Renal cyst, this term, soundssomewhat strangefamiliar to people. In fact, it is not a very distant state from ourdaily.
Many people may see the words "renal cyst" on the B-ultrasound report during a physical examination, and their hearts will immediately tighten.
In fact, the vast majority of simple renal cysts are benign. They are just like a small blister growing on the kidney. Their development process is relatively slow. Among many people, there are even many people who do not show any symptoms throughout their life cycle.
But this does not mean that we can relax our care, especially when there are a large number of cysts and the size of the cysts is large, it may potentially compress normal renal tissue and thus affect renal function.
For those patients who have been diagnosed with renal cysts, in addition to regular review according to the doctor's instructions, daily dietary management can be regarded as a "second battlefield" that is as important as drug treatment.
If you eat properly, it can relieve the burden on the kidneys and block the progression of the disease; if you eat incorrectly, it may make the situation worse.
Today, when it comes to the diet of patients with renal cysts, this key link needs to be accurately grasped, so as to effectively protect their health.
1. Water, should you drink more or less?
This is one of the most common questions asked by patients with kidney cysts.
The answer is not straightforward.
For most patients with simple renal cysts, if the kidney function is normal, please note that there is no obvious edema or high blood pressure, or there are no symptoms of heart failure. In this case, it is not necessary to strictly limit water intake. On the contrary, you should ensure adequate water intake.
This is because sufficient water can help dilute urine, promote metabolic waste products (such as creatinine, urea nitrogen, etc.) in the body to be excreted through the kidneys, and exert an "internal flushing" effect, which is good for protecting residual kidney function.
It is recommended that the daily water intake should be kept within the range of 1500 to 2000 ml, and boiled water and light tea are the best choices.
However, if the patient already has renal insufficiency, especially if there is edema and reduced urine output, he or she must strictly follow the doctor's instructions and limit the intake of water and salt to avoid increasing the burden on the heart and kidneys.
2. Protein: The “double-edged sword” of going too far is not enough.
Protein is an essential nutrient for the human body. However, when it comes to the condition of the kidneys of patients with renal cysts, it actually exists like a "double-edged sword".
If the intake is insufficient, it will lead to malnutrition and reduced immunity; if the intake is excessive, a large amount of nitrogen-containing metabolic waste will be produced, which will increase the excretion burden on the kidneys and ultimately accelerate renal function damage.
therefore, High quality low protein diet is the core principle.
“High-quality” means that the amino acid composition of protein is closer to what the human body needs, the utilization efficiency is higher, and less metabolic waste is generated. It is mainly derived from animal foods such as eggs, milk, lean meat, and fish.
"Low protein" needs to be quantified based on kidney function.
Generally speaking, the intake of patients with renal cysts in the early stages can be close to the normal amount. However, if the kidney function has been damaged, strict control is required. You should consult a doctor or clinical nutritionist for the specific intake. Do not impose extreme restrictions on your own, nor blindly supplement.
3. Salt control: the key to stabilizing blood pressure
An important cause of high blood pressure is excessive salt intake. High blood pressure will in turn damage the blood vessels of the kidneys, which will accelerate the deterioration of renal function in patients with renal cysts, thus forming a vicious cycle.
Therefore, no matter what stage of kidney function, a low-salt diet is a rule that patients with kidney cysts must adhere to.
One is to use less salt when cooking. The other is to be wary of "invisible salt", such as soy sauce, oyster sauce, MSG, pickles, bacon, processed meat products, snacks, etc.
It is recommended that daily salt intake should be limited to three to five grams, which is about the amount contained in a beer bottle cap.
Learning to read the "sodium" content on food labels is also an essential dietary skill for modern people.
The lighter taste is not only responsible for the kidneys, but also beneficial to cardiovascular health.
4. The calories should be sufficient to prevent the body from "removing the east wall to make up for the west wall"
During this period of implementing a relatively low-protein diet, it is important to ensure adequate caloric intake, that is, energy intake.
If there is a lack of calories, the body will be forced to break down its own proteins, mainly muscles, to provide energy. However, this will generate more metabolic waste and increase the burden on the kidneys. This is exactly the opposite of the original goal of a low-protein diet.
Having sufficient calories can ensure that a low-protein diet can be adhered to for a long time and maintain good nutritional status.
The main source of heat should be carbohydrate and Fat .
Patients can moderately add some starchy foods containing low protein, such as wheat starch, lotus root starch, vermicelli, sweet potatoes, taro, etc. as part of their staple food. At the same time, they can choose vegetable oil for cooking and consume nuts in moderation to ensure energy supply.
5. You need to pay special attention to these foods.
In addition to the above four principles, there are some specific foods that patients with kidney cysts need to pay special attention to.
First, avoid eating foods that may cause kidney damage, such as carambola, which is neurotoxic to patients with kidney disease, fish gall, snake gall, etc.
Secondly, for those patients with hyperuricemia, they need to limit high-purine foods, such as animal offal, thick broth, and seafood, and encourage them to drink more water. Of course, this must be done under the guidance of a doctor, so as to promote the excretion of uric acid.
In addition, although there is currently no conclusive evidence that soy products can directly cause kidney cysts to aggravate, given that their plant protein is not high-quality protein and the purine content is not low, it is recommended that people with renal insufficiency consume it in moderation and is not suitable as the main source of protein.
Finally, be sure to quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption to avoid any behavior that may aggravate kidney damage.
6. In addition to diet, life conditioning is equally important
Diet care is the core, but good living habits are the cornerstone.
Patients with renal cysts should avoid strenuous exercise and external force hitting the waist to prevent cyst rupture and bleeding.
You can choose gentle exercises such as walking, Tai Chi, and yoga.
Maintain a stable mood and prevent overwork and staying up late. This is because fatigue and stress are likely to affect immunity.
The most important thing is to follow the doctor's instructions, regularly review B-ultrasound, and review kidney function, and dynamically monitor the size of the cyst and changes in kidney function, so that the doctor can adjust the treatment plan in a timely manner.
Do not believe in those folk remedies, and do not abuse drugs with so-called "cyst-dissolving" effects. Otherwise, it may cause irreparable loss and damage to the kidneys.
When dealing with renal cysts, fear and anxiety are useless. Only scientific and rational management is the right way.
The act of adjusting your diet may seem complicated and trivial, but in fact it is the most daily and most effective way to take control of your health.
It doesn’t need to be expensive, it just requires more dedication and persistence.
Remember, every bite of appropriate food is a gentle care for the fragile kidneys.
The vast majority of patients with renal cysts need to maintain good communication with their doctors to formulate personalized dietary treatment strategies, plans, and methods, supplemented by regular lifestyle patterns and follow-up examinations. Only in this way can they coexist peacefully with renal cysts and enjoy a high-quality life.
From now on, pay attention to your choices at the dinner table. This is the most critical step to invest in the health of your kidneys.
