DIET CHART FOR NEPHROTIC SYNDROME

INTRODUCTION

Nephrotic syndrome is a kidney disorder which occurs when the filtering units of the kidney get damaged. It affects and makes the body to excrete too much protein in the urine. A healthy diet for Nephrotic patients consists of low salt, low-fat moderate protein and low cholesterol diet. Avoid eating high carb foods, high protein food, unhealthy fats, fried foods, junk foods, processed foods and preserved foods. Caffeine, alcohol and high sodium can contribute to high blood pressure and edema which is most common in this condition.

DAILY DIET SCHEDULE

EARLY MORNING

Empty stomach, drink decoction of fennel seeds, cumin seeds and coriander seeds.

(Soak the seeds overnight in one cup of water and then boil the water until it reduces to half)

BREAKFAST

Veg Dalia / Veg upma / Suji chila / Veg Sewian / Veg poha / Stuffed Chapati / Chapati with veg / Porridge / Chapati with veg or dal / 1 Egg white

(Starting your day with a light yet nutritious breakfast is very important)

(* Egg white are very beneficial as they maintain the accurate albumin levels in the human body which is responsible for maintaining microvascular oncotic pressure and hence reduce oedema)

MID-MORNING

Fruit (Steamed) / Salad (Steamed)

(It Soothes the digestive system)

LUNCH

Wheat chapati / Boiled Rice / Sago halwa / Khichdi (sago rice) / Veg khichdi / Veg Dalia + Veg + Dal

(Such food articles are easy to digest, do not cause constipation, gastritis or acidity)

EVENING

Soup (Home-made)--in small amounts / Herbal tea / Sprouts/ vermicelli

(They help in increasing the digestive fire and prevents an empty stomach for long hours)

DINNER

Plain chapati / Boiled Rice / Veg khichdi / Veg Dalia Veg + Dal

(Including a light diet in dinner is very helpful in maintaining proper digestion)

FOODS TO CONSUME AND AVOID

CEREALS

TO BE CONSUMED

Whole grains, Rice flakes, White rice, Semolina, Vermicelli, Puffed rice, Wheat flour, kodo millets, finger millets, foxtail millets and pearl millets

Chapati Ratio - Wheat flour 1 kg + Arrowroot flour 250 gm.

(These Cereals are easy to digest, do not cause any digestion related problems and moreover prevents accumulation of endotoxins)

TO BE AVOIDED

White refined flour, Brown rice, pasta, Brown bread, Bakery products, Noodle, Macaroni, Maggie

(They are the main reason for endotoxin accumulation and hence cause dosha aggravation)

PULSES

TO BE CONSUMED

Yellow moong lentil, Green gram, pink lentils, Split pigeon peas, Split chickpeas

(If consumed in limited quantities, they are potent in adding fuel to the digestive fire and hence improve digestion. Balance tridosha, controls vitiated vata and provides nourishment to the body and its tissues)

TO BE AVOIDED

All whole pulses- Black gram, Bengal gram, White chickpea, Kidney beans, Nutri Nuggets, Soybean,  Horse gram, Roasted grams, Dried and frozen pulses.

(They are difficult to digest and have high protein content. Consumption of the above mentioned lentils will result in indigestion as well as put load on kidney functioning hence making the situation worse)

FRUITS

TO BE CONSUMED (STEAMED / BOILED)

Apple, Pear, Papaya, Pomegranate, java plum (jamun)

(Provides fibre in diet and makes digestion smooth)

TO BE AVOIDED

All Citrus fruits, Banana, Coconut, Dates, Kiwi, Orange, Lemon, Avocado, Apricot, Watermelon, Figs, Olive, Bamboo shoots, Bael, Pineapple, Green papaya, custard Apple. All canned and packaged fruits, Fruits with seeds.

(They all result in pitta aggravation and hence diminishing kidney functions. They also have high water content resulting again in reduced kidney functioning)

VEGETABLES

TO BE CONSUMED

Pumpkin, Carrot, Cabbage, Turnip, Peas (boil), Bottle gourd, Bitter gourd, Ridge gourd, Potatoes, Cauliflower, Winter squash, Onion, Radish, Ginger, Lettuce, Asparagus, Broccoli

(They help in providing adequate nutrition to the body. Vegetables have many macro and micronutrients essential for body maintenance)

TO BE AVOIDED

Tomato, Eggplant, Beans, Garlic, Spinach, Brussels sprout, Peppermint leaves, Sweet potatoes, Swiss chard, Mushroom, Cucumber, Lotus stem, Taro roots, All green leafy vegetables, Beetroot, Soybean and its products, Coconut, Frozen vegetables, Raw salad

(They result in dosha aggravation and hence cause an increase in protein excretion from the body. They also have high levels of water content hence increasing load on diminishing kidney function)

SPICES

TO BE CONSUMED

Coriander, Mint, Black pepper, Cumin, Fennel, Carmon, Cardamom, Rock salt (limited)

(They provide a soothing effect to the body. But they have to be consumed in less quantity because they have high levels of potassium whose accumulation is not good for the body)

TO BE AVOIDED

Excessive salt, Red and Green Chilies, Salt (Use is very less. But if the Sodium levels are less than normal then  can give it in moderate quantity)

(Salt is the source of sodium. Sodium is the reason for water retention in the body which at last results in increased fluid levels thus putting load on kidneys)

FLESH FOODS

TO BE CONSUMED

Egg white portion only

(For maintaining accurate albumin levels in the body so as to prevent fluid retention)

TO BE AVOIDED

Fried or Processed meats, Prawns, Lobster, Crab, Lean beef, Pork, Lamb, Ham, Turkey, Egg yolk, Sausages, Mutton, Salami, Bacon, Duck, Goose, Hot dogs, Hamburgers, Meat pies, Visible fat on meat, Red meat, Organ part Liver, Kidney and Chest

(They are heavy to digest and also aggravate the tridosha resulting in a worse condition)

DAIRY PRODUCTS

TO BE CONSUMED

Low-fat milk (occasionally)

(It can be digested easily and has a low impact on digestion)

TO BE AVOIDED

Whole milk and Cream, Cottage cheese, Butter, Full-fat yogurt, Cream cheese, Condensed milk, Curd

(They are heavy to digest and disturbs digestive agni)

FATS

TO BE CONSUMED

Cow ghee, Mustard oil, Sunflower oil, Rice bran oil, Olive oil

(They are very helpful in igniting digestive fire if used in controlled amounts)

TO BE AVOIDED

Hydrogenated oil, Cream, Palm oil, Coconut oil, Butter, Hydrogenated oil, Soybean oil

(They suppress the already weakened digestive fire)

NUTS AND DRYFRUITS

TO BE CONSUMED

5 almonds (soak in water overnight)

(They have micronutrients important for the body)

TO BE AVOIDED

Cashew nuts, Pistachio, Peanuts, Raisins, Prunes, Figs, Dried apricot, Flaxseed, Pumpkin seed, sunflower seed

(They have a tendency to aggravate doshas and have a negative effect on agni)

OTHER FOODS

TO BE CONSUMED

Homemade only, Jaggery

(They do not cause any harm to agni neither result in dosha vitiation)

TO BE AVOIDED

All bakery products or processed, Fruit jellies, Jams, Mayonnaise, Ice-cream, Cream soups, Dark chocolate, Butterscotch, Coconut bar, Chutneys, Pickles, Junk food, Deep fried foods, Too salty and Spicy foods

(These all nuts are a rich source of phosphorus and potassium. Moreover, they also aggravate pitta resulting in diminishing kidney functioning)

DRINKS

TO BE CONSUMED

Homemade vegetable soup, Herbal tea

(It has to be ingested in a limited quantity)

TO BE AVOIDED

Carbonated beverages, Soya milk, Coconut water, canned soup, Packed soup and Canned fruit juices, Caffeinated drinks, Alcohol, Tea or Coffee.

(They contain preservatives damaging kidney cells at a faster rate and hence causing  more degradation of kidney functioning)

DIET TIPS

• Walk for at least 30 min is recommended
• Whole fruits should be preferred to fruit juices
• Avoid suppression of natural urges such as urination, defecation, sleep hunger, sneezing etc.
• Do not sleep for long hours, avoid anger, stress, long travelling, smoking as well as drinking.
• Skipping meals should be avoided, especially breakfast.
• Water intake should be limited to 8-10 glasses per day
• Small and frequent meals should be taken.

(Alteration in diet and lifestyle plays a very important role in improving one's condition. Helps in stabilizing vata, pitta, kapha and agni which results in enhanced kidney functioning)

Note

• Milk and milk products (Milk, Curd, Buttermilk, Cottage cheese, Butter to be avoided especially in Diabetes patients).
• A special diet can be helpful to control the excessive accumulation of waste products and fluid in the blood and thus lessen the workload of your kidneys.