Western Diet May Speed Renal Decline

[okarol]

NEWS IN BRIEF
Western Diet May Speed Renal Decline
Delicia Honen Yard
March 14, 2011   

A diet emphasizing fruits, vegetables, legumes, fish, poultry, and whole grains may slow loss of kidney function over time, according to a report in the American Journal of Kidney Disease (2011;57:245-254). Among 3,121 mostly middle-aged and older white women taking part in the Nurses' Health Study, overall kidney function was generally good. Compared with subjects who adhered to this healtier diet, those following a Western-style diet (high in red and processed meats, saturated fats, and sweets) were more likely to experience microalbuminuria and rapid decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate.

 
From the March 2011 Issue of Renal And Urology News
http://www.renalandurologynews.com/western-diet-may-speed-renal-decline/article/198274/

[greg10]

Thank you for the thread.

The full article is available as PDF here: http://www.natap.org/2011/HCV/PIIS027263.pdf

God help us Americans, 23% diabetes of the "older white female" nurses in the study.

[monrein]

And the big question is why are we so stupid as a species that we keep right on destroying ourselves, even when we know better?  Homo not so sapiens it would seem.
Dumb as rocks I'm thinking.

[RightSide]

And the big question is why are we so stupid as a species that we keep right on destroying ourselves, even when we know better?  Homo not so sapiens it would seem.
Dumb as rocks I'm thinking.

Homo Sapiens has been biologically programmed to seek out and pack away as many calories as possible, whenever possible.  That's a holdover from thousands of years ago when food was often scarce and starvation was always a possibility.  But those instincts remain with us today.

Food in abundance is a new experience for our species.  (When I was a kid, folks were still starving in India.  Today, obesity has become more of a problem in India than starvation.)

To deal with it, we have to overcome our basic instincts to pack away calories in advance of tough times.

And abstinence from overeating is proving to be as difficult as abstinence from sex--our other basic instinct.

[MooseMom]

I happen to like "good foods" and was never really a fan of "bad" foods.  I loved my fruits and veg, loved my whole grains, loved my legumes and never really had much of a sweet tooth.  But I got kidney disease anyway, and those "good" foods are now taboo.  THAT's the definition of irony.

[KarenInWA]

I happen to like "good foods" and was never really a fan of "bad" foods.  I loved my fruits and veg, loved my whole grains, loved my legumes and never really had much of a sweet tooth.  But I got kidney disease anyway, and those "good" foods are now taboo.  THAT's the definition of irony.

MooseMom, I so totally agree!  I find it strange that I can't confidently shop in the produce department anymore.  Eat my veggies?  Do you wanna KILL me???  That could land me in the ER!!!  WTF

KarenInWA

[jbeany]

Yup, love the logic of a diet where sugar cookies or rice krispie treats are a good snack choice, and an orange is a bad one!

[MooseMom]

I could so easily be a vegetarian, but I don't dare.

Malnutrition/poor nutrition is a real risk for renal patients.  Wonder why?

I've done this diet long enough to be able to live with it.  I don't eat taboo foods often, but when I do, it's when I have no other choice; I can restrict my portion size.  I like a wide variety of foods, so if I can't have an orange, no biggie...I'll just have berries.  If I can't have potatoes, no biggie...I'll have rice.  But what really bugs me is not being able to have whole grains.  White starches (white rice, white pasta, white bread) are bad for you, but I have no choice.  My husband loves pasta, so we a lot of that, which isn't very good.  I'll at least do some basmati rice instead of regular white rice, so that's a bit better.  But when it comes to bread, I'm stuck.  I sometimes get rye bread which is a good alternative, but it has such a strong flavour that it is not always what I/my husband wants.

Well, more frequent, optimal dialysis is supposed to give patients a chance to have a more realistic diet, so that's what I'm going to do.  If having a better diet with fewer restrictions that can cause a poor nutritional status (that happened to my mom) requires longer in the dialysis chair at home, that's what I'll do.

And yeah...rice Krispies over raisin bran?  That's just weird.

[Henry P Snicklesnorter]

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