I posted on here a couple months ago that my GFR had fallen to 32 and then to 30 5 days later in August. Before that, I was eating bad, drinking bad and not taking care of myself. Diagnosed with IGA as an infant and am now 34. Luckily I have an active job and and otherwise in shape. Anyways, I got real scared and changed everything. Cut way back on sodium (less than 2000mg a day), watching potassium, phosphorus and protein. Met with a renal dietitian. Cut WAY back on booze, cut animal protein down to about once or twice a week (red meat once a month) and only a small amount then and started taking CBD. My GFR went up to 38 in 6 weeks! Now I am trying the celery juice thing 15oz a day first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. Has anyone tried this? i have seen a bunch of stuff online with people saying it really helped?
Also, I know going up 8 points in my GFR could just be what was happening that day but at least it was better that day!
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16oz of celery juice has 800 mg of sodium. Celery juice is a fad. It's just a vegetable that's high in salt - there is no magic and no benefit. Especially for kidney patients.
When in doubt, contact your nephrologist or renal dietician about this as they would have better insight as to whether or not this is beneficial.
Sounds like you have made some great and proactive changes in your diet over the last few months!
It is a lifestyle with the shining keys; low sodium, as kidneys don't process it well, low protein and good sources of it which you are eating as well as portioned potassium and phosphorus.
I don't have IGA but I have another autoimmune disorder. Altering my diet has made a world of difference; particularly eating more vegetables as well as drinking my water.
Hydration level, a cold or even a bug can alter your GFR. Note your BUN and creatinine levels..
Hey there! I have been drinking celery juice and have IgA; my sister had great results with her liver, but I think I was drinking too much for my kidneys to process. Last week my GFR was at 13,1% and I have felt great since the decline was diagnosed in the summer, but yesterday out of the blue my feet were swollen and my heart beat irregular. My blood results also showed, for the first time, increased potassium levels. I have not found a vegan renal dietician yet, so I am grateful that my doctor is taking blood every week and I can monitor changes. Dr. Joshi (plant-based renal doctor) says patients need to be careful with juices because they can spike potassium levels (the fiber is missing, so it is hard for the body to get rid of excess). This week instead of juicing 10 celery stalks, I plan on juicing 1 stalk with 1/2 beet, 1/2 and apple and a carrot. I really think it depends on the stage you are in and what your body says. This week my juices did not taste good, which is unusual, so maybe my body was telling me to slow down a bit? All the best for your health!!
With a GFR of 13% you should be limiting your potassium; celery juice is quite high in potassium. High potassium can be dangerous and can result in sudden cardiac death. Not to scare, but it sounds like you're playing with fire. You should see a nephrologist and a renal dietician and get on a kidney-friendly diet. Certain fruits and vegetables are high in potassium and should be avoided when you're stage 5 like yourself.
Thank you for the warningand I am taking a juice break presently I fully agree with what you said and would do anything to speak with a plant-based renal dietician, but I have yet to find one in Germany. Thankfully, my doctor is monitoring my blood weekly, so I can see how I react to different foods.
Beets are also high in potassium. You should Google every plant based and other foods you eat if your potassium is off. It is very difficult at first, but then you learn what is good and what is not. High potassium can cause cardiac issues and even death. So don't mess with it.
I don't get juicing to begin with. Veggies are so good for you but one of the reasons is the fiber in them. Why eliminate that?
Thank you. My problem is is that different sources say different things. I spoke to a nutritionist here and half the things she said I should not eat were deemed okay by American kidney websites and visa versa. You are right...it is confusing! I definitely do not want to create imbalance and am fully willing to do the work, but I am still looking for a renal dietician with a plant-based background.
I too had high potassium and some heart issues. My Doctor restricted me on potassium and things improved. My diet calls for only 2 servings per day of vegetables, so am careful to get the most nutritious and those low in potassium (same for fruits). So far my diet is working for me.
Today I took part in Jen Hernandez's webinar. She is a renal plant-based dietician in Hawaii. She said studies showed that the alkalinizing affects of high-potassium veggies could even explain the SLOWED progression of kidney disease. My bloodwork is done every week and even though I juiced high-potassium foods heavily last week there was only a 0, 1% elevation in my potassium level. Like I said, I took out the juices this week and am curious what my potassium level will me next week. The bioavailable potassium of plant-based vs. animal-based foods differs significantly.
Hey, I don't see where you posted the results to cutting out juices. You are at 13%. Where are you now and what new information have you learned? Sorry if you've posted that information elsewhere and I have not seen it.
Hey there! I cut out juices for awhile to give my body time to adjust to the plant-based lifestyle in general, but I am now drinking them again. My body definitely feels more hydrated with the celery juice. I get my blood done next week and I will let you know. My function has wavered between 12% and 15.7% since August 2019, but all my other values are consistently improving. The plant-based lifestyle has definitely helped, most especially giving up nightshades and gluten. The protein in my urine has dramatically reduced which speaks for the fact that the kidneys are healing :).
Sounds like you're doing all the right things. I got the best improvement in GFR when I did the following:
1) Exercise.
2) Lose weight.
3) Cut out drinking 100 percent (drinking in moderation didn't work well for me).
4) Treatment for sleep apnea - a lot of people who have kidney disease also have sleep disorders.
5) Close monitoring of blood pressure - do you take your blood pressure at home?
6) Eat a low-sodium diet with lean protein and vegetables. If you eat red meat, try to eat grass-fed beef or grass-fed lamb. It's more expensive, but it's a lot better for your body. Egg whites are a good source of protein too.
7) Get labs done and make regular office visits to track your progress.
Unfortunately, I didn't stay sober and the kidneys really don't like binge drinking (it also raises blood pressure which does damage to the kidneys). Your kidneys want low blood pressure. Since you already have significantly-impaired kidney function, I would recommend cutting out alcohol 100 percent if limiting your drinking is a problem for you. I mention this as it looks like you've been a heavy drinker in the past and alcoholism is a progressive disease. Cutting out bad habits and unhealthy lifestyle like drinking and smoking have the big effects on GFR improvement. Anyways, I wish you the best.
I hope you are drinking the correct amount of water daily. I eat no tomatoes (ketchup), potatoes (fries or chips), etc. but I also cut all meats that come from meat packing companies, like lunch meats, bacon, sausage, hot dogs and corned beef. Actually I eliminated all foods from 7-11 because of preservatives, sodium, and artificial flavors in EVERYTHING! This includes protein bars and "health foods". Even drinks like Gator aid and Ensure are high in potassium. I quit alcohol as well. If you wonder what it is like to have kidney disease, go to a dialysis center and ask about how everyone is doing (notice the people without feet and limbs). Then think about alcohol consumption. It turns out the the medicine we use to keep our kidneys healthy is our diet! I wish you well.
Food is powerful. I also cut out sugar, all drinks other than tea and water, all processed foods (except vegan cheese and mayo) and 99% of animal bi-products. I feel so good and am hoping to raise my GFR at least back into stage 4, if not stage 3 :). It has been at a stable 13% since late August and I am thankful for that.
Gotta do something about my liking for wine. I am CKD 3a, GFR 55, aged 69. Suffering so very many severe stresses the wine is my only de-stressor and pleasure. Maybe I'd choose it over the kidneys! I have lived a pretty long time! Just going to try to cut down though. The celery and beetroot information is interesting but depressing too. I can cut out, and have cut out, all red meat, but have chicken and fish still. I know the choice is ours but life has to have a balance. If my next annual blood test shows a big deterioration I will adjust accordingly.
I agree that Celery has a lot of benefits to the kidneys. I mix a breakfast drink in a blender consisting of 4 celery stalks, a peeled apple, and a cup of pineapple to improve the taste. I recently added a slice of ginger, and a pinch of cinnamon. ALL great for the kidneys from what I've learned and have been told. That, good diet and other food discipline can help improve your GFR like it has for me.
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I fully agree with what you said and would do anything to speak with a plant-based renal dietician, but I have yet to find one in Germany. Thankfully, my doctor is monitoring my blood weekly, so I can see how I react to different foods. 
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