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Improving diet may benefit kidney disease patients

Category: Kidney Diseases

Individuals who have received bad news from kidney testing know that kidney disease can be extremely difficult to live with. However, experts are increasingly saying that improving nutrition may be one way for individuals with renal disease to improve their condition.

In recent decades, the average diet for many Americans has significantly worsened. This has led to a dramatic spike in obesity. During this time, the number of individuals affected by kidney disease has also increased. Doctors believe that this is no coincidence, as the kidneys function to process many of the nutrients consumed.

A team of Texas A&M researchers recently speculated that a Western-style diet elevates acid levels throughout the body, which damages kidneys, according to CNN. To test this hypothesis, they placed 40 patients being treated for moderately reduced kidney function on a diet high in fruits and vegetables.

After 30 days on the diet, researchers reported that the participants had significantly reduced markers of kidney injury in their urine, according to the news source.

The findings confirm results from previous research conducted by the National Institutes of Health, which showed that improving nutrition is among the single most important things that individuals kidney disease can do to avoid a worsening of their condition.