mind your food!

I had a tutorial by a renal dietitian today. She taught us about fluid, salt and potassium management in renal patients. Initially I thought this is kind of rubbish tutorial, is just a waste of time.

But after an hour sitting there, I realize something. I just take things for granted especially the food, my daily diet. Every day when I call back, without failed my mom will ask me whether I drink enough water. Without any hesitation, I will reply “of course I do” even though I know I am not. What happen if I developed renal failure in the future?

A person who has renal failure and on dialysis only allow to take in 1 liter of fluid per day. fluid retention will lead to hypertension, cardiac failure, pulmonary oedema and eventually DIE. 1 litre day, it sounds very simple right( better still no need to drink so much)! But do you know that this 1 liter included the fluid in your food as well, not just the water you drink. A cup of milk in the morning, a bowl of soup for lunch, a cup tea for hi tea, an apple in midday plus a cup of plain water. That’s it; you had already consumed more than what you can. But is not even a day yet, how about dinner? How about the rice during your lunch? How about the gravy in your meat dish? the fruits you eat? All of that have to be take into consideration.

About the salt intake, they only allow 1 teaspoon a day. How many junk foods you take everyday? How many packs of salt you put when you order French fried? Don’t forget about the MSG in your food, it is also a type of salt. Cheese, Ham, Smoked food and the ready cooked food, all of this content high level of salt.

About potassium, renal patient have to avoid coffee, chocolate, fruits, milk, bananas and lots more. Food with low potassium level are like animal fat, bread, rice, biscuits, pasta. But they are high in carbohydrate! How if you have renal failure and diabetes at the same time? Is there anything left for you to eat?

So people, watch out with your own diet. Eat healthily! That’s no turning back if the organs go into failure. Medication only can maintain or delay it to be worse. Drink plenty of water, 5 portions of fibers a day, regular exercise and have enough rest. If not when you go into renal failure, you want to drink also cannot. i know is kind of hard to change your lifestyle especially food. but as for now at least you have to be aware of it. mind what you eat!