Your excretory system is the organ system in your body that is responsible for eliminating the excess water and the toxic substances from your blood and tissues. It is very vital for you to take care of your renal system to make sure that your blood is thoroughly filtered.  But like any other organ in your body, your kidneys get tired, too. When this happens, your doctor may recommend taking it easy.  To fully take care of your renal system, your doctor will recommend a renal diet that you could easily do.

You should lessen the protein intake to decrease the amount of wastes that are handled by your kidneys. Excess phosphorous should also be avoided so that calcium will still be absorbed. Sodium and potassium should also be limited. Sodium retains water in your blood. Too much sodium will not do your heart and blood pressure any good at all. Renal diet is a type of diet that aims to take good care of your renal system. It aims to regulate the amount of nutrients that you take into your body. If you are going to be on a renal diet, then you should make sure that you follow everything to the tee. Here is a list of renal diet foods that you could get access too in your local market:

 

1. Milk and dairy

Milk and dairy are included in the list of renal diet foods.  When you include these in your renal diet, you should remember that each serving should only be one cup, with only 4 g of protein, 80 mg sodium 110 mg phosphorous, and 185 mg potassium. You could also opt for low fanon-dairy substitutes options that have lower amounts of potassium, phosphorous, and fats

 

 

2. Meat substitutes and meats

Meats and substitutes are also part of the list of renal diet foods. These should only have 7 g protein, 25 mg sodium, 65 mg phosphorous, and 100 mg potassium. Per serving should only be about an ounce each. Take note that you shouldn’t use salt in your food preparation. You could still enjoy beef, lamb, chicken, pork, shellfish, and fish but make sure that you follow the measurements. You could also still enjoy any type of cheese except for cottage cheese.

 

 

3. Starch

Foods that are with starch are breads, cereals, crackers, and desserts. Portion control is once again the key to this list of renal diet foods. Only 2 g protein, 35 mg phosphorous, 35 mg potassium, and 80 mg sodium. You could enjoy muffins, buns, bagels, waffles, tortillas, ice cream, oats, cake, cookies, wafers, pies, jell-o, pasta, and pretzels.

 

 

 

4. Vegetables

Vegetables are also in the list of renal diet foods but they do have different amounts of potassium. Vegetables with low potassium (0 to 100 mg) are  alfalfa, cucumber, sweet pepper, cabbage, and lettuce. Those with medium potassium (101 t0 200 mg) are asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, eggplant, mushrooms, snow peas, corn, onion, celery, squash and spinach.

 

 

 

5. Fruits

Fruits also make it in the list of renal diet foods, provided that you stay with the low and medium potassium. Low potassium fruits are grapes, blueberries, apples, cranberries, and pears. Those with medium potassium content are cherries, pineapples, mango watermelon, and strawberries, and tangerine.

 

 

 

6. Fats

You could still enjoy foods that have fat in them, provided that they are unsaturated fats. Included in the list of renal diet foods are low-calorie margarine, low-calorie mayonnaise, sunflower oil, canola oil, peanut oil, corn oil, olive oil, and safflower oil, tartar sauce, and low-calorie dressing.

 

 

In following the list of renal diet foods that your doctor recommends, you could also take supplements. You should also stop using salt substitutes and  make sure that  you work with your doctor for the diet modifications that is suited for your present health condition. Making a habit of reading labels could also help you get information on the foods that are included in the list of renal diet foods. This way, you may learn a lot, too, with regard to the amount of nutrients that you take in.

Hard work, vigilance, and strictness should be noted in following the list of renal diet foods. You could place personal reminders everywhere in the house, in your workplace,  or in your purse. Doing so will show just  how much dedication you have in following the renal diet. Like any other diet plan, you should discuss variety with your dietitian or doctor so that your diet routine will not be boring or redundant at all. Even if you are on a renal diet, you should not find the food choices boring at all. This will make you on track with your diet.