Dialysis Diet
Dialysis diet is often necessary in people who are suffering either
acute or chronic renal failure. Renal failure is a condition in which
the kidneys are unable to appropriately filter the blood from waste
products. The kidneys are the organs in the human body responsible for
keeping the blood free of toxic waste. Once the body uses the energy of
the food consumed, it will send the waste to the blood.
The waste goes to the kidney where very small units called nephrons
filters the blood. Proteins and cells are kept in the blood while the
unneeded waste go to the urinary system.
The kidneys are very important but like the rest of the organs in the
body, they can be affected by diseases or injuries. The most common
conditions affecting the kidneys are diabetes and hypertension. The
high amount of glucose in the blood produced by the diabetes can damage
the kidneys slowly. High blood pressure can also damage the small blood
vessels located in the kidneys. These conditions will usually hurt the
kidneys slowly and without giving many signals until is too late.
Dialysis diet is a viable alternative when the kidneys are damaged.
This diet is normally complementary with the dialysis process. Dialysis
is a procedure used to eliminate toxins from the blood in case the
kidneys are unable to do it. This process also removes excess fluid
from the body using a membrane. The blood is cycled through a
dialysis machine
where the impurities of the body are removed and the balance of
electrolytes is kept.
There 2 types
of dialysis:
- hemodialysis
- peritoneal dialysis
Even when both of them can keep the blood clean, healthy eating habits
are also necessary to decrease the amount of toxins that accumulate in
the bloodstream.
The dialysis diet is essential to keep a healthy balance between
electrolytes, minerals and fluids in the body. Maintaining a diet will
help to reduce the waste in the body between dialysis sessions. Most of
the people with renal problems use a diet with a low amount of protein.
It is a well known fact that consuming too much protein can damage your
kidneys in the long run so is important to consult your doctor about
how much protein you have to consume.
One of the best ways to ensure a healthy amount of protein in your body
is by ingesting amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of
proteins and they will used by your body to construct them if they are
needed.
Reducing the amount of sodium in your body could also be necessary to
avoid overworking your kidneys. Eliminating the saturated fats from
your diet is very important to prevent further damage to your body.
Fresh fruits and vegetables are likely to become fundamental for your
nutritional needs. Remember to consult your doctor about any dietary
changes.
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