Choose kidney-friendly diet while undergoing renal treatment: DaVita Kidney Care

Aditya Singh, Managing Director, DaVita Care (India) Pvt. Ltd., said, "Our 'Zero Compromise Dialysis' policy reflects in our holistic approach to dialysis treatment with extensive patient counselling and integrated treatment plans including individualized diet plans for patients. DaVita believes in a preventive approach to renal health problems and our no-cost resources such as kidney-friendly recipes and no-cost kidney screenings are geared towards spreading awareness on kidney health."

"DaVita is proud to participate in TCS World 10K, held on May 27, this year to support the cause of kidney awareness and kidney health. At DaVita, we believe understanding the kidneys - our body's filtration system - is the first step in taking charge of our kidney health. Participating in TCS World 10K is one of our many initiatives to raise awareness about kidney disease and its management," he added.

The TCS World 10K Bengaluru is an annual 10 kilometres road running competition which takes place every year in Bengaluru, India. This year, approximately 24,000 runners took to the roads of Bengaluru for five different races in what has become an annual event on the third Sunday in May and has emerged as Asia's leading run over the past nine years.

DaVita in India provides a wealth of no-cost diet resources - kidney-friendly recipes and diet tips - to raise awareness on kidney health and help those living with a kidney ailment better manage their disease. Each recipe on the website is created with the dietary needs of those undergoing renal treatment in mind. To try the recipes, visit, https://www.davita.in/recipes.php

Speaking on the importance of a renal diet plan Swathi K. Sreekanta, Sr. consultant dietitian, DaVita Care (India) Pvt. Ltd., said, "A nutritious diet is necessary for every individual. The emphasis on good nutrition increases in the presence of an illness. With kidney disease, malnutrition is extremely common. Lack of appetite leaves the patient eating meagre amounts with little nutrition. Optimum nutrition needs to be the main dietary goal in a patient with kidney illness. A well-planned diet provides the kidney with the essential nutrients to continue its residual functioning and prevents further damage by not overloading it."

"A balanced diet ensures efficient functioning of the body. While an excess of food consumption may lead to weight gain, too few calorie intakes can lead to weight and muscle loss. Taking care of your daily nutrition intake becomes even more important when suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD). Adhering to an individualized meal plan by a trained renal dietitian can not only help keep you healthy but also extend the life of your kidneys," she added.

Swathi further explains the benefits of a healthy and nutritious diet regime.

"If you eat a diet that is kidney-friendly, you are not taxing your kidneys. Some of the benefits of a renal-friendly diet include reduced load on kidneys and maintenance of residual function, improved energy to perform day-to-day activities, better infection control, reduced symptoms such as itching, nausea, weakness, improved muscle growth and better control of conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and cardiac ailments," she added.

When kidney function deteriorates, it becomes difficult for kidneys to remove protein waste and minerals. It often requires dialysis (depending on the stage of chronic kidney disease). Each person's kidney diet prescription varies but the main nutrients that are generally limited in a kidney diet include protein, phosphorus, potassium, and sodium. Fluid restriction when necessary is of utmost importance.