The best way I have found to improve kidney function is eating high fruit diet. Kidney problems come from high inflammatory diets and high excessive protein. Fruit doesn't have to much sugar, this is a myth. Books to read- mucusless healing system by Arnold Ehret. 80/10/10 by Doug Graham and anything by Dr Morse. It's a big lifestyle change so most are not prepared to do it, but it's the answer!, Maybe not the quick answer we all want- carrying on old lifestyle habits and taking meds but it works.
The best way to improve kidney function - Kidney Disease
The best way to improve kidney function
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shaun8
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Many fruits are high In Potassium...while I agree fruits can be beneficial...eating them in moderation is best....along with watching Lab Results
Totally agree with you RhwnSutchess123, and Skeptix. After being placed on low-residue and now low-potassium diets, the list of approved fruits is rather narrow, and in my case not a solution to my kidney problems. I would caution people to take their own personal CKD status and other health issues into account before jumping into something that may do you more harm. What worked for shaun8 may not be the best option for you, although glad it has worked for him.
I have found this is not an issue, it only could be of you are on dialysis or very end stage kidney failure. For the average person low fat diet with high fruit is the perfect diet for kidney disease. The vast majority of peoples kidney issues come from putting to much strain on them via inflammatory foods- salt, protein and fat. Fruit is the least inflammatory. I often have 15-20 banana smoothie and have perfect potassium. (Intermittent fasting is good too)
RhenDutchess123
Yeah, but what happens if your not end stage or on dialysis but nevertheless have to watch your potassium? Like, I've recently moved to a plant based diet and my potassium has elevated from mid-range to top of range as a result. Sure, I'm better off being off meat, but I can't gaily ignore potassium
I'm not an expert but you could talk to one. High raw diet helped all my numbers, egfr, creatinine, urea ect. At one point I got down to 55 gfr but last result was in normal range above 90.I think you would improve overall which would improve potassium issue. Could try juice fasting for a good reset and then incorporate more raw.
Have you been formally diagnosed with CKD? It comes from a whole host of places, diabetes and BP being the two more prevalent root causes. 55 back up to 90 makes me suspect you had something else going on than CKD.
I'd agree (and hope) that continuation on the plant diet will improve things and allow more flexibility with potassium (since restricting stuff is a bit of a pain). If, for example, BP and proteinuria allowed it, I would reduce ACE meds and so have more tolerance for potassium.
I suppose the point is, for lots of folk with CKD, they can't go off on a blast without having an eye on the consequences. Indeed, there are a whole host of ways in which CKD can impose limits - some have to limit this, others have to limit that. There isn't a single size fits all (that perhaps, arguably, get the heck off or significantly reduce meat intake)
Perfectly stated, Skeptix! You always post informative, cautious information in a manner easily understood, and you have a wide knowledge base. Thank you for bringing the level of "the perfect cure" back to reality...we all need to take all of our personal health issues into account before incorporating things into (or out of) our treatment plan. Kudos!
You caught it early, so yeah, there is more leway with diet, and less risk of eating more fruit. But, once someone gets down to say 40, or worse 30, I have my doubts that they could eat that level of fruit without their potassium going into the danger zone, or worse.
Yup. I have high potassium levels (and taking Lokelma), and eGFR consistently in the 34 range. That level of fruit would be very harmful for me.
I'd have to say no to this. While I do love fruit there's no way eating just fruit will help with the weight loss I'm having, in fact it would make it worse. My kidneys are scarred and nothing but watching and keeping my BP low and my potassium in line will keep it stable. Thanks but no.
I found that avoiding potassium rich veggies and fruits can be helpful in keeping potassium midline.
For example eating kale instead of spinach and avoiding mushrooms, avocados till your numbers improve and then eating small amounts can help.
Low potassium fruits apples, all types of berries , pears are all good and do not increase potassium.
I'm borderline for having to manage potassium. I'll wait till next bloods and see how I'm doing - I've started hydrating for example and my renal dietician suspects serum potassium will drop.
Afaik potassium isn't a problem if your kidneys manage it (a couple of renal.dieticians have said so) But that would need checking out when I've the time.
You any view? Any need to limit potassium if bloods are in range?
No you don't have to then. Basically eating to your labs is what is suggested. So if your labs are midline then by all means eat the veggies and the fruits of choice. Though there is caution to be exercised regarding potatoes, tomatoes and bananas ( naturally very high potassium) I think.
There's a long list of things I've to read up on and find out about. One notion is that giving our kidneys less 'work' to do would be beneficial.
It's a notion born out of seeming common sense but may have no merit.
Take potassium. We both suppose that as long as our kidneys are maintaining values in range we can eat as much potassium as we like (I mean in the normal sense of consuming whatever food we like- not going OTT sucking rocks made of potassium).
But what if we actually aimed only to eat enough to hit mid range. No excess for our kidneys to have to filter. Giving our kidneys no work regarding potassium.
It might be impossible (since there are far more things that potassium to filter)
But I was just wondering whether...
Does Lee Hull talk about this issue in following his plan? While I was following his plan my potassium went from mid-range to about 3/4 way up. But then I was eating quite a lot of high potassium foods since I figured I could get away with it due to severe constipation. And, it does help a LOT!
You actually followed his diet book. Bloody hell, that sounds tough (as does the idea of any diet plan).
I went with his principles on very low protein, PRAL, grains, salt, exercise, and the like. But the diet itself was pretty off putting: limited and hard to follow. I got Cronometer instead so I could track things and see where I might be dropping balls (such as iron: thought I was getting enough but didn't realise plant iron doesn't absorb well so now a bit low on it)
I hadn't much out in my bloods: urea, creatinine, cholesterol. Potassium was okay and talking to an online RD indicated no need to limit it if it wasn't out if spec. So I been eating veggie without any consideration to potassium - indeed potatos and tomatoes would be staples.
Potassium up at top of range last lab so am checking this lab just done to see how it's going. Will intervene with an eye on intake if I need to.
Lee, iirc, had a Potassium limit and I gather the diet aimed to hit that target (if you stick to it). Whether that works for all I've no idea.
Yeah, constipation has NOT been an issue with the veggie diet. It wasn't before and most certainly is not now.
For the 17-19 days I was on Albutrix I followed his plan, which was constrictive. Before and after those days I pretty well followed the general plan (using Cronometer to chart all nutrients), though I ate more high potassium foods and would eat at the top of the potassium range, cause with CKD I had been suffering from severe constipation. And, I discovered that on the days I ate high potassium I was actually able to go to the toilet. Before that it was 2x a week. By the way, severe constipation also causes deterioration in kidney function. So, I figured it was 6 of one and half dozen of the other: e.g, either be harmed by such severe constipation or go higher potassium (as long as I didn't go too high).
Yep diagnosed, well mine was definitely lifestyle, first picked up when I was 17, so slighty abnormal being so young. I'm 28 now. Biopsy showed inflammation. It was was caused from terrible diet and lots of alcohol ect.
Yeah definitely at the least get of the meat and go low protein. N aware people with CKD have to be careful and it can be scary making big changes. I guess I'm just more inclined to go with the natural approach and think we can heal by doing the complete opposite of what got us into kidney problems. (with Low inflammatory foods).
Did you watch that YouTube vid?
I'm slowing down as I approach the weekend so haven't watched the vid I'm about 4 months into the saddle and am giving this "getting knowledge about self treatment" some serious welly in terms of hours and brainpower.
I've blown my mental budget in terms of what I can take in this week. And to be honest, after embarking on a plant based diet, I've enough on my plate trying to get into mass production of meals for the freezer, nutrient balance and all the rest of it .. without starting to make major adjustments like going raw.
Then again, plant sounded "ugggh" before I started and hasn't turned out too bad. But raw ?? That has the sound of a certain bridge in Arnhem about it.
So you had CKD officially and are now eGFR 90 .. which means you've actually been cured. That is a first and is great news. I don't quite expect that myself (eGFR 29/30 atm) but nevertheless, it's good to know things can improve,
At the end of the day: scar tissue is scar tissue and no amount of plant based, fruit, raw, no meat is going to upend that.
I'm a Christian and in that faith (well, in one branch of it anyways) you get yourself a new body in the world to come. An imperishable one. Which, amongst other things, means no potential for CKD.
Roll on Death!!
It's only short, give it a watch when you get some time.
Yes 100 percent can feel overwhelming, but your on the right path so well done brother for implementing changes. Even small changes are great as lots of them over a few years will soon be big changes. I've slowly been adding abit more raw over the years. A great approach what people do is 'raw til 4' (basically raw until tea time) and then a healthy cooked tea or soup or whatever.
Some changes can make are reduce salt and processed food n alcohol.
I understand sometimes you can have information overload,but when you are in learning mode try read mucusless diet healing system, it's a short book.
My renal dietician actually had me increase salt I'd cut it that much. Processed food? Well I work in the processed food industry so avoid it like the plague anyway. Alcohol? You sound like my renal dietician...
Hi Skeptix, Thanks for all your valuable input on this forum. I was told by my doctor to cut back on salt and on a whole food plant based diet my sodium intake was less than 700 mg/ day. I started feeling weak and dizzy and asked my doctor if there was a minimum daily sodium requirement (my HMO does not have a Renal Dietitian on staff and the regular dietitian told me to eat less than 2500 mg of sodium daily.) But neither my doctor nor the registered dietitian would provide a minimum for sodium intake. May I ask what your doctor told you about minimum daily sodium requirement?
Yes, there is a limit to what people can take in at one time.
"I've blown my mental budget in terms of what I can take in this week."
I am a born-again Christian too. And my ONLY hope and joy is that I’ll have a new eternal body that will NEVER get sick or die and will live forever with Christ!! He’s coming back VERY SOON and then we can say goodbye to CKD (and ask other infirmities) forever! And can eat anything! AMEN!!! Hallelujah!! Hang in there brother…this will all be like a dream soon 😉
Whilst I've no desire the head off anytime soon, certainly death loses its sting.
Truth
I am a Believer also, but as happy as I'll be to receive my call Home, I'm not ready to welcome death just yet! At least not because of my own habits here on earth! And since you're a great source of balanced info that you're willing to take the time to share with this community, we'd rather you protect your kidneys and stick around for a while!
Thanks Nascar.
Just removing the excessive Alcohol probably contributed to you Kidney Function improvement..more so than a diet of mostly fruit...it is also hard to get adequate iron and protien from just fruit, which can begin to cause other problems besides CKD...Sugar is also inflamitory
I track my nutrients on chronometer, my iron is over the daily recommend today and only had fruit. I don't only have fruit, greens and some soups and occasional potatoes n stuff like that. Yep processed sugar is for sure, not fruit,.
Only recently tripped up over that Cronometer tracking myself. Iron looked fine until bloods and it was down. Only then found out that iron from plants is poorly absorbed. 30% of iron-from-meat absorption rates or some such.
Meaning: your absorbing 30% of what looks (on Cronometer) to be a bang on target iron intake.
Bloods is where its at .. and even then you've to tiptoe through the tulips
Eat some fortitfied cereal for the iron and other minerals.
You mean like Kelloggs? I work in the processed food industry so I'd rather not!
I remember seeing a programme where they replicated making a cornflake.
"Now here's a kernel of corn. It's a seed packed with all the nutrition required to support new life.
"Now what we do is scrape all the nutritious soft centre out. There we go - all out. Next we throw that nutrition in the bin.
"Then we soften the empty shell in a little hot water. Now we very carefully peel off the hard varnish layer that covers the outside of the shell like a coat of paint. There is it, tissue thin fibre.
"From that varnish layer we will make our cornflake"
Never!!
We are all walking cornflakes.
Indeed. We are fearfully and wonderfully made and so, having seen that programme, are Frankenflakes
Processed cereal is not the way to go.
Alcohol causes inflammation so cutting that out definitely helped, but so did cutting out all of the other inflammatory things.
What is your protien level ?
youtu.be/SuMF6hKhXe0 just that video that I posted.
I also watched a 40 minute seminar last night also about why plant based low salt is best for kidneys (good video but I think fruit based is best): it's on YouTube called :
YouTube link title
I eat a lot of fruit. With plant potassium, only 1/2 is absorbed. But still good to watch portion size. Wait a few hours and eat another serviing.
KbresslerNKF Peer MentorNKF Ambassador
I believe that moderation on all things is the key. Has worked for me. Everyone is different.
Hi Shaun8, I'm happy to hear that's working for you and hopefully maintaining your eGFR number. However, Type 2 Diabetes is one of the main causes of CKD and many fruits are not recommended on a low glycemic diet. Some fruits are ok in small amounts, but a high fruit diet would be detrimental. It's not only the sugar but the carbs that are an issue. The total carb content of the fruit is more important than sugar or starch content. So even if fruit isn't packed with sugar it is still not ok to eat a diet high in fruit if you have T2D which is common in CKD.
I don't have T2D myself, my CKD is from an autoimmune disease attacking my kidneys. I've been on anti-inflammatory diets for decades and have been a vegetarian since age 10. Vegetables are a far better source of anti-inflammation than many fruits. Even some veggies like night shades can cause inflammation so it's all about selecting the right veggies and right fruits and eating them in moderation.
That said, we are all different and all diets and medications effect us differently. We all need to opt for what we believe works best for us and for how it makes us feel in the end.
I try to have a few pieces of fruit per week, but most fruits other than apricots and plums trigger my migraines for some reason.
As a vegetarian in my reading I've read about another form of vegetarianism called "Fruitarian". Those who follow Fruitarian Diets eat only fruit. It's an extreme vegan diet eating fruits and some nuts and seeds, nothing else. It's woefully lacking in protein.
It's not for me, but my diet would probably not be for most people since with my numerous food allergies I mostly eat quinoa, butter lettuce and raddichio salads, almond butter, nutritional yeast powder, and plums or apricots when in season. I will be trying a pear today and hoping I don't get a migraine : )
I think it's great when anyone can find something to feel excited and hopeful about and to get personal improvement from it. That's what this is all about. Finding ways to help ourselves and sharing it with others. Best of luck with your eating program.
If you are a type 2 then the way to cure it would be a high fruit diet, fruit sugar is totally different from refined sugar. Every cell in our body runs on simple sugars, so for example when we eat grains our body has to work to digest, and basically turn it into simple sugars so the body can absorb. You can cut this process out which strains the body more and eat simple sugars which are easy assimilated. The only problem that can occur when eating fruit is when your diet also contains fats, this can cause insulin resistance because fruits don't mix well with fats. The fats can prevent fruit from being absorbed quickly and this is where we run into issues.
Also we need to change the mindset that carbs are bad and we need protein. If you eat enough calories, even from fruit only, you will get enough protein.
youtube.com/watch?v=oyBlnJs...
I am not a Type 2 Diabetic. I would not follow that advice if I were. I previously worked doing Cardic Rehab on patients with T2D and following bypass or other cardiac surgeries or MIs. Part of my job was teaching them about diet. An all fruit diet would be extremely detrimental, and it is not because of the sugars. A well balanced low glycemic diet is best for anyone with T2D and it's healthy for most people as is a plant based diet with ample protein for their health requirements. It's not just about simple sugars or complex sugars. It is so much more complicated than that. I would suggest anyone check with their Nephrologist or Renal Dietician before beginning that regime.
I don't believe that any high fruit diet, nor any diet that relies on mainly one food group as the base for their dietary needs is healthy. I base that on my medical training and my personal beliefs. We'll have to agree to disagree on this.
Again, if it's working for you that's great. I don't believe you mentioned which stage CKD you are in. In the early stages then your eGFR can rise by watching your diet and cleaning up your lifestyle. Any number of things can help. The same holds true if you have a low eGFR from an AKI.
The following paragraph is from the Cleveland Clinic and sums up my beliefs:
"That being said, even when you consider the benefits of fruit and why it should be included as part of a balanced diet, people should generally keep their fruit intake to no more than 25% to 30% of their diet to avoid nutritional imbalances."
Starting to think you work for the fruit industry! You seem to advocate strongly for what works for you, but such blanket statements can confuse and derail someone that may have different CKD or other health issues than you. Please be careful dispensing strong advice to this community, especially new people or those who aren't as well informed as others, or just beginning their journey. I didn't see that you are a physician, or possibly I missed a post indicating you have valid medical knowledge and experience, other than personal anecdotal. I'm not raining on your parade, as it seems to be working well for you and that's a good thing, but it does seem to come across somewhat that what works for your situation is best for everyone, and that's not always the case depending on other people's overall health issues, level of CKD, etc. Hope you continue to do well.
Just saying what worked for me and people can then do their own research. I don't see any other examples of healing?
And it works for others too, shown in the video.
Out of every species on earth there is only 1 who cooks their food, maybe we have it wrong.
That is because we have opposable thumbs…how could the other mammals hold the frying pan!
There are populations in the world who successfully lived healthy lives eating only sweet potatoes, or even potatoes. But, they were healthy when they started that lifestyle, as it was passed down from generations. People who have CKD would soon be in extreme danger eating such a high potassium diet, just as they would be in extreme danger if they ate 'fruitarian'.
I just looked up Doug Graham the author of that book, and he is a chiropractor. I couldn't find the credentials of Dr. Morse. I would be a bit leery of taking advice from someone who isn't an MD or preferably a board certified Nephrologist when it comes to a life threatening illness like kidney disease. A renal dietician would be another source I would trust. I'm Stage 4 CKD and no matter what I do I will not improve my eGFR, it's impossible. At best I may be able to slow the decline but my Neph. says he isn't hopeful on that front either.
The Lee Hull books are written from first hand experience as someone with kidney disease.
True that they do not have traditional medical degrees but that should not discredit their knowledge. A lot of Allopathic doctors do not know much about nutrition as they do not study it much. Also doctors often do not look for the route cause of our kidney problems, they prescribe meds to manage certain symptoms, which can be needed at times, but I want to understand the cause.
Btw its not impossible to improve egfr.
It is impossible if you reach beyond a certain Stage and/o if it's not from AKI. Beside the eGFR doen't mean that your kidney damage has improved by rising a point or so. The damage is done once you reach Stage 4.
It is not impossible to improve eGFR. However, currently it is impossible to regenerate nephrons. Thus, there is no cure (currently) for CKD. Fruits are highly recommended in the NKF KDOQI recent nutritional guidelines.
“ High Fruit and Vegetable Dietary Pattern
CKD progression
In adults with stages 3-4 CKD, the fruits and vegetables dietary pattern has mixed effects on eGFR compared with oral bicarbonate supplementation.212,213
Body weight
Two RCTs reported on the effect of a fruit and vegetable dietary pattern on body weight in adults with CKD. Goraya et al213 reported that the group following the fruit and vegetable dietary pattern had greater net body weight loss than both the oral-bicarbonate and standard-care groups (P < 0.05). Goraya et al212 reported lower body weight in adults with CKD stages 3-4 following a fruit and vegetable dietary pattern compared with the oral bicarbonate supplementation group at the 1-year follow-up (P < 0.01; mean difference, −5.09; 95% CI, −7.73 to 2.44 kg; I2 = 56%).
Blood pressure
Three studies (2 RCTs and 1 NRCT) reported on the effect of increased fruit and vegetable intake on BP in adults with CKD. All 3 studies indicated that increased intake of fruit and vegetable had a significant effect on lowering SBP compared with the oral bicarbonate supplement intake group or standard-care group.212, 213, 214 Goraya et al213 indicated reductions in SBPs in all groups; however, the 3-year value for the fruits and vegetables group was lower than those in bicarbonate and control. Goraya et al212 showed that compared with the bicarbonate group, the fruit and vegetables group had lower SBPs at the 1-year follow-up (P < 0.01). Goraya et al214 (NRCT) showed that fruit and vegetable intake, but not control or bicarbonate, significantly decreased SBPs in individuals with CKD stages 1 and 2 (P < 0.001). Pooled analysis of data from Goraya et al212 (2013) and Goraya et al213 (2014) indicated a mean difference of −5.6 (95% CI, −8.3 to −2.8) mm Hg. Increased intake of the fruits and vegetable dietary pattern lowered SBP compared with oral bicarbonate supplement intake or the standard-care group in adults with CKD stages 1-4.
Comparison With Recent Research
A recent systematic review examined the effect of dietary patterns on CKD outcomes using cohort studies.215 In agreement with the current analysis of controlled trials, Kelly et al215 found no effect of dietary pattern on CKD progression in studies with follow-up ranging from 4 to 6.4 years. However, unlike the current systematic review, Kelly et al215 were able to demonstrate a relationship between a dietary pattern rich in vegetables, fruit, fish, cereals, whole grains, fiber, legumes, and nuts and seeds and lower in red meat, sodium, and refined sugars in studies reporting outcomes from 4 to 13 years of follow-up (RR, 0.73 [95% CI, 0.63-0.83]).
A recent Cochrane review of 6 RCTs evaluated dietary patterns in CKD (1 study [n = 191] of a carbohydrate-restricted low-iron polyphenol enriched diet, 2 studies [n = 355] of a Mediterranean diet, 2 studies [n = 181] of increased fruit and vegetable intake, and 1 study [n = 12] of a high-protein/low-carbohydrate diet). From this review, dietary interventions had uncertain effects on all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events. However, with low-quality evidence, there was reduced SBP and DBP and higher GFRs and albumin levels following dietary interventions.216
Although the intervention studies examining dietary patterns in CKD are limited, there is consistent evidence from observational analyses on dietary patterns containing fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, low-fat dairy, and low added salt and improved clinical outcome (notably mortality) in CKD.215 A recent study confirmed that intake of nuts, low-fat dairy products, and legumes is protective against the development of CKD.217 There is therefore a need to undertake future trials to further investigate more holistic dietary interventions over single-nutrient approaches in these patients. Dietary pattern may improve additional outcomes not reported in the systematic review, including constipation.”
Link:
ajkd.org/article/S0272-6386...
Diet is important and fruits are an important part of the recommended diets but they aren’t the “cure.”
Yep. I agree 👍
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