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Are Low Carb Diets Bad for Your Kidneys?
When it
comes to any kind of dieting, there are two major issues concerning
kidneys: One is kidney stones, the other is damage of the
kidney's tissue.
Since a low-carb - or ketogenic - diet is
generally higher in fat
and protein than a "balanced" diet, it's important to understand
what componentor components of the diet can be potentially dangerous
for tthe kidneys
According to the Packard Children's Hospital
Stanford
University Medical Center, "Kidney stones have been reported on the
[ketogenic]
diet. We screen for kidney stone formation ? If one develops, a slight
liberalization of fluids seems to correct the problem."
So, if your kidneys are generally O.K. (if you
have any
doubts, please see your doctor!) and you are drinking enough water (a
minimum
of eight eight ounce glasses a day), you needn't be concerned.
Just in case, here is information that may be
helpful in determining
whether you diet is having an adverse effect on your kidneys, and how
to express those concerns to your doctor:
Protein and Kidney Disease
Reducing protein intake in patients with severe
kidney disease
reduces the mortality rate by about 40 percent. It's recommended that
your protein intake should be below 0.6 g a day for every
kilogram body weight.
But wait a minute - this is exactly what the
ketogenic diet
prescribes!
The ratio prescribed to the patients on a
ketogenic diet:
for every calorie coming from carbs and protein combined, four calories
should come fort fat, or:
fat : protein + carbohydrates = 4:1
A "regular" low-carb diet can have the fat :
protein : carb ratio
of 3.5:1 and be still ketogenic, but it's
protein intake is reduced.
Here's is what
we've done with all-science
'ketogenic ratio' of foods and meals. We used a
scientific formula
recognized by clinicians and fitness professionals - but we adapted it
to
the needs of a normal, regular person, without serious diseases (always
-
always! - consult with your physician before you start any diet!) and
not
aiming for a bodybuilding competition. We came up with the Fat Burning Index
™
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Fat Intake and Kidney Disease
It is well known that high cholesterol diets
increase blood pressure
and induce damage to the kidneys. High blood-cholesterol
levels can also cause kidney disease.
Yet, here we again come to the major misconception
about low-carb
diets. High fat intake in these diets, when combine with low
carbohydrate intake, helps reduce cholesterol level, not impair it as
the low carb opponents claim.
What Kind of Fat?
Supplementing your diet with polyunsaturated fatty
acids ? omega-3,
in particular ? can protect you against kidney disease. Increasing the
amount of Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA ), fish oil and so-called Lipoic
acid can be a boon to your overall health. The journal Research in
Experimental Medicine reported that Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty
acids reduce kidney
injuries thatwere brought on because of a high blood cholesterol
intake. "Oily" fish? salmon, tuna and sardines, to name a few ? are
rich in omega 3 fatty acids.
Sources
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews,
(2):CD001892, 2000
Journal of Laboratory & Clinical Medicine,
135(3):275-86,
2000
Kidney International ? Supplement, 71:S47-50, 1999
American Journal of Kidney Diseases, 33(4):633-46,
1999
Japanese Journal of Nephrology, 41(4):436-41, 1999
Research in Experimental Medicine, 198(1):1-10,
1998
Prostaglandins Leukotrienes & Essential Fatty
Acids,
59(3):221-7, 1998
Research in Experimental Medicine, 198(1):1-10,
1998
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