Is It Possible To Avoid Dialysis In Kidney Failure?

It is a question of multimillion dollars because not coming back to life seems when someone in on dialysis. So, why dialysis and how we get into the dialysis. Is it possible to avoid dialysis in kidney failure? So there are many questions regarding kidney failure.

Kidney- an organ of purification

Kidney removes waste and toxic products from blood by a process known as filtration. It works several times in a day. The main functions of Kidney are

• Remove waste and toxic material from blood.
• Control body fluid balance
• Regulate the balance of electrolytes

What happens during kidney failure?

The major reason of kidney failure is due to buildup of waste products in the body and lead into

• Weakness
• Shortness in breath
• Lethargy and confusion
• Inability to remove potassium from blood
• leading into abnormal heart beat and sudden death

Treatment

There are various factors leading into kidney failure and treating underlying causes is the first step in correcting the kidney abnormalities.
Diagnosis are based on the various test such as creatinine, BUN (Blood Urea and Nitrogen), glomerular filtration rate (GFR). But kidney failure is a slow and progressive and ends with the dialysis if not cured properly.

Dialysis

When kidney stops working then an artificial system is involved to filtrate the waste material from blood, which is known as dialysis. The dialysis is done by using a special fluid known as dialysate, which is a mixture of pure water and chemicals that are used to pull wastes from blood without removing essential molecules required by the body. In this situation patient has to go several time in a week to hospital.

Is there any alternate?

Our nature is diversified with natural herbs possessing highly valuable medicinal properties. They are like Rasayana and rejuvenate the body. They are rich in anti-oxidants, which can effectively remove the toxic compounds from body and possesses anti-inflammatory properties, induces kidney's function and regulates the electrolyte concentration. In Ayurveda there are various herbs described to treat the kidney failure, which works on the basis of treating underlying factors causing kidney failure. Along with medicinal herbs there is a need of strict diet chart recommended by experts to produce better results.

There are various herbs described which effectively remove the accumulated fluid, reduces the creatinine level, balances pH, electrolytes concentration and balances body fluid. In spite of these they effectively control sugar level in the blood, which is a most prominent factor causing kidney failure generally observed in diabetic patients. The other underlying factors such as liver disorders, cystitis, renal calculi, and cardiovascular disorders are effectively treated to control the kidney failure.

There various herbs present in the nature, which acts as natural remedy to treat kidney diseases such as Gokshur (Tribulus terrestris), Punarnava (Boerhavia diffusa), Palaash (Butea monosperma), Rakt Chandan (P. santalinus). They are key player in treating underlying causes of kidney failure. They help in maintaining efficient functioning of kidney and urinary tract. They are;

• Coolant, soothes walls of urinary tract and promote the flow of urine
• Highly efficient in removing stones, stops bleeding and exhibits the antiseptic effect
• Nourishing and strengthening the kidneys and reproductive organs.
• Treating cystitis, renal calculi (kidney stones)
• Ensuring proper functioning of liver and improves digestion by maintaining healthy metabolism and effectively removes toxins from the body.
• Urinary alkaliser, relieves from pain during micturition, and natural cure for renal failure

Apart from given herbal medicines, there is a need of commitment from the patient side to control on his lifestyle which needs a balance in diet, mental stress, and physical activities.

Diet recommended are;

• Drink plenty of fresh sweet or sour fruit juices such as apple, oranges, pineapple, lime, grape etc., carrot juice or diluted juices of other vegetable juices esp. wheat grass, celery, and parsley.
• Avoid sugar, meat, sugar, dairy products, wheat products, and processed food with added chemicals.
• Avoid salt. Because too much salt may result in high blood pressure leading into weakening or damaging of kidneys.
• Avoid soft drinks, coffee, alcohol, tea (except herbal tea), and nicotine.
• Be moderate with rhubarb, spinach, strawberries, chocolate, wheat bran, nuts, and beets foods, which can raise the oxalane levels in the urine leading into higher risk for calcium stones.
• Fruits such as apples, watermelons, papayas, pomegranates, and grapes are recommended.
• Vegetables like kidney beans (soaked), asparagus, parsley, watercress, pumpkin, soy beans, sprouts, legumes, celery, cucumbers and green vegetables are recommended.

The only concern during kidney failure is to help kidney to remove the waste and toxic molecules from the body, maintaining pH and electrolyte concentration as well as body fluid balance. Which could only be done by balancing lifestyle including diet. Then possibility of avoiding dialysis is at higher rate.

Diet for Kidney Failure Patients

The Kidneys are the main organs responsible for the elimination of waste products from the body in the form of urine. Its accessory functions include RBC formation (erythropoiesis), maintenance of blood pressure and electrolyte balance.

Kidneys are the vital organs of the human body. Their normal and proper working is quintessential to health. When due to certain congenital or acquired factors, kidneys are not able to work properly there occurs a progressive accumulation of toxins in the body. The symptoms of such toxicity include lethargy, edema, confusion, abnormal heart rhythms etc.

KIDNEY FAILURE – ACUTE OR CHRONIC?

Kidney failure in the literal sense means a loss of kidney function in which all processes related to the kidneys are compromised. This is an emergency condition and requires immediate action. Kidney failure has been categorized into two types depending up on the onset of the disease which may be either sudden or gradual.

ACUTE RENAL FAILURE (ARF)

Acute kidney failure is a sudden loss of kidney function leading to an alarmingly high levels of toxic chemicals in the blood. The good thing is that it is a reversible process but it requires immediate attention.

CAUSES OF ARF (ACUTE RENAL FAILURE)

It may occur due to-

1. A reduced blood flow to the kidneys like in case of severe dehydration, heart diseases, Blood pressure medications etc.
2. Damaged within the kidneys – Toxins, vasculitis, certain medicines, SLE (systemic lupus erythematous), cholesterol deposits in the blood vessels of the kidney etc.
3. Blockage post the kidney system or post renal problems affecting the movement of urine out of the body. These include – bladder cancer, prostate cancer, cervical cancers, kidney stones, nerve damage etc.

CHRONIC RENAL FAILURE

It involves a progressive loss of kidney function, which may occur over a period of time that varies from, person to person and the health of the patient in general. The loss of function is so gradual that it sometimes goes undetected for a long time, till then, serious damage to the kidney has already occured.

CAUSES OF CRF (Chronic Renal Failure)

The most common causes of chronic renal failure are the two type of Diabetes – type- 1&2 and Hypertension. Besides other factors include many medical conditions that are affecting the kidneys like:-

1. Recurrent kidney infections causing pyelonephritis.
2. Poly cystic kidney disease
3. Renal stones causing stasis of the waste material in the kidneys.
4. Medications that are harmful to the kidneys, excessive use of these causes the disease.
5. Hardening of the arteries.
6. Blockage in the urinary system.

DIET IN RENAL FAILURE

Renal failure patients need to be very specific about the food they are eating. There has to be a precise check on the amount of proteins, sodium, potassium, calcium and phosphorus that is being consumed as any excess will lead to higher levels of these elements in blood causing toxic symptoms and serious damage to the various body tissues. It is to be recommended here that the dietary recommendations do not vary much in case of either acute or chronic renal failure. However, the diet chart should be formulated, keeping in mind other primary or secondary health problems that a person is dealing with apart from renal failure.

PROTEIN INTAKE – The requirement is different for different people, so there cannot be a set guideline for the amount of protein that should be consumed by such patients. Consult your dietician and formulate a diet plan accordingly.

PHOSPHORUS INTAKE – High phosphorus levels in blood cause bone resorption and damage the blood vessels. Foods like whole grains, dairy products, nuts, beans, colas etc. have very high phosphorus content and should be avoided.

SODIUM INTAKE – High blood sodium cause elevated blood pressure levels and water retention in the body. In case of renal failure, the kidneys are not able to excrete out the extra sodium produced by the kidneys. The recommended dosage should not exceed more than 2gm/ day.

When going for a salt substitute avoid the ones containing potassium. Renal failure patients need to avoid both these cations in diet.

POTASSIUM INTAKE – Elevated potassium levels in blood cause heart problems and disrupt cardiac rhythm. Try and consume foods with low potassium content. Avoid bananas, oranges, lime, potato, bran etc. which are rich in potassium.

WATER INTAKE – Drink ample water, good enough to keep the body well hydrated. It is not recommended to overdo the process though. Drinking more than normal water will not be of any good.

GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS

• If you are diabetic, check your blood sugar levels.
• Apart from water, be careful to measure the amount of fluid that you are consuming in the form of beverages.
• Avoid alcohol and quit smoking if you are habitual of the two.
• For protein replacement egg whites are a good option. For vegetarians, green gram and pink lentils can be safely consumed.
• Fresh fruit juices are good except that if you are looking to avoid potassium, orange juice and lime juices are not recommended. Apple juice can however be consumed.

Patients of renal failure tend to suffer from a loss of appetite. Therefore, it is very important to chart out a diet regimen for renal failure patients and to make them stick to it. Renal failure is an emergency condition and one should not allow malnutrition to become another reason for worsening of the symptoms.

Diet for patients with kidney disease | Kidney failure diet

The patients with kidney failure must pursue a strict diet regime to lead a healthy life and avoid further complications. Following is a diet chart, which the patients suffering from kidney failure must follow.

It is advised that the patient must minimize the consumption of food items, which are rich in potassium, sodium or proteins. Instead, they must consume food products, which are rich in anti-oxidants, vitamins, phytochemicals and flavonoids.

FOOD PRODUCTS TO BE AVOIDED	FOOD PRODUCTS TO BE CONSUMED
Pulses (rich in proteins and potassium content)	Pulses
Soybeans Kidney beans Winged beans Black beans White Beans	Green gram (Moong dal/dhulimoong dal) - in sprouted form Lentil dal, pink lentil (Masoorkidaal) NOTE - All in less quantity
Fruits
Banana Rosemary Coconut Dates Kiwi Orange Lemon Squash Artichokes Avocadoes Prune Raisins Pomegranate Tomatoes	Apple Watermelon Apricots Pears Peaches Papaya Olives Black berries – in less quantity Mangoes – in less quantity Figs Bamboo Shoots Pineapple
Vegetables
Spinach Potato Sweet potato Mushroom Cauliflower Broccoli Beet root Swiss Chard Brussels Sprouts Kale French Beans	Ridge guard Pumpkin Bottle gourd Round gourd Radish Carrot Eggplant Onion Cucumber Cabbage Bell Pepper Lettuce Capsicum Turnip Garlic Ginger Peas ( Boil before use) Green leafy vegetables rich in fiber, vitamins, phyto-chemicals and antioxidants NOTE - Soak all the vegetables overnight in water and throw the same water, also boil in water before cooking and throw that water. Prefer filtered water for washing and cooking vegetables. Many greens are high in Potassium level, Blanching[boil for 5 minutes and throw the water], removes excess Potassium from them.
Non Veg
Meat Fish Eggs Salmon	Fenugreek/Methi Coriander Bay Leaves Mint Black Pepper Cardamom Sunflower Oil Olive Oil
Spices	Spices/Oils
Generally all the spices contain approximately more than 40 percent to 50 percent of potassium in them. So, it is recommended to avoid much consumption of spices of any form. Salt – Use very less.
Vegetables
Cheese Curd Nuts and dry fruits like almonds, cashew nuts, hazel nuts Brown Rice Garbanzo Chickpeas Non-fat milk powder Biscuits Namkeen Maggie Pasta Butter Honey Milk cream	Milk – low fat Wheat Rice Sabudana [Tapioca] kheer Mung daal khichadi

Also take vitamin D from direct sun !!

The patients suffering from kidney disorders are strictly advised to follow the above diet chart properly. This diet chart is prepared based on the nutritional content of the various minerals, carbohydrates, proteins, fats and vitamins. Kidneys are the important organs of the body. These help to flush out the harmful products from the body and maintain a healthy and fit life.

Stay Healthy With Planet Ayurveda!!

DIET IN KIDNEY FAILURE - HOW TO AVOID DIALYSIS

DIET IN KIDNEY FAILURE AND RENAL DISEASE – DIET FOR RENAL PATIENTS- DIETARY ADVICE FOR KIDNEY FAILURE PATIENTS  & HOW TO AVOID DIALYSIS

The kidneys are very important organ in the body. Their action is closely related to the Nervous system and Reproductive organs. They are as important to the water metabolism as the colon is to food. Just as wrong eating habits damage the stomach on G.I.Tract, improper intake of the liquids damage the kidneys and the urinary tract.

The kidneys are weakened by drinking either too much or too little water, by alcohol, by excessive sexual activity, by antibiotics and by not heeding the urge to urination. Fear and fright damage the kidneys on a psychological level. They are delicate in sensitive or traumatized children, or in anyone who has suffered stress to the adrenals. In case of Kidney failure it is very important to follow a specific diet to avoid dialysis and reduce urea and creatinine level. 

KIDNEY DAMAGE DUE TO DIABETES OR BLOOD PRESSURE- HOW TO AVOID DIALYSIS USING HERBS AND NATURAL REMEDIES  

Uncontrolled diabetes or blood pressure is usually the major reason behind Kidney Failure. This is a condition called Diabetic Nephropathy. In this condition, the kidney is excreting more proteins, the Urea, Creatinine levels are high, the potassium levels are high and there is a risk of electrolyte imbalance. The toxins level is raised and therefore regular dialysis is required. Dialysis is nothing but filter the whole blood through machine.

There are many other reasons due to which the toxins accumulate and lodge themselves in the kidneys and urinary tract, particularly when the kidneys are not filtering the blood properly. Symptoms include lower back pain, sciatic pain, difficult or painful urination, urinary tract infections, swollen prostate or kidney stones.

One should follow proper diet to avoid further complications arising from the kidney disease. One should mainly lower the sodium, fluids and protein intake.

One should remember that Diabetes and Hypertension are the major cause of kidney disease. So, one should maintain normal glucose levels and normal blood pressure to maintain proper function of the kidneys.

Impaired Kidneys cannot easily remove salt, potassium and water, that’s why they should be consumed in limited quantities. It is not a threat; these are steps to eat the right amount of nutrients to remain healthy.

LOWER SODIUM INTAKE

Avoid intake of salt in your food. It can raise the blood pressure, risk of heart failure and pulmonary edema and so sodium intake should necessarily be lowered. Have a very low salt diet. Avoid processed foods or canned foods, pickles, cheese etc that are high in salt content. Also avoid potato chips, pizza and any kind of packaged food. It is always preferable to have homemade food.

LOWER POTASSIUM INTAKE

Some people with kidney disease need to lower their potassium intake. It is found naturally in many fruits and vegetables. In poor function of the kidneys, it fails to remove the excess potassium from the blood. A high level in potassium can cause muscle weakness and affect the Heart rhythm. Foods rich in potassium are salt substitutes, bananas and apricots. However salt substitutes are not advisable, because it will further aggravate the disease.

FOODS RICH IN POTASSIUM ARE

Wheat germ, Sunflower seed, Almond, Raisin, Parsley, Lettuce, Radish, Cabbage, Dandelion root, Bananas, Water melon, Citrus fruits, Mushrooms, Greens, Spinach, Cucumber, Dried figs, Apricots, Dates, Wheat bran, Soybean, Avocado, Garlic, Tomato, Peas, Beans, Celery root

Alfalfa seeds, raw (1 cup)- 33 g

Apple (1)- 138 g

Apricot, raw (1)- 35 g

Asparagus , cooked, boiled (4 spears)- 60 g

Banana (1)- 118 g

Beans, baked (1 cup)- 254 g

Cabbage, raw (1 cup)- 70 g

Celery (1 stalk )- 40 g

Cheese (1 tbsp)- 14.5 g

Cucumber, peeled, raw(1 cup)- 119 g

Dates (5)- 41.5 g

Dandelion, boiled (1 cup)- 105 g

Garlic, 1 clove- 3 g

Lettuce, 1 leaf- 10 g

Parsley , 10 sprigs- 10 g

Radish (1)- 4.5 g

Raisins (1 cup)- 145 g

Peas , boiled (1 cup)- 160 g

Spinach, raw (1 cup)- 30 g

Soy beans, cooked ( 1 cup)- 172 g

Tomatoes (1)- 123 g

Watermelon (1 cup)- 152 g

Wheat flour (1 cup)- 120 g

LOWER LIQUID INTAKE

Do not have water or fluid content more than 1.5 Liters per day. Replace it with vegetables that has high water content like snake gourd, radish, spinach etc. even they come under fluid intake. But they are nutritious. Instead of merely drinking water, this can be taken. Also one can have tender coconut water (if they are not diabetic) and even buttermilk. All this should come under one and half litre per day. Have warm water instead of plain water.

LIMIT PROTEIN INTAKE

Protein is very essential to sustain energy levels in the body. A healthy kidney separates protein from the wastes and excretes the wastes from the blood. While an impaired kidney also excretes the protein and causes protein loss. That’s why Doctors suggest limiting protein intake to avoid much pressure on the kidneys. Also complete elimination is not advisable. Hence limited protein intake can balance the functions of the kidneys. Choose high quality protein like chicken, lean meat, fish, eggs etc. have 160 to 190 Gms of protein per day. The quantity depends upon level of blood urea and creatinine. Usually 40-50 gm of protein intake is recommended per day.

Milk (half L)-18 g

Yogurt (1 cup)-7 g

Meat (200 g)-50 g

Beans baked (1 cup)-254 g

Egg (1)-8 g

Soya milk (200ml)-6 g

Fish (100 g )-21 g

Cheese (100 g )-25 g

Roast chicken (100 g )-25 g

Roast beef (100 g )-25 g

Cabbage cooked (1 cup)-150 g

Cabbage raw (1 cup)-70 g

Ripe tomatoes (1 cup)-180 g

LOWER CHOLESTEROL INTAKE

Intake of high fat substances or fried food items may increase the levels of cholesterol. Even if it is home-made it is not advisable to have high fat food. Increase in cholesterol level in blood can cause kidney damage or failure. Use vegetable oils like safflower oil, olive oil for cooking which are the safest and healthiest choices.

AVOID SMOKING

Smoking can complicate the disease further. It has been found that it causes heart attacks and sometimes even death of a person suffering from Chronic Kidney Disease.

LIMIT PHOSPHOROUS INTAKE

Avoid intake of dairy products such as cheese, butter, ice creams etc. Avoid beverages like cola, alcohol etc. avoid nuts, peas and beans. Foods that are high in phosphorous are milk, cheese, nuts and cola drinks. Too much of phosphorous will remove calcium from bones and affect the bones and may lead to osteoporosis.

DIABETIC NEPHROPATHY

Diabetes mellitus affects the structure and function of the Kidney in many ways. The term diabetic nephropathy encompasses all the lesions occurring in the kidneys of patients with diabetes mellitus. These lesions include glomerulo-sclerosis, arterionephro-sclerosis, chronic interstitial nephritis, papillary necrosis and various tubular lesions.

Diabetic nephropathy is associated with a variety of clinical syndromes including mild asymptomatic proteinuria, nephritic syndrome, progressive renal failure and hypertension. Glomerulo lesions are particularly common and account for the majority of the abnormal clinical findings related to the kidney.

The principal clinical manifestation of diabetic glomerular disease is proteinuria. Initially only small amounts of albumin are excreted, particularly following exercise (microalbuminuria). This amount of albumin excretion is undetectable by routine screening methods. Under ordinary circumstances, microalbuminuria develops within 10 to 15 years of the onset of hyperglycemia and usually progresses within 3 to 7 years to overt proteinuria and clinical diabetic nephropathy.

With good control of hyperglycemia and elevated blood pressure, the development of microalbuminuria can be prevented or reversed. Patients with non-insulin-dependant diabetes mellitus also may develop clinical nephropathy. Precise regulation of blood sugar (by meticulous attention to diet, exercise, and insulin dosage) may be effective in reducing the development of nephropathy. During the micro-albuminuric phase, tight metabolic control slows the rate of increase in albumin excretion, as does lowering the arterial blood pressure and dietary protein restriction. Once the nephropathy has reached the stage of overt proteinuria, aggressive management of hypertension will slow the rate of loss of renal function, but strict control of blood sugar does not seem to retard the rate of progression once overt nephropathy (proteinuria > 500mg/d) has emerged.

Patient with ESRF (End stage renal failure) due to diabetic nephropathy are not ideal candidates for long term dialysis because of concomitant multiple organ dysfunction secondary to arterio-vascular disease.

An early sign of kidney damage is when your kidneys leak small amounts of a protein called micro albumin into the urine.

With severe damage; the kidney excretes more amount of protein called proteinuria. More wastes build up in the blood. This damage gets worse until the kidneys fail.

PREVENTION OF KIDNEY DISEASE IN DIABETES AND BLOOD PRESSURE- HOW TO AVOID DIALYSIS 

 Keep your blood sugar and blood pressure under control. Also maintain normal cholesterol levels. Check it every 3 to 6 months.

 Exercise or have a brisk walk regularly. For diabetic patients, it is more advisable to walk in the evening around 45 minutes.

 Always have a healthy and balanced diet. Have low salt diet. Avoid eating outside, because the ones prepared outside, sometimes add soda to cook soon or it may be unhygienic and the oil used may not be suitable for you. So, always prefer home-made food.

 Have a low-salt, low-protein, low-fat and high fruit and vegetable diet.

 Have at least two to three cups of boiled or steamed vegetables per day.

 Eat fiber rich foods like whole grain bread and cereals. Eat frequent small meals.

 Avoid processed foods like sauces, pickles etc.

 Check the labels for added salt. Drink warm and filtered water.

 Avoid food made by using baking powder like cakes, biscuits etc.

 Avoid legumes, milk and dairy products, mainly cheese. Use skimmed milk in the place of whole cream milk. Limit the intake of fish and meat.

 Have your kidneys tested at least once in a year and if you are already suffering from Kidney failure, then the tests of urea, creatinine, electrolytes should be performed every week or 15 days.

 Avoid smoking and alcohol.

 Avoid junk foods and high fat intake, if you have diabetes and not suffering from kidney disease yet.

 Avoid suppression of natural urges- passing or urine or stool or sleep. 

 Maintain proper weight according to your age and height. low-fat diet and regular exercise also will lower your risk of heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) disease

 Avoid drugs such as NSAID’s (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) or even the drug to lower uric acid called Zyloric also causes Renal Failure. I have seen  many renal failure patients who used this drug to reduce uric acid and were suffering from Gout. There are certain herbs like Kaishore Guggul, Gorakhmundi, Navkarshik Churna which are very useful for gout. 

HOW TO AVOID DIALYSIS USING HERBS AND NATURAL REMEDIES 

There are certain ayurvedic herbs which are very effective in reducing urea, creatinine levels and help to avoid dialysis. The kidney failure responds very well to these natural remedies. 

The combination of herbs is called "The Revive kidneys package " and mentioned by Dr. Vikram Chauhan MD (Ayurveda ) at PLANET AYURVEDA 

HERBAL REMEDIES TO AVOID DIALYSIS AND HELPFUL IN RENAL FAILURE - BY Dr. VIKRAM CHAUHAN - MD ( Ayurveda )