kidney diet to reverse CKD?

[jadey]

Has anyone read this? And if so, what do you think of it?

http://kidneydietsecrets.org/kidney-diet-secrets-that-can-reverse-chronic-kidney-failure/

[MooseMom]

First of all, none of the information on that site is new.  It's all basic stuff we all know already.

If your kidney disease is caused by hypertension or by diabetes, then if this diet controls or even reverses these two maladies, then I guess you can say that it can reverse the kidney disease that is so common with these two conditions.  Or it may be more accurate to say that your kidney function probably won't worsen.

But the dietary tips outlined on this site are for people with kidneys already damaged.  This diet does not reverse kidney disease, rather, it helps to prevent the complications of kidney disease, which is altogether a different proposition.

If you have a sclerotic disease that is progressive like fsgs, no diet will reverse this.  But this diet will again protect you from the complications of high serum phos and potassium.  Also, if you are pre-dialysis, limiting your intake of protein reduces the strain on already damaged kidneys.

[jbeany]

I was put on this diet to slow the progression of CKD as well.  The only problem I have with it is his claiming it will reverse CKD.  Nope, sorry, no such luck.  Can you slow it down far, far beyond the point you would have had to start D if you'd continue to eat a regular diet?  Yes.  There are a number of members on here who have done it.  I've no doubt it helped me stall my start as well.  But all I'm seeing on this website is a lot of over-hyped claims to get you to buy his book, which contains information you can get for free in a lot of other places.  Oooh, diet effects health.  Really?  Shocking!   

[MomoMcSleepy]

Plus the guy at the top of the page testimonial says that he came back from acute renal failure.  Who cares if you came back from acute renal failure?  Lots of people have come back from acute renal failure (though it's nothing to laugh at).

[Jonndad]

Jadey, I am trying this diet.  It is basically an alkaline diet but I am also keeping my blood sugars totally normal hoping for some kidney healing.  There's always hope.

[jadey]

Hey Jonndad,

may I ask what stage of kidney failure are you at? (if that is the case?)

[Jonndad]

Hi Jadey!  Well, I am in stage 4 of ckd.  But four years ago I was also in stage 4 and through an alkaline raw veggie diet (that was also low in carbs and protein) I managed to move myself to stage 3.  I was at 12% gfr and then improved to 35% over 6 months.  The diet is extremely difficult because I am diabetec and I believe the fact that I had absolute control over my blood sugars 24/7 was a major factor in my healing.  Sad to say, I could not stay on the diet and I'm now back in the same position trying to do the same thing.  I know you are on dialysis and if and when that time comes I will face it.  Until that time I will hope for a miracle (again) and try to figure out a way to keep on this very strict diet.  Was the cause of your kidney failure diabetes or something else?  John

[jadey]

hey Jonndad

It's cool to hear that you went from stage 4 to stage 3. I can agree with you that diabetes definitely can complicate things... it just fills up your plate even more!

I think the diet is the hardest part about kidney failure. I hope you can avoid dialysis for a long time.

To this day I don't know what caused my kidney failure. It was never really investigated.

[Jonndad]

Well, thank you for the encouragement Jadey.  I have been studing the type of dialysis you are on (PD) as my choice if and when I have to go on the big D.  There are so many pros and cons to each one.  I live a lone with my two teenagers who are 17 and 19 and I know the day is coming when they will be going on their own.  The PD sounds to me like I would have more freedom to do things although I enjoy being at home often.  I have lost a lot of energy over the years which I am hoping to get some back.  How have you adjusted to PD so far?  I don't think I have ever heard of a person having kidney failure where they couldn't figure out a cause.  That is very strange to me because sometimes I have read the key to healing is to find out the cause.  I would be interested to know how your general mood has been since you started PD.  Thanks!  John

[noahvale]

^ 

[talker]

Hello jadey , MooseMom , jbeany , MomoMcSleepy , Jonndad , noahvale ,     

As contributors to this article, can anyone of you give further info regards:

Did you follow a specific diet!   

How long!   

Did your quality of life improve!   

talker

[kristina]

Hello talker,

I had not yet contributed to this article, but after my kidneys first failed in 1971 (urea, coma),
I was medically advised by a professor who believed in preventative medicine, that I should start to be a strict vegetarian
to enable my fragile kidney function to continue without dialysis and I have been a strict vegetarian ever since.

No processed food for me, no fast food, no tin food etc. All my food and fruit is as fresh as it can be and comes directly from the weekly farmers market.

I cook all my food  myself and bake my own (no salt!) bread and I buy all my vegetables and fruit very fresh...
All that takes time... but it has improved my life very much and has assisted me to keep my kidneys functioning since 1971 without dialysis... just about...

The reason for a vegetarian diet is because it is very easy digestible, easy on the body and in the process it does not upset the kidneys ...
I also avoid heavy vegetarian ingredients like garlic and onions, not only because they are "very heavy" to digest, but also because of my allergies...
(...and let's be honest: lots of ready-prepared food has garlic ingredients to cover-up for the mass produced cheap and bad quality of food  ...)

My kidney friendly vegetarian diet is not easy at first and it also takes time to buy, prepare and cook, but in my case it is certainly worth the effort!

Good luck from Kristina.