physical activity. A balanced diet should provide around 50-60% of total calories from carbohydrates, preferably from complex carbohydrates, about 10-15% from proteins and 20-30% from both visible and invisible fat.

As a general dietary guideline, for an apparently healthy individual/ with no specific health or nutrition needs and/or metabolic condition it is recommended to consume 2000kcal/d and for men, the RDA for protein requirement is 54g/d and for fiber it is 30g/d.

Here are few guidelines for healthy balanced diet that can be considered:

• Have a Diversified Balanced Diet that includes all the food groups in the right quantity which thereby provides you with all the essential macro and micro nutrients that your body requires daily for proper functioning.
• Try to incorporate the My plate Concept by dividing your plate into 4 quadrants, fill half of your plate with low potassium fruits and vegetables, the other two quadrants with cereals and plant-based protein. A small quantity of dairy intake is recommended.
• Some of the good sources of protein include pulses, lentils, milk, paneer, soybean, nuts & seeds, etc. 
• Begin your day with a well-balanced breakfast as it is an important meal of the day.
• Avoid skipping meals. Also, try to avoid fasting and feasting too often.
• Consume small frequent meals, with healthy snacking options.
• Consume minimum 5 servings of vegetables and 1 serving of fruit (low potassium or leached) as they are rich in Fiber, essential minerals & Vitamins as well as they give you a feeling of satiety.
• Limit the intake of high sodium foods such as salt preserved foods like pickles, sauces, canned foods, salted butter, dry fish, papads, etc.
• Try to consume more of Whole grains, Millets and Multigrain foods as they are a good source of fiber.
• Limit intake of deep-fried foods. Method of cooking like baking, grilling, boiling, steaming is preferable over deep frying with excess fat/ oil.
• Have your last meal at least 2-3 hours before sleep time.
• Drink adequate amount of water (minimum 8 glasses) of water daily to keep yourself well hydrated
• Engage in at least 30-45 minutes brisk walk/physical activity of moderate intensity at least 5 days a week. Please check with your healthcare professional for appropriate physical activity regimen.
• Try and follow a good sleep regimen in terms of both quantity and Quality.

For a customised and personalised meal plan for specific conditions, please contact your Health care professional.

Hope we have answered your query.

Wishing you a great day ahead

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