I
am in a panic, I have just found out I have PKD polycystic kidney disease. What can maintain healthy cystic kidneys? I
am in a panic, I have just found out I have PKD polycystic kidney disease. What can maintain healthy cystic kidneys?
The latest research shows with diet and lifestyle changes we can maintain our cystic kidneys in a healthy state for a very long time, perhaps delaying the need for dialysis or transplant forever. See many articles and read about it in Saving Failing Kidneys. Find a nephrologist (a kidney specialist) who understands PKD polycystic kidney disease. Work with this doctor to maintain healthy kidneys.
plant
based DIET
|
maintain
ALKALINITY |
low
BLOOD
PRESSURE
|
correcting
ANEMIA
|
lessening
PROTEINURIA |
diminish
CYST GROWTH |
adequate
BLOOD
FLOWING KIDNEYS |
The above are things we can adjust. There are a few other things that affect the outcome of PKD that we cannot adjust. For instance if one has inherited PKD1 gene vs. PKD2 gene, then PKD2 has a delay of perhaps 12 years before our kidneys may show symptoms requiring treatment. If we are male, than high blood pressure and LVH left ventricular hypertrophy seems to occur earlier. If we are female with liver cysts, complications occur sooner and with more severity among females.
• BLOOD PRESSURE control - Maintain a consistent low blood pressure between 100/60 - 120/70. There is a five (5) year HALT PKD blood pressure study going on right now to see what the best blood pressure medication is for controlling PKD. If you would like to participate click here. The medicine is thought to be ACE inhibitors. ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor site blocking agents keep the kidneys bathed in a very good blood supply. A good nourishing blood abundant blood supply to the kidneys is key to keeping our cystic kidneys healthy. This is the conclusion from the CRISP study. To learn more about blood pressure control, see this page.
• ANEMIA - If present, correct any anemia. If anemia is not corrected this puts an extra load upon the heart as it pumps harder to circulate the anemic blood throughout the entire body. This forces a weak heart muscle to develop. In enlarging, the heart muscle becomes less efficient as a pump. This can lead to left ventricular hypertrophy, LVH, and an earlier death from heart disease; the most common cause of death from PKD.
• EXERCISE - Gentle non-contact-sports like walking daily is a good thing for maintaining health. This aides the blood circulation; keeps the body toned; prevents osteoporosis; and helps keep a good blood flow to all the body organs including the kidneys. Running marathons, participating in triathlons, while vigorous, can cause the healthiest body to spill protein in the urine. With PKD we wish to diminish spilling of protein in the urine. Gradually work up to daily aerobic exercise increasing it steadily and checking for protein in urine after a long run or bike ride.
• CYST GROWTH - Continue to do what you can to diminish cyst growth through avoiding caffeine in all its forms: chocolate, decaf coffee, green tea, colas; minimizing trauma to the kidneys; and treating infections early and promptly. For alternatives to caffeine click here.
• RENAL PERFUSION - Maintain a good blood supply to the kidneys. Rest when needed. You are the protector of your cystic kidneys and your cystic liver. Question all medicines and avoid any that may have the potential to harm kidneys or liver. For a list of herbs harmful to the kidney, click here. For a list harmful to livers, click here. Ask for an alternative. Avoid over the counter preparations such as: aspirin, tylenol, NSAIDs, phenacetin, ephedrine compounds and more. Avoid alcohol and caffeine. For habits that are harmful to the kidneys and liver, click here.
• ALKALINITY - Maintain alkalinity. Check your alkalinity with pH test strips. Read about potassium citrate, a potent alkalizer. For how to test your urinary pH click here. To maintain alkalinity through diet and lifestyle, click here.
PH PAPER
Email Micro
Essential Lab for pH papers on a roll. The most commonly requested is #067 with a range of 5.5
to 8.0. It measures in increments of 0.2 pH. The price is US $50 for a carton
of 10 rolls. The minimum order is for 3 rolls for $20.
Less expensive Refills No. 067 with a pH 5.5-8.0 Vivid
are available five rolls, 15 feet each #4167 order number 3794167 for $12.60.
For
testing the urine in the evenings, pHydrion is the easiest to use. The
color chart is yellow when acid, green neutral and blue when alkaline.
The pHion test strips are also useful, inexpensive and easy to read.
• PROTEINURIA - If present, diminish spilling of protein in the urine. One can test urinary proteins with a dipstix called albustix available 100 for $27.99 through Canada.
• DIET - Eat a neutral protein diet of 0.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight; avoiding animal proteins. Eat a diet that avoids table salt maintaining sodium intake at less than 1200 mg / day. Eat a variety of potassium rich produce daily. Drink 2 liters water. Some are trying 4 - 8 Liters of water per day. See water.
Allow the body to take in EAA and EFA essential fatty acids and essential amino acids daily. Supplement with vitamins and minerals while working with your doctor. Do take vitamin B6, B12 and folic acid daily if you are vegan. Do take Vitamin C with rose hips all natural from time to time. As we age the need for these supplements increases.
Avoid all caffeine. ( coffee, chocolate, black tea, green tea, white tea and decaf.) Drink chamomile, rooibos, hibiscus and rose hips, linden flower, or veronica tea. Or for a little bubbly, try cranberry, apple or grape juice mixed with Perrier mineral water.
Briefly in a nutshell eat a plant based diet. Remain alkaline. Avoid spilling protein in your urine. Stay away from animal products and streamline your diet to fruits vegetables and a few selected pre-soaked grains (spelt, quinoa, rye, oats, kasha) and pre-soaked nuts (almond, coconut, chestnut). Enjoy plenty of leafy greens, broccoli, radish, and below ground root crops. Soak all beans, legumes, grains, seeds and nuts before eating. This lowers their phytic acid content, making these foods more digestible and alkaline. For more on the PKDiet, the alkaline diet for PKD click here. For a list of alkaline foods click here. For sample menus click here. For more on low protein diets click here. For what to eat while traveling try here. To download medical articles about the alkaline diet, potassium citrate and more click here. And for a list kidney foods click here.
A.) Eat foods as close to grown in the garden as possible, locally grown is best
B.) Eat organic.
C.) Eat fresh produce.
D.) Frozen is allright. Try to avoid canned, prepared foods.
Avoid canned, prepared, fried, and microwaved
food. Ask to see the renal dietitian to get a PKDiet or an alkaline diet calibrated
specifically for you and where you are with PKD. If it is early in the disease
and you have good functioning kidneys then a vegan diet that avoids all animal
proteins (ground meats, dairy, egg whites, milk, cheese, beef, pork, chicken),
soy proteins, yeast, alcohol, concentrated sugars is best.
Fruits and Vegetables to avoid:
tomato
potato
eggplant
peppers
celery
starfruit
strawberries
plums
prunes
soy
peanuts
Some individuals with diminished kidney functioning have halted their disease by asking their nephrologist about beginning -
For
more information click
here. An article Saving
Failing Kidneys appeared in the Malaysian Star.
• WATER - A possible treatment for Polycystic kidney disease? Read more here.
Last updated Tuesday November 4, 2008 1:33 PM