Although many people associate diets only with weight loss, healthy eating is essential for maintaining health. Adopting a balanced diet can bring numerous benefits to the body, including disease prevention.
“Most of the time, a diet implies weight loss and is loaded with restrictions, and maybe even unhealthy plans. But new recommendations released recently by health experts address the diet with a different goal in mind: preventing heart disease, strokes and kidney problems,” explains nephrologist Dr. Caroline Reigada, specialist in Intensive Care Medicine.
Reduction of risk factors
New guidelines developed by American Heart Association It is American College of Cardiology emphasize that a healthy diet and nutritious food can play an important role in reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke, as well as helping to “reduce or reverse” obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes and high blood pressure – all considered risk factors for heart and kidney disease.
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“The standard diet Mediterranean or the DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) are the most recommended for patients who already have or want to avoid heart and kidney problems,” adds the nephrologist.
Kidneys are complex and sensitive
The integrity and functionality of the kidneys are significantly influenced by lifestyle, due to their complexity and sensitivity to any change in the chemical structure of the blood. “The progression of kidney disease is usually silent; therefore, it is necessary to invest in prevention, with regular blood and urinary tests”, explains nutritionist Dr. Marcella Garcez, director and professor at the Brazilian Association of Nutrology (ABRAN).
DASH diet benefits
According to Dr. Caroline Reigada, healthy eating such as the DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) is proven to reduce the formation of kidney stones, in addition to reducing the chance of diabetes and high blood pressure, major villains for kidney health.
“The DASH diet is based on a high intake of fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, legumes, low-fat dairy, whole grains, and a low intake of sugars and red or processed meats. In these diets, vegetable or animal proteins are recommended, as long as they are lean (preferably fish)”, explains Dr. Marcella Garcia.
Differences between DASH and Mediterranean diet
Despite having the same foundations, the DASH diet allows for more sources of protein from low-fat dairy and cuts of meat and poultry, while the mediterranean diet, which was not created as a specific diet, is a reflection of common eating habits in the various countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. “Both plans avoid foods high in saturated and trans fat, which guidelines also discourage to protect the kidneys and heart,” says Dr. Caroline Reigada.
Balanced protein intake
As for proteins, it is necessary to be careful with excesses: “Protein intake in excess influences renal hemodynamics, resulting in overload due to the increase in the glomerular filtration rate. A diet hyperprotein also appears to increase renal volume and kidney weight. It is also known that a high consumption of proteins predisposes to the formation of kidney stones”, highlights Dr. Caroline Reigada.
In this way, protein intake should be balanced. “Daily protein consumption should be individualized and specific, taking into account the person’s age, gender, physical activity, profession, health status and personal goals. Daily requirements can range from 0.6 to 2g per kilogram a day and depend on several factors”, emphasizes Dr. Marcella Garcia.
Attention to the vegan menu
The doctors emphasize that it is necessary to be careful with the menu when the patient is vegan. As explained by Dr. Caroline Reigada, filling your plate with fried foods, refined carbohydrates or ultra-processed foods is not healthy. “These foods, in excess, can lead to the development of diabetes and problems such as insulin resistance,” he says.
In addition, sugar intake can also be dangerous. “Excess sugar leads to greater inflammation, with consequent risk of diabetes – which is the biggest risk factor for chronic kidney disease in the world”, he points out.
So it’s important to be mindful of what you put on your plate. “The most important thing is to have the most varied and balanced diet possible, with good sources of good fats, complex carbohydrates (with more fiber) and, in this case, vegetable proteins, which must be combined to provide the necessary amino acids, always preferring foods in natura”, highlights nutritionist Dr. Marcella Garcia.
Kidney-friendly foods
Among the foods that benefit the kidneys, the nephrologist cites: citrus fruits (lemon and orange, for example), which prevent the formation of crystals in the kidneys; melon, rich in citrate, and helps to dissolve these crystals; milk, its derivatives and dark leaves, rich in calcium.
“Don’t fall into old guidelines! Do not cut calcium from your diet (milk and derivatives). The lack of calcium in the diet can stimulate the formation of stones and, contrary to what was thought, the patient with a stone should eat a normal amount of food with calcium per day, from 1000 to 1200 mg per day (3 to 4 servings of dairy)”, explains Dr. Caroline Reigada.
Control your sodium intake
Salt consumption is the biggest cause of high blood pressure, also called high pressure. “Long-term hypertension damages the kidneys and their various vessels, that is, damage to target organs occurs, as in the heart and brain. Recent data show that sodium (salt) also modulates immune cell function, supporting the theory of increased inflammation in the body,” highlights Dr. Caroline Reigada.
It is essential to have control over the amount of sodium ingested. “We know that the Brazilian adult ingests an average of 12g daily, more than twice the recommended amount, so for the general population, the advice to reduce salt consumption is correctly applied and in many situations the amount of 5g should be reduced even more, always with medical guidance”, adds Dr. Marcella Garcia.
Look for an expert
The nephrologist reminds us that metabolic diseases (obesity and diabetes) and intestinal diseases (Crohn’s Disease, Celiac Disease and Short Bowel Syndrome), which require dietary guidelines for their treatment, need to be treated, as they also predispose to kidney problems. . “An adequate diet is essential in preventing stones, as the composition of urine is directly related to food”, concludes Dr. Caroline Reigada.
By Paula Amoroso
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