Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is the gradual loss of kidney function over time. Each of our kidneys contain around one million nephrons, which assist in filtering our blood and removing wastes - which then become urine.

We can loose over 90% of our kidney function and be asymptomatic - this means there can be no symptoms. Early detection of CKD can reduce deteriorating renal function by 50%.

There is 20 x the risk of a cardiovascular event when you have CKD, and it is twice as prevalent as type 2 diabetes.

Kidney disease is not necessarily related to age; it can present earlier in life. The number of nephrons in our kidneys peak at around age 30. At this time, our average estimated glumerlurar filtration rate (eGFR) is around 120 mL/min. By the time we reach 70 years of age there is around a 30-50% loss in the number of nephrons, however a healthy eGFR should still be around 110mL/min. Assessing pathology markers can provide us with a very good insight to kidney health, especially in the early stages of CKD due to there often no apparent physical symptoms.

Commonly known drivers of CKD include smoking, high blood pressure, hyperparathyroidism, Coeliac disease and IBD, Lupus, iron overload, insulin resistance and diabetes, and injury to the kidneys. But there are other factors that contribute to the progression of CKD, including: High salt-Low potassium diet, high dietary protein intake, calcium deficiency, chronic dehydration, sleep apnea, gastrointestinal dysbiosis, a number of medications- especially proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as neurofen and Panadol, sedentary lifestyle, periodontal disease, BPA and Xeno-oestrogen's (plastics), herbicides and pesticides, and air pollution.

How to correct it? Addressing aspects of health such as chronic dehydration, gut health, nutritional deficiencies, heavy metal toxicity, overuse of medications such as PPIs and NSAIDS, obesity can assist with improving and maintaining good kidney health.

Dietary principles to assist in kidney health:

Plant based diet for the win!

A diet that is potassium rich, low in sodium/salt and not too high in protein can assist with reducing metabolic acidosis, and improve kidney function.

Plenty of Potassium rich foods to slow the progression of CKD: Beetroot, spinach, carrots and carrot juice, adzuki beans, lentils, sweet potato, pumpkin, potato mushrooms, white beans, artichokes, tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, dandelion greens, bok choy, lentils, avocado, fennel, cauliflower, capsicum, prunes and prune juice (not concentrated), passionfruit, kiwi fruit, bananas, grapefruit, oranges.

Limit/avoid high sodium foods: take-away, pre-packaged foods in general, cured and canned meats- ham, bacon, salami, processed cheeses and savoury snacks, salad dressings (other than homemade), soy sauce, seasonings and marinades, “plant-based” pre-packaged meats, breads and cereals. Try seasoning your meals with herbs and spices to add flavour instead of salt. Coriander, basil, dill, parsley and tarragon are good alternatives that are also high in potassium.

Include vegetarian sources of protein: average optimal protein intake is 0.8g protein per Kg body weight. Vegetarian protein sources will not only assist with reducing the acidic load on the body, but will also increase our fibre and pre-biotic intake. This is foods such as beans, lentils, chickpeas, nuts and seeds, quinoa, tofu and tempeh. Winter can be a great time to introduce lentils, beans and chickpeas into our diet as they make a great addition to soups, slow cooked meals and stews.

Its not just about how much water you are drinking- It is also about how much you are urinating! Over a 24 hour period you should be urinating roughly around 2 litres (give or take 500ml) if hydration is adequate. Our fluid intake can come from total fluids consumed, as well as from foods such as fruits and vegetables.

References:

PMID: 32775988

Important note: This information is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or substitute for medical advice. Always consult your health care provider regarding any health concerns you have.