Plant based diet for kidney on Dialysis

The biggest problem of all is what to eat and what to avoid. Especially when you are a vegan, a lot of restrictions come along. In a recent study, it has been observed that patients who were on a plant-based diet have shown greater results than of the patients who were consuming their normal diets. A plant-based diet helps to lower the chances of kidney diseases or even prevent worsening situations.

A vegan or plant-based diet is the combination of food items that are naturally derived from the plants. It is inclusive of legumes, grains, seeds, fruits, vegetables, and naturally extracted oils.

It is a type of diet that excludes all the products that come from animals. All the types of meat and even milk are not included in a vegan diet.

The parameters of a plant-based diet are not restricted but provide multiple benefits to health. Kidney patients are already restricted enough to consume foods that are:

• High in potassium
• High in phosphorus
• High in sodium
• High in proteins
• Frozen
• Processed
• Canned
• Soups
• Dairy
• Deep-fried snacks
• Sugar-sweetened dishes

Plant-based diets are gaining popularity; it is not restricted to the people living in the tribal area. Even the celebrities are recognizing the benefits and adopting the veganism. Studies even suggest that the people who have adopted the dietary habits of consuming only products obtained from plants are way much healthier than people who consume meat and poultry. Dialysis affects the psychological factors and physical factors of an individual where a plant-based diet or veganism can help with it.

Following are the benefits that a patient on dialysis can derive from such type of diet:

• Helps in maintaining a healthy weight
• Lower the increased blood pressure and cholesterol levels
• Reduces the risk of heart diseases
• It reduces the risk of diabetes
• It boosts the levels of antioxidants in the body
• Stops the progression of kidney diseases

Today, the famous bodybuilders, gymnasts, athletes, and actors are following a vegan diet to keep themselves fit from within. Some popular plant-based diets are:

• The DASH diet
• The Mediterranean diet
• The MIND diet

The DASH diet:

It is a type of diet that is generally recommended to the patients who are on dialysis with high blood pressure. It is inclusive of fruits, vegetables, cereals, grains, legumes, nuts, fat-free foods, etc and exclusive of sodium, sweets, foods with high saturated fats etc.

The Mediterranean diet:

Mediterranean diet is a type of diet popularly originates from the countries Spain, Cyprus, Italy, France, etc. It includes the consumption of foods like cereals, grains, beans, cheese (plant-based), olive oil, etc. and excludes the consumption of foods like table sugar, candies, refined sugars, refined grains, soda, etc.

The MIND diet:

It is a type of diet that comprises both the DASH & Mediterranean diet in moderate amounts and focuses on kidney and brain health. It includes the consumption of foods such as moderate amounts of green leafy vegetables, olive oil, berries, etc.

An ideal diet chart for kidney patients on dialysis comprises of such foods that can provide energy and help in retaining essential nutrients and elements that the body acquires. Here is a reference to a plant-based diet for the patients on dialysis:

Though it is a job of your dietitian to create a diet chart meeting the expectations of your body we can provide you with the outlook of what you can consume:

Meal before having breakfast:

• Apple, papaya, guava, strawberry or pear

Note: Do not consume fruits with seeds. Take out the seeds before consumption.

Breakfast:

• Stuffed onion parantha cooked in less oil

Note: Make sure you are boiling the onions before filling in tortillas

Lunch & Dinner:

• Chapatis and a bowl of vegetable

So this was a brief about the plant-based diet that a kidney patient who is on dialysis can consume. Only a few know that this type of diet is beneficial and an important part of the kidney failure treatment. If you want to know more or have got queries then reach out to us for a free consultation right here.

Disclaimer: This article is for your reference only. You should consult with your kidney expert or dietitian before consumption.