Fad Diets Versus Prescribed Diets for Kidney Disease

[JackieJ_NKF]

Juice detoxes, intermittent fasting, and the cabbage soup diet: What do these have in common? They're all fad diets. What is a fad diet, and should people with kidney disease follow them? Kidney dietitian Amanda Hayes and Jane Demise, a stage five kidney disease warrior, answer these questions and more. kidney.org/newsletter/fad-d...

[userotc]

I totally agree that fad diets should be avoided but wouldnt include intermittent fasting, at least for weight loss where it has its place - see 1st 2 links below, as examples of scientific evidence. It also offers other key/relevant benefits eg gut health (3rd link).

Do you have any evidence that IF can be harmful for ckd? If so, please link.

Also I believe that renal dieticians may be compromised in advising on weight loss e.g. protein intake, and should refer or, at least, work alongside qualified Nutritional Therapists specialising in it. Views?

health.harvard.edu/blog/int...

jamanetwork.com/journals/ja...

medscape.com/viewarticle/in...

[Partner20 in reply to userotc]

I completely agree with your thoughts in intermittent fasting. IF is neither a fad, nor a diet. Surely the proof both in studies and the many positive recent personal experiences of IF for not only losing weight but also reversing pre-diabetes would be sufficient for not categorising IF as a fad diet. In addition, many of those with CKD also have other health conditions which mean that foods recommended for a kidney-friendly diet may not be suitable for those other conditions, in which case a delicate balancing act is needed. Dieticians in different specialisms and nutritionists should work together for the good of all patients, but the NHS is known for working in silos, not in a collaborative way.

[userotc in reply to Partner20]

Indeed. For my mum (ckd3), we have so far been able to avoid restricted, renal diets in favour of a more nutritious, Nutritional Therapy protocol. Long may it continue 🤞