If you have kidney problems, or you want to take steps to make sure you avoid having one in the future, you have to be careful about what you eat.

The intention of this article is to give you tips on a sensible diet for people with kidney problems - whether you already have a kidney problem, or hope to avoid having one in the future. Anyone who has to cook or plan meals for an individual with kidney problems will also find some helpful guidelines below. Of course, always follow the recommendations of the patient’s doctor for specific nutritional and dietary recommendations.

Diet is an important part of managing your kidney problem. Food choices should be made based on several factors.

* The current condition of your kidney health

* Your general state of health and physical well-being, especially in regard to any other diseases or illnesses you may have.

* Your weight. Obesity places greater stress on the kidneys and increases the risk or kidney disease or kidney failure.

When planning a diet for people with kidney problems, there are five main food groups that must be taken into consideration.

Salt or Sodium Levels

Everyone needs a certain amount of sodium (salt) in their diet. In fact we couldn’t live without it because sodium influences a number of critical metabolic functions. It helps us maintain fluid balances, control our muscles, and maintain a healthy blood pressure.

Many people have too much sodium in their diets. In some cases, it’s because they eat a lot of processed and pre-packaged foods - which are tasty and convenient but packed with salt.

Normally, your kidneys filter out excess salt. This process breaks down when you have a kidney problem - the kidney allow salt to begin accumulating.

When this happens, fluids begin to build up, which causes bloating in various areas - specifically, the face and joints.

Anyone who has reason to think they might have a kidney problem should avoid making the following foods a big part of their diet:

* processed and pre-packaged dinner mixes
potato chips and salty snacks
* salted nuts
* meat that has been processed, like cold cuts
* cheese
* canned, dehydrated, or instant soup or bouillon cubes
* vegetables in cans
* bacon
* It also helps to use the salt shaker lightly - if at all - during all meals.

Protein

The same advice applies to protein as to sodium. We need protein, but too much of it is bad for anyone with a kidney problem.

{A lot of protein in your diet can put stress on your kidneys because it creates too much metabolic waste for the kidneys to handle.

A lot of protein can be found in meat and poultry products (which includes eggs). For the most part, grains and vegetables contain little or no protein.

Potassium

Potassium is important to nerve and muscle health. When you get too much potassium though, you can start having problems with your heartbeat. Most foods contain potassium, but amounts vary from one type to another.

So if your doctor tells you that you have kidney issues, you have to educate yourself about the amount of potassium in the food you choose.

Meanwhile some foods have high levels of potassium, so you should make sure to limit your consumption. Foods that contain a lot of potassium include apricots, bananas, beets, bran & bran products, broccoli, cantaloupe, chocolate, and coffee.

Phosphorus

Phosphorus is similar to potassium in that it promotes healthy muscles and nerves. When combined with calcium, it also gives you strong bones and teeth.

Kidney problems will sometimes alter your phosphorus balances - and not in a good way. As a result, your calcium levels drop, and your body begins taking calcium from your bones to compensate.

But having too much phosphorus isn’t healthy either. It causes itchy skin, joint pain, and brittle bones.

These are the foods that contain a lot of phosphorus: caramel, cheese, chicken livers, beef liver, many kinds of nuts, and peanut butter. Also be aware that certain drinks contain high phosphorus levels too, including beer and cola.

Fluids

Filtering fluids is one of the most important things your kidneys do for you. Someone with a kidney problem has challenges in this area. So, it’s important to watch your fluid intake carefully as part of a healthy kidney diet.

Excess fluid consumption will trigger swelling, high blood pressure and shortness of breath.

This is an area for discussion with your doctor.

It’s important to remember that some fluids start out as solids and then melt into liquids in your stomach. Ice cream is a good example of this type of food.

If you’re worried that you might have a kidney problem - now or in the future - it’s important to maintain a diet that’s good for your kidneys.

Kidney failure leaves you faced with two grim possibilities: years of renal dialysis, or a kidney transplant. Eating a diet for people with kidney problems today will help you avoid having to make such choices in the future.

Related topics: healthy kidney diet and chronic kidney disease symptoms. Neal Kennedy is a former radio and television talk show host who often writes on topics related to kidney disorders.

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