The month of June was declared as the National Kidney Month by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 184, series of 1993 to raise awareness about kidney disease.
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a serious lifelong condition which is often overlooked until symptoms appear, it is a progressive disease and has serious complications including kidney failure which will then require a kidney transplant and dialysis.
It is known that having healthy food choices is crucial to having a healthy body, but if you have CKD, diet and nutrition play an even greater role in managing your disease progression. At this stage, kidneys become less effective at removing unwanted fluid and managing the correct levels of nutrients, such as calcium, phosphate and potassium. Adopting a healthy lifestyle can help prevent, manage and slow progression of CKD and its complications.
Making healthy and nutritious food choices is key to avoid this disease. Eat healthy meals and choose foods such as fresh fruits, fresh or frozen vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat or fat-free dairy products which are good for your entire body. Cut back on added sugars and salt, and limit sodium intake to less than 2,300 milligrams each day.
Here are some more tips in making healthy food choices:
- Cook using spices instead of salt.
- Explore other ways in cooking; instead of frying, try baking or broiling meat, chicken, and fish
- Avoid adding gravy or any added fats when serving a meal.
- Make sure to select foods with little or no added sugar. Read food labels. Buy foods that are low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, sodium, and added sugars.
- Slow down at snack time, choose root crops like camote, gabi, ube, and cassava over chips and other unhealthy snacks
- Keep a written record of what you eat for a week for you to track down and see when you tend to overeat or eat foods high in fat or calories.
Healthy habits make a big difference and eating the right food now is better than facing the frightening consequences brought upon by Chronic Kidney Disease. Eat right so you won’t fright! (NO I Liezel Joy D. Reyes)
References:
Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. (31 May 1993). Proclamation No. 184, s.1993. Retrieved on 08 June 2021 from https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1993/05/31/proclamation-no-184-s-1993/
National Institute of Diabetes, and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (n.d.). Nutrition for Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease in Adults. Retrieved on 08 June 2021 from https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/chronic-kidney-disease-ckd/eating-nutrition/nutrition-advanced-chronic-kidney-disease-adults
National Kidney Foundation. (n.d.) Nutrition. Retrieved on 08 June 2021 from https://www.kidney.org/nutrition
American Kidney Fund. (05 May 2021). Kidney- friendly diet for CKD. Retrieved on 08 June 2021 from https://www.kidneyfund.org/kidney-disease/chronic-kidney-disease-ckd/kidney-friendly-diet-for-ckd.html
National Institute of Diabetes, and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (n.d.). National Kidney Month 2021. Retrieved on 08 June 2021 from https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/community-health-outreach/national-kidney-month#:~:text=March%20is%20National%20Kidney%20Month,condition%20affecting%2037%20million%20people.