I have just been diagnosed with stage 3A CKD and want to know how much to change my diet. Do I just need to cut back on bananas, avocado, young spinach and coffee etc or actually cut them out?
I am 88 but active - walk and climb stairs many times a day, not over weight and not on any medication. So what am I doing wrong?
HI Bailey,
Yes, stop eating bananas and avocadoes if your potassium is high. Spinach is also high but has oxalates in it which is not good for the kidneys. Coffee in moderation is ok. And I do mean moderation.
Just so you know, as we age, our kidneys filtration rate, or GFR goes down naturally. Nothing wrong, just the way it is. At 3a, you may just have a lower number because of your age. Stay active, heathy and it may not progress to a lower stage.
Hi Bailey I would say to ask your Dr. My doctor told me to eat between 1000-1500 mg of potassium a day based on my labs. I do eat a portion of avacado and one banana a day- I have had no problems as long as I keep to my 1000-1500 mg a day.
My age is 82, and I was placed on a CKD diet at level 3b. My diet is based on bloodwork for Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium and Protein. The progression has slowed down. It might be best you contact your Doctor for a referral to a dietitian. Keep us posted.
I to am 3a. I am listening to Dr. Sten Ekberg on YouTube in what to eat at Stages.
Eat to your labs. You only need to reduce phosphorus or potassium if your labs show they are too high. You probably didn't do anything wrong. age related loss of kidney function is VERY common. If I were 88 and 3A many doctors wouldn't even call that CKD. There are several studies that recommend NOT even calling age related kidney function loss as CKD.
Yes! It's not wise to change your diet unless your labs tell you to do so. And there's indeed considerable controversy about labeling seniors with kidney disease when it's merely age related. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...
Kidney disease can be hereditary it can be due to wear and tear based or on your eating habits, weight, stress levels or lifestyle
Dehydration is a cause as well as eating too much protein or taking too many NSAIDS.
I read that our kidneys are designed to wear out over time, so natural aging is a factor.
The best diet for you depends on many specific factors including age, other health conditions, weight, lifestyle, exercise and your stage and GRF, etc.
You absolutely need to avoid excess of anything in your diet including alcohol, protein, sodium, phosphate and potassium.
Most things you don’t need to give up totally.
It is common for people to eat too much protein, which leads to higher Bun levels as the kidney can only process a certain amount a day
It’s best to meet with a kidney dietitian. There is no one size fits all
You need to monitor your intake of dietary sodium , potassium, phosphorus and protein. You need to learn to read the labels to monitor your diet
However just monitoring your minerals is not enough.
It’s a balancing act between the right amount of minerals calories, nutrients, healthy fat, water and protein.
It all depends on what stage you are in
Studies support that the more plant based diet the better. But if you are in an early stage and want a steak infrequently just watch the potion size and opt for a leaner cut and limit your intake .
It important to avoid taking NSAIDs or any medications that may cause kidney damage. In case you ever need to take meds.
Watch any over the counter products that you may take to make sure that you don’t exceed the RDA for anything , for example too much calcium or vitamin D are problematic.
Your kidneys job is filtering out toxins , too much of anything can cause them to work overtime or fail to release the toxins Then they enter your bloodstream and can negatively impact the function of your heart or other organs
Each stage is different. Each person is different depending on weight, other health factors, age, and physical condition.
It’s a balancing act.
Malnutrition and dehydration are prevalent too.
Recently the National Kidney Foundation incorporated studies from 2017 & 2020 into the recommendations for dietary guidelines. If you look for sources of information look for the most recent ones. Data from 10-15 years ago is often outdated
Best of luck.
Hi, way to go, 88 and no meds! Just don't take ibuprofen for aches and pains. Keep an eye on your blood pressure and be aware of salt. Lots of fresh fruits and veggies, if you aren't already eating them. As others have said, you don't need to cut back on avocados and bananas and baby spinach unless you have high potassium and phosphorous levels on your bloodwork.
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