Sodium
If you are a member of Club CKD or a caregiver of one, just like all of us here at Team ATK, you probably know a thing or two about how the Renal Diet is an essential part of the treatment approach towards Chronic Kidney Disease, whatever be the cause.
Lowering the intake of Sodium is an integral part of this CKD Diet to effectively delay progression to Kidney Failure.
So today we present here, a comprehensive A-Z guide-graphic on Sodium in your CKD Diet.
CONTENTS
2. Why should you reduce its intake if you have CKD?
3. Managing Sodium Intake in Chronic Kidney Disease: The complete guide
WHAT IS SODIUM?
Sodium is a naturally-occurring mineral found in the human body “floating” as “electrolytes” in our bloodstream and other body fluids. It is essential for our survival and serves the following major functions: –
Maintains our blood pressure by its ability to “attract and conserve” fluid in the body Facilitates our brain and nerves to send necessary signals (impulse-conduction) for other body parts to function Helps our muscles to contract and maintain co-ordination Prevents all cells in our body from undesirable bloating-up or rupture, both of which are harmful.
WHY SHOULD YOU REDUCE SODIUM INTAKE IF YOU HAVE CKD?
Normally, healthy kidneys take utmost care to retain just the precise amounts of sodium (135-147 mEq/L (mEq/L = milli equivalents per litre) in the body to allow all life-processes to proceed without complications.
In Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), “unwell” kidneys gradually lose the ability to eliminate enough sodium from our bodies such that its blood level rises beyond safe-limits (above 147 mEq/L).
Among other side effects, it causes our blood pressure to shoot-up beyond permissible levels. When this happens, blood gushes with extraordinary force to our kidneys for filtration every time, which in turn, damages our delicate kidney filters irreversibly. This is like being persistently punched hard on your face, every time you try to enter your office for work. Would you like it? You’ll try and “deal with it” initially, but perhaps “eventually quit”. That’s one aspect of kidney-failure for you. Hence, it is imperative, that we reduce our daily Sodium intake once chronic kidney disease or any of it’s known risk factors (such as high blood pressure from a different cause) sets in.
Be kind to your beautiful, resilient kidneys. Consider limiting Sodium in your diet below 1500 mg /day.
PLANNING A LOW-SODIUM KIDNEY-FRIENDLY DIET
For this, consult a Renal Dietitian as soon as you know you have CKD irrespective of whether you have been started on Dialysis or not. Starting a Renal Diet plan early-on can help you remain symptom-free for several years by delaying the actual disease progress.
The issue is, elaborate Diet Charts seem to advise that sticking to a “No-or-Low-Sodium-Plan” is ideal during your CKD journey. But it’s one thing to advise a reduction of Sodium intake in food & an entirely different thing to implement it in our daily lives.
The reason? Sodium is universal. This mineral seems to be present everywhere and NOT JUST table salt! Just how do we go about it?!
We at ATK understand this dilemma very well. We’ve been there after all!
Sticking to a low-sodium diet plan needs some effective tips & tricks up your sleeve. So here’s presenting a series of “Guide-graphics” on how to effectively implement that Low Sodium intake as a part of your Renal Diet without really giving up on taste altogether!
Team ATK drew up these guide graphics based on consultations with registered renal dietitians & CKD patients who have been successfully keeping their kidney disease from abrupt worsening by following these tips.
Scroll along to learn!
TIPS TO MANAGE SODIUM INTAKE IN CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE
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