I have recently been diagnosed with CKD . I’am 58 and my reading is 57 ( uk)
My blood pressure was slightly high too ( never had high blood pressure in my life)
I am overweight - I am 5,8 and weigh 205lbs.
Now here is the thing - I’ve always been overweight- although I’ve always eaten very healthy. Always kept fit .
In the last couple of months I haven’t trained.
So ... we all turn to dr google when we have health problems and this is where I am totally confused. High blood pressure can cause low level reading of gfr.. - kidney Disease. So I want to lower it obviously. Here’s the thing - reading what you should not eat on renal diet - is everything you should eat to lower your blood pressure! Baked potato- advacados - bananas... all high potassium- you should avoid if you have been diagnosed with CKD .. and lots of other foods too including some veggies .. oh and out goes whole wheat bread and brown rice -
So what the hell are you supposed to do?
Also I have stepped up my excersise regime -
Kettlebells, martial arts , resistance bands .. training 5 days a week ... and like most men - still think your 21 and train really hard - now I read that’s not good training hard as it creates a false reading ( creatinine) ... would like to know if anyone out there has the answer to what best for health?
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Hul1
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I have polycystic kidneys and train using weights etc. My specialist told me to eat what I want and don't worry about it as my values are in the normal range. I was potassium wasn't an issue untill your kidneys get really bad.
Hello and welcome to this community and thank you for joining an informative forum.
Firstly Goggle is not always the guru for all health concerns as it can be confusing and misleading. Trust your health professional especially one who specialises in your complaint. Your GP and Consultant know your medical history and they have your best interests at heart.
I have taken the liberty of including two websites that can point you in the correct direction on all health gains for a healthy, happier and relaxed you.
Your GFR only just tips you into the realms of CKD so having a restrictive diet shouldn’t be necessary, in fact restricting certain things may be bad for you. Having a healthy diet is good though, and that can improve your kidney function. A kidney friendly diet involves avoiding processed food, fizzy drinks, smoking and drinking too much. Reduce salt. Eat lots of fresh whole foods, including lots of veg and not too much red meat or dairy. Drink water and take moderate exercise. Good luck!
I assume you are a stage 3ckd...you do need potassium proteins sulphates and salt in your diet but in lesser quantities because your kidneys cannot process normal ammounts. So go to the NHS website and get proper advice on the allowances for you. Become a food detective and soon you will easily find the right diet for you. Other advice on vegs fruits etc. only mean that you can choose the potassium foods you prefer to eat in the day within your diet quantities eg. Don't eat a load of bananas and tomatoes and have a few glasses of red wine in the one meal. If course visit your G.P and ask to be referred to a Specialist if that is appropriate for you.......best wishes from a Stage3 ckd person
National education, support and advocacy organizations:
• DaVita Kidney Disease and Dialysis Forums is well known for their recipes but they also have a forum for patients too.
• Renal Support Network provides many support and advocacy services including a phone support line.
• AAKP is a comprehensive resource focusing on the quality of life for kidney patients through education, advocacy, patient engagement and the fostering of patient communities.
• National Kidney Foundation provides a portal for patients too.
You are 100% right to be confused. Not a single person on here can tell you what the proper diet for you should be. There are general things of course. But the reason you find so much conflicting information on the internet is that each of us is unique. For example, perhaps your blood and urine testing shows you are low in potassium. So for you it would be advisable to consume more foods which provide potassium. Whereas my testing says my potassium levels are way too high, so I should avoid such foods. That is just one example. There are hundreds. Also, perhaps you have some other "illness" which it is necessary to treat along with your CKD. For example, you mention you have high blood pressure. So obviously SALT should be monitored. Whereas perhaps my blood pressure is too low, or perfect, and the body does need/use salt. This is why you find so much conflicting information and get not research it, or follow what it says, from the internet. Your doctors should be advising you what is proper, needed, for your individual condition. But in general I will share with you what my doctors tell me. There are published guidelines about what our daily intake should be of different categories. How much salt, sodium, cholesterol, etc., etc., is recommended per day. Definitely do not exceed any of those guidelines if you have CKD. The tailor that diet based upon your own urine and blood results. One example, I had a blood test that showed low potassium. I was directed to add more to my diet. Eat for example, a yogurt daily. I was told that my urine was too diluted and to restrict my water intake to no more than 80 ounces per day. I was doing 100. Since you have high blood pressure, and CKD, it seems advisable to avoid too much protein, salt, and to add water to your diet. Beyond that you need to develop your own diet recommendations with your doctor, based upon your own testing results.
Thanks Rickhow ... yep your so right everyone is different .... this week I’ve been on a very restricted
Calorie controlled diet ( 950 cals or less) training like a banshee 5 days a week - I’ve put on 2lbs!!!
Yes I know it could me muscle I’ve put on - but just read too - a too constricted calorie diet - can make you gain weight- down to slowing down your metabolism- and .... using your muscle as energy- which of course can’t be good for your kidneys ! I’m using my cals to 1300 - see what happens with my weight loss ... just trying to bring my blood pressure down is so stressful- no wonder I have high blood pressure! 😂
I have lost 40lbs in the past 18 months. I threw away dieting. All I have done is two things. I drink a lot of water. 70 to 100 ounces a day. And I pay no attention to calories. Instead I watch my daily protein, salt and sugar intake. There are daily recommended values of how much of each of these we should consume daily. I try to stay within those limits. The suggest grams of protein daily, etc. I do go over once in a while, and my doctor says this won't hurt a thing. Have that pizza, or steak, or whatever occasionally. Every few days. I walk daily 3 miles, rapid as I can. That is all I have done and weight falls off. AND my blood pressure medications have been cut in 1/2.
That’s great going ! Sounds like you have found the magic formula for you .... I am upping my cals this week ... and to be fair I don’t realy have that much protein. I usually don’t have breakfast ( I don’t feel hungry in the morning)
My main food consists of lots of salad ( now I am going to cut back on my tomatoes)
Anyhow, I’ll keep on with my training and up my cals and basically carry on eating good foods and cutting back on some certain foods . Salt is not a issue for me as I never use it but obviously will have to be aware of hidden sodium /salt in foods . Thanks again for your input
We seem similar. For breakfast I am much like you. I generally have 1/2 of a large bagel and a coffee. My lunch is consistent too. I have one or two yogurts, and a small bag of peanuts (directed by my doctor, to help keep my triglycerides and cholesterol low). My main mean is 5 times a week some portion of protein. Boneless and skinless chicken, or lean pork chop. With which I always make a frozen vegetable and either potato or salad or I love white rice also. At night I treat myself to a coffee and something like a small portion of cake, or muffin. If I crave a snack during the day I usually resort to some type of sugarless pudding. Twice a week I consume usually either spaghetti yes with tomato sauce, or ravioli, etc. Again, my doctors say, foods you are advised to avoid (such as tomato) are NOT harmful once or twice a week. I mean think of it. Do you think your kidney will be damaged upon eating one portion of a tomato product? No. I too add no additional salt to my food. My biggest improvement has been in avoided canned foods. I will have every few days a canned soup, but make sure on that day I avoid other salt products. But other canned products I avoid. They are LOADED with salt.
Hi, I would continue working out, I do a lot of cardio for heart. Limit salt, pop, watch protein amount. We don’t eat many carbs anyway here. Try to consume about 100 ounces of water a day. Ya, I know a lot. Don’t use pain killers, my kidney doctor doesn’t recommend excessive vitamins, so I don’t any more and feel great.
Let me know if you need any more help. One of my kidneys was majorly damaged by a stone that kidney doctor thinks was in there awhile. So I have a kidney and about 1/4.. I do watch sodium, potassium, and the other one...forget...lol. I just try not to eat excessive of any one type of food. I recently read how medicines for stomach are linked to kidney damage. Great luck.
Well yes potassium do help reduce blood pressure to a certain extent in a person with 'normal' levels of kidney function. But for someone who has impaired (not functioning normal) kidneys potassium levels in blood can increase to dangerous levels (so as to stop the heart!) as the kidneys are not functioning optimally. Hence you need to avoid foods & fruits that are very high in potassium.
I am also suffering from high blood pressure and also kidney impairment.
I keep my blood pressure under control by "avoiding" foods & drink that causes the blood pressure to rise in the first place. I avoid fast food, salty food, processed food, coffee, soya sauce, msg, oily food, fried food, soyabean oil, dairy, red meats & colas.
It can be very confusing having so much conflicting advice about diet, but everyone is different and what is important for one person is not important for another. You're probably best to consult whichever healthcare professional you attend for your CKD and take their advice.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
38 y/o female, GFR 61.. very worried and confused 
CKD3a, low blood pressure, still worth reducing salt?
Trouble Eating takeaways/ meals out and becoming unwell.
confused over GFR readings
