Natural/Alternative Medicine for Kidney Disease

[brandywine]

I have been doing a lot of reading and research lately on nutrition and health, and that has lead to a lot of information on natural/alternative medicine. I read multiple research articles on the connection between casein and/or gluten on IgA Nephropathy patients, and that many found improved kidney function after avoiding these foods.

I'm just curious, have any of you taken a more natural approach to your kidney disease? I know that there are medications at this point that I HAVE to take. However, if I had known then what I know now, I would have tried a much different approach when I was still at Stages 3 and 4 of CKD.

Some of the things that I have been reading are the books: Eat to Live, The China Study, The Beginner's Guide to Natural Living, and Forks over Knives which is also a documentary. I've also watched Food Inc., The Gerson Miracle, and several other related documentaries.

[beachbum]

I haven't but I'm very interested in this topic. I've watched a few movies and had some ideas about fasting but not sure how to do it safely while on PD. I had to stop PD for about a week, I still have some kidney function, and I fasted a little bit and maintained a very natural diet. I lost 14lbs and felt healthier than ever. It made me wonder if there was a better way. I know I have to be on dialysis but maybe there is something that can help me along the way.

[fearless]

brandywine, I too wish that i had known way back when what I know now.  I do think there are lots of things we can do to maximize our health outside the dialysis regimen.  Unfortunately, once we're on dialysis, there are so many restrictions and drug interactions to look out for.  A healthy diet for a non-ESRD person is disastrous for someone on Dx.  I applaud your research.  I hope we can broadcast what we learn to help others maybe avoid kidney disease/dialysis.

[jeannea]

Not sure I understand the connection between gluten and kidney disease. I don't think gluten is any harder on kidneys than other foods. I think maybe those people were helped by trying to eat healthy.

[Rain]

I've researched alot and the book Nourishing Traditions really helped  me.

I realized that my kidney needed saturated fat and I was getting well none.  I was completely off meat and not using oils or fats to cook with.  Since i got diagnosed I changed my diet to as traditional as I can.  I eat meat, which helped me gain muscle and energy.  Grains a limit 1 serving per meal and I eat fruit and veggies mostly cooked veggies to help with digestion. 

If you want to help limit bruising, sweet red peppers contain an enzyme that helps heal and I notice the difference since i started eating peppers once a day, and in the winter when I don't eat them as much cause they are $$  my legs are bruised from every bump.

Before dialysis the doctor made me drink Baking Soda and water to lower my urea.  It worked well, but it was hard to drink. 

[brandywine]

Not sure I understand the connection between gluten and kidney disease. I don't think gluten is any harder on kidneys than other foods. I think maybe those people were helped by trying to eat healthy.

The connection is based on an allergy sensitivity, like people with Celiac disease, but the difference is that instead of the inflammatory reaction originating in the intestines, it originates in the kidneys. This is specifically for auto-immune kidney disease, which is the category I fall into. The thought is that if you stop consuming the allergen, then you will stop having an "allergic reaction". I also have three other auto-immune diseases which makes me think that it is food issue.

[brandywine]

Here are a couple of links about the relationship between gluten/IgA Nephropathy.
http://www.igansupport.org/articles/iganallergieslink.html
http://ndt.oxfordjournals.org/content/24/8/2476.full

I actually went on a plant-based diet for a month, and avoided gluten for most of it. All of my labs improved except for two. My albumin went down .1 and my creatinine went up a half a point. I have to share that it was already on the climb the month before so, who knows. I ate that way for another week or two, then slowly started eating meat and gluten-products again. I felt a difference. I felt better when I ate a plant-based diet, but my creatinine went back down quite a bit on the next visit. The nurse said that it can take a couple of weeks for dietary changes to show up in the labs. I'm still undecided. I'm trying to incorporate fresh fruit and veggie juice into my diet and more whole foods in general...more vitamins and minerals, the natural way.

[fearless]

have you tried taking 12 g. of fish oil each day?  This is specifically prescribed for IgA.  Also, vit E.  The fish oil provides omega oils, which can also be gotten from Flax seed oil, but not all people metabolize flax completely enough to get what they need from it.  Omegas help fight inflammation, and may help with auto-immune.  Omegas are necessary in all diets, but may be even more important in the case of autoimmune.  Also, vit C helps inflammation, and MSM  might help too.

http://www.igansupport.org/articles/fishoil.html

[brandywine]

I did use fish oil in the beginning, but after my kidneys rapidly declined for several months straight, I just gave up. It was expensive, not covered by insurance, and tasted awful at that high dosage.

[fearless]

I hear ya.