All the renal diets we discussed before exhibited similar differences. And a PKD diet is no exception. The following components are common to all renal diets we already discussed:
High blood pressure is a consequence of PKD, further straining the ability of diseased kidneys to function properly. As a result, salt and salty foods will cause further strain and so one of the fundamental features of a polycystic kidney disease diet is the intake reduction of this harmful compound.
Water was already shown to be beneficial in other diets discussed in this blog. In a polycystic kidney disease diet, drinking water becomes even more important.
If you have PKD, oxalic acid is something you'll want to avoid. (Kidney, Urologic, and Blood Diseases, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Feb. 2001). Oxalic acid is a chemical compound found in certain vegetables. The body has no known use for it and when the kidneys and liver are functioning well they flush it out of your system with no problem. When you're trying to avoid putting extra strain on your kidneys, though, it's best to stay away from foods that contain higher amounts of oxalic acid. Some major sources are spinach, rhubarb, beets, eggplants, and cocoa. So, you have a good excuse to avoid eating your spinach, but you really should cut back on chocolate, too.
