Last week my GFR went down to 12.7%; since mid-September it has been declining and I was following a conventional renal diet as advised by health care officials. The only deviation was in August right after I was told my GFR had decreased by 50%. I was on vacation and began doing the only thing I could at that time, drinking green smoothies. When I got back and had labwork done, my GFR had gone from 12% to 14% in nine days! Then, for some reason, I started following a conventional renal diet; I was scared and so close to dialysis. What I did not realize at the time was that our bodies process potassium from plants differently and that by following the conventional renal diet we are actually feeding inflammation instead of stopping it! Our bodies need leafy greens and fiber to decrease, among other things, our creatinine levels and in turn, increase kidney function. Three days ago I decided to nix the renal diet and eat the rainbow again, something I started doing in August, but stopped these last couple of weeks. I am armed with knowledge, a support group and success stories in support of a WFPB diet for kidney disease. Since eating my grains, leafy greens and lentils again, my skin looks the best it has in weeks... and it has only been three days!! I respect health care officials, but why aren't we being informed?? Why is dialysis the only answer we are given? Why aren't we given a chance?? Why isn't WFPB taken more seriously??
Whole Foods Plant Based Diet and My Kidney ... - Kidney Disease
Whole Foods Plant Based Diet and My Kidney Expierence
Pardon me for being cynical but there isn't any profit in keeping us off dialysis. Follow the money and your question is answered. I have found that staying off the red meats and following a mostly vegan regime, I feel better. Looks? Well I'm just an old guy anyway. Health care officials? I haven't found any, only medical care officials. You seem to be finding the way for you. Oh yeah, how is your pH? Often overlooked It has made a difference with me, keeping the magic "7" in check morning and evening. I take sodium bicarbonate tablets morning and evening with my regular meds and no prescription necessary. Stay in touch and let me know how you are doing.
Thanks so much for your response! I believe that is the reason as well and we have to take matters into our hands to some degree. I will check my pH; great tip. Wishing you continued success distancing yourself from dialysis 
What is PH for Ckd and how do I check that and could you explain more about sodium Bicarb tablets shoud we all be taking them? ( in the UK) put where I am from as things are different here
You can buy PH strips at the pharmacy, online on vitacost.com, and one for urine, one for on the tongue.
Butting in here....NO: do not go and take SODIUM bicarb with out checking with the doctor. Messing with your PH levels in the blood can cause major issues.
Just because something works for one patient does not mean it will work for every patient. And unless you are diagnosed with high acid levels you should not take something for it.
I cannot stress this enough that self-medicating can cause more problems.
"Why is dialysis the only answer we are given?" Because they make a lot of money off of it.
damn straight and it kidney dis-ease is the only illness where there is a medical "solution" to prolong lives... doctors are not forced to look for alternative solutions.
I think also because putting people on dialysis requires no thought power or effort on the part of the pre dialysis nephrologist. On the other hand working with the patient and studying the numerous parameters of blood results and symptoms all takes time and effort and in UK an appointment with my nephrologist took all of 10 minutes. In fact if I asked questions and the appointment over ran she would speak faster and faster presumably to emphasize the urgency of her time and a signal that I needed to leave. At the end of the meeting she was speaking so quickly as to be incoherent.
In my opinion not enough effort is placed by the medical profession on the importance of diet in slowing the progression of CKD. Dialysis is a double edged sword in that it keeps us alive but like you I feel the medical profession are too quick to send someone down the dialysis route when with the correct diet their native kidneys could be made to last longer. That said we do have to consider how much effort is required by doctor and patient to determine and stick to a suitable whole food plant based diet. Not many individuals will have the will power to stick to such a restrictive diet for an extended period of time. I do not believe that adopting such a diet will actually increase kidney function. It will give the impression of better kidney function as you are not asking the kidneys to do so much processing work so the waste products left in the blood which is what is measured to estimate kidney function will be less. It’s a bit like saying you have a zero emission car because you never start the engine.
In my own experience I was able to get my potassium, phosphate, PH and BUN at normal levels without any medication just following a WFPB diet. I could not make any material change in my creatinine and my eGFR was already down to 8% so I had to start dialysis.
I am convinced though that the adoption of a WFPB for me when I was diagnosed at 17% would have resulted in me delaying the need for dialysis for several years which can only be a good thing. I would further argue that for some people being diagnosed with over 30% then following a WFPB diet may slow down the progression of their CKD to the point where dialysis is never needed. But again this depends on the root cause of their CKD. My advice would be that is WFPB is working for you then stick with it as long as you can.
what is WFPB diet sorry for my ignorance
So encouraging to hear from you! Good for you for taking your health into your own hands and I believe, like you, if I was told at 30% that I had to change my diet immediately, I could have avoided such a drastic drop and not one doctor told me to watch my diet, even when I was released from the hospital with a GFR of 12.7% in August!
No I was never even given a single thing about changing diet from the nephrologist. I was diagnosed at 17% and told too late go home and eat normal. Well normal is killing us. Avoid normal as it is key to delaying progression to dialysis but is very hard to maintain. Well best of luck.
Hi Jmkb,
What is the difference between a renal diet and WFPB? Are you eating meat now?
No my best blood test readings were when I avoided any animal products so went vegan. All my levels went to normal aside from creatinine. My nephrologist had no explanation.
no meat. The WFPB is all unprocessed fruits, veggies and grains.
ok, so how is that different from what we here in the States refer to as a renal diet or kidney friendly diet- non-dialysis? Maybe there is no difference.
I believe the renal diet in the US allows for meat albeit a reduced amount, also so many other healthy veggies are discouraged because of potassium and phosphate, but the body absorbs both of these differently with plants. With all animal-based products, the potassium is bioavailable and absorbed by the body. With plant-based veggies and fruits, the body absorbs less of these minerals. We have to still watch out with bananas, potatoes and avocados though
Oh, actually that is what I have been doing and it was what the renal dietician suggested. No meats, limited proteins of any kind....some but not over 60 -72mgs, lots of greens and veggies, no potatoes, no tomatoes, no squash, and other high potassium foods. I limit grains and carbs for diabetes anyways, no lentils either.
so I guess it is WFPB.
so happy for you that you found such a wise dietician
I have never heard about avocados-can you tell me more?
avocados are for non-kidney patients a superfood, but for us they are too high in potassium. We should only eat them in little portions.
The renal diet encourages inflammation because it only focuses on reducing stress on the kidneys. I was told to eat white bread and get my calories with oil, for example. The WFPL, however, is strictly plant-based and unprocessed; it focuses among other things on reducing inflammation, decreasing creatinine (through grains and other natural fibers) and in turn increasing GFR.
First.. MONEY.. dialysis is an EXPENSIVE treatment! Docs get kickbacks. Second.. I nixed the diet too way back when. I was able to stay off dialysis until my creatnine got to 12.6! Was on dialysis for 4.5 years, had transplant back in 2003. Kidney works 30% or so. I go with what my gut tells me to eat. My protein level is high in my urine but creatnine is between 1.7 and 2. and has been since transplant. So is the high protein more of a marker for worse kidney failure or the creatnine? They tell you you can eat as many carbs as you want, low protein, but carbs DO inflame you! I got Reactive Arthritis from the Hep B vaccine they gave me at the unit (took two years to flare completely up after shot).. SUGARS, are a BIG thing that flare me up. Go natural as best you can. Veggies, Fruits, no junk (of course the occasional binges cant' be helped). And small amount of chicken or whatever meat. I also started Naturalpathic Michaels Kidney Factors when I was going through kidney failure before TP and it really helped my function and creatnine levels go up.. I was taking maybe six pills a day. Still taking them, but just one a day. Lab work showed I was outlasting both the people ON the kidney diet and ones OFF the kidney diet by a long shot of going on dialysis! So what I was doing worked for me... And stay away from VACCINES! Heavy metals damage the kidney, brain, etc.. your immune system is not up to par and they wouldn't work for us anyway. The flu shot they push, still has mercury in it and they all have aluminum.. that is REALLY BAD for kidney impaired people, let alone ones that are not!
My opinion and observations on the physician-bashing: For the last twenty years (at least) very few people go into medicine with the idea of making bucket loads full of money. Sure, it can be a nice living once you're 20-30 years into your career, I guess. But if money is your goal, medicine is not it. At least in the US one ends medical school / residency with debts in the 100-200 thousand dollar range plus the expectation is around a 60-hour work week depending on specialty.
More importantly, in the US physicians are not allowed to profit by referrals (e.g. "kickbacks'). If you truly believe this happening the physician should be reported to the Department of Health in the state in which they practice.
Vaccines: STOP THE MISINFORMATION! Vaccines are extremely important.
I can appreciate what you say and am so thankful for my doctors. I just don't get why a plant-based diet or the importance of food has not ever been an issue raised by any physicians who have worked with me. It is really hard when everyone assumes dialysis is the next step without any hope for other accessible options. I did not even know just because you are on dialysis that you do not have to stay on dialysis. I know doctors are not out to hurt their patients and I know they work hard, but these are the only kidneys I have and I would have liked to know about holistic options when I was first diagnosed.
I recently read that a month of dialysis costs $100,000 per patient!!
No this is incorrect info. Dialysis clinics often "charge" $100k or more but in the U.S. Medicare caps monthly payments for dialysis at just around $3K. Private insurance pays out substantially more.
Nephrologists do not get kickbacks. This is another misconception.
VACCINES are crucial for those with immunocompromised systems like those on dialysis. Please don't spread the misinformation about them.
Here in the U.S. a true renal diet is for those on dialysis. It generally includes more daily protein as the treatments remove protein. This is often why so many patients are hungry during and after their treatments.
Those in stages 2-4 are considered CKD (chronic kidney disease or pre dialysis) and should not be on a renal diet rather a CKD diet often with restricted protein and plant based.
Blessings
Dialysis nearly 18 years
Hey there! You have been on dialysis for 18 years? What a strong body you must have; I have never heard of someone being on dialysis that long.
Thank you. I have many friends on dialysis 20 -30 years. I don't consider that my body is strong, only that I self manage my health, dialysis *very well*, thus giving me a longer life. I've also survived 7 episodes of sepsis which means I have overcome the statistics many times. Sepsis caused by clinic staff failing to follow clean protocol. I am dialysis strong!!
So inspiring and wonderful that you practice self-care
Thank you for correcting that quote; it was used in a webinar done by a renal dietician. I fully believe in vaccines; I never said otherwise :). Both my boys were preemies and we also took a year off to travel in places that certain vaccines were necessary. I did not want to risk anything; in the course of their lives (they are now 15+17), they have gotten the whole spectrum. Presently, I am stage five not on dialysis and I react terribly to any type of meat or fish. The renal diet that a nutritionist suggested negatively influenced my values. This week followed plant-based and tomorrow I get blood done. I will post results. All the best for you!!
Doctors, by and large, get no training on nutrition. RDs, who you would expect to know this stuff, also do not seem to know about the difference between plant and animal protein, and how the body metabolizes plants. You can blame food lobbies (meat, dairy, egg) and big pharma for this lack of knowledge. Helpful websites are nutriitionfacts.org and drmcdougall.com--both are free, and easy to search topics like CKD. Good luck!
I agree. Also, Brooke Goldner, T. Campbell, Dr. Shivram Joshi (nephrologist) and Jennifer Moore (Plant-Fed Kidneys) are some great sources.
Agreed!!!
Have you given thought to preparing for transplant vs. dialysis. If you progress to Renal failure would not be more inclined to find a donor and get transplanted over going on dialysis. For progressive Renal Disease your two options are Transplant or Dialysis. I made my choice 32 years ago. Thanks to my brother I have been living a full life after transplant. Far too many clinicians want to prepare you for dialysis rather then transplant and that has been the problem (in my mind) since dialysis was developed. True, some people are not suited for transplant but that is a small number. The choice rests with the patient prepare for transplant or prepare for dialysis. Choice is yours. Continue what ever course is best for you to control your kidney disease but remember it is always your choice to Choose between to distinctly separate clinical options. Up to you and best wishes I am praying for you and your family.
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