Diet Taboos For Kidney Cysts: Do Not Touch These Foods, Otherwise The Condition Will Be Aggravated

The words "renal cyst" on the physical examination report make many people feel nervous.

Especially when the doctor mentioned "both kidneys", the worry doubled.

One of the questions that many people are most concerned about is: What should I eat?

Are there many things that cannot be touched?

Indeed, diet management is extremely important to delay the growth of simple renal cysts and protect residual renal function. However, there is no need to panic too much and do not force yourself to become an "ascetic monk".

Today, based on authoritative information such as "Internal Medicine" (9th edition), we clearly explain the dietary taboos and guidelines for patients with renal cysts, so that you can have a clear understanding of what you eat and feel safe when eating.

Core Principle: Lighten the burden, not blindly fast

First of all, one thing must be made clear, that is, for the vast majority of simple renal cysts that are benign, there is currently no specific drug that can make them disappear, and the core focus of their treatment and management lies in "control" and "observation."

Dietary adjustment has a goal. The goal is to reduce the workload on the kidneys and avoid factors that may stimulate cyst growth or damage kidney function. It is not to create a "sterile" dietary environment.

Therefore, the dietary strategy we adopt is "selective restriction", which focuses on avoiding foods that are clearly not friendly to the kidneys, while ensuring a balanced nutritional intake to maintain normal body functions.

The first taboo: high-salt foods and invisible sodium

This is the dietary management of patients with renal cysts archenemy .

Excessive intake of sodium salt will cause water and sodium retention in the body. This will not only increase blood pressure, but also directly increase the filtration burden on the kidneys, which may increase the fluid in the cyst or make the cyst enlarge.

What you need to be wary of is not only the salt added when cooking, but also all kinds of "invisible salt", including processed meat products, such as ham, sausages, and bacon, as well as pickles, most snacks, such as potato chips, spicy sticks, etc., as well as take-out and restaurant dishes, as well as condiments such as soy sauce, oyster sauce, and MSG.

It is recommended that the daily salt intake be controlled to less than 5 grams, which is about the amount of a beer bottle cap. You must learn to read food labels and choose "low sodium" products.

The second taboo: high purine foods and animal offal

High-purine foods produce uric acid after metabolism in the body, which is mainly excreted through the kidneys.

Long-term excessive intake may not only cause gout attacks, but also increase the burden on the kidneys to excrete uric acid, thus adversely affecting kidney function.

Although simple renal cysts are not directly equivalent to gouty kidneys, it is always beneficial to reduce the extra workload on the kidneys.

The intake of animal offal (liver, kidney, brain) should be extremely strictly restricted, the intake of thick broth should also be strictly restricted, the intake of hot pot soup should also be strictly restricted, and the intake of some seafood such as sardines, anchovies, shellfish, etc. must also be strictly restricted.

For meat, you can choose chicken and duck with relatively low purine, and blanch them before cooking.

The third taboo: excessive supplements and Chinese herbal medicines with unknown ingredients

Many people have the idea of ​​"taking supplements to nourish the kidneys", which is very dangerous.

Some health products called "kidney-tonifying" or Chinese herbal medicines with unknown ingredients may contain nephrotoxic substances, such as aristolochic acid, or have particularly high potassium content, which may cause irreparable damage to those with potential risks to kidney function.

A study in the "Chinese Medical Frontier Journal" warned that kidney damage caused by Chinese herbal medicine cannot be ignored.

Remember, never take any health care products or folk remedies that claim to have "kidney-tonifying" or "detoxifying" effects on your own. If you need to undergo conditioning, it must be done under the guidance of a regular Chinese medicine practitioner.

The fourth taboo: excessive high-protein diet

Protein is an essential nutrient. However, if it is taken in excess, the products of its metabolism (such as urea nitrogen and creatinine) need to be excreted through the kidneys, which will increase the glomerular filtration rate and increase the burden on the kidneys.

For patients with renal cysts, it can be clearly stated that relevant operations should be carried out in accordance with the standard principle of high-quality and appropriate amounts of protein.

Avoid eating large amounts of protein, especially red meat, all at once.

Protein can be dispersed into three meals a day, giving priority to high-quality proteins such as eggs, milk, lean meat, and fish. Based on your own body weight, it is generally recommended to consume about 0.8 to 1.0 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day, and then roughly control the total amount. You can consult a nutritionist for specific situations.

Fifth taboo: High potassium foods (for people with renal insufficiency)

This point here needs special attention: if your kidney cyst is of the polycystic kidney type, and your kidney function has declined (examination can show an increase in bleeding creatinine, and a decrease in the estimated glomerular filtration rate), then you need to be vigilant about hyperkalemia.

Potassium is mainly excreted through the kidneys. If the kidneys are insufficient, it will easily accumulate in the body, causing serious heart rhythm problems.

At this time, it is necessary to limit high-potassium foods, such as bananas, tangerines, oranges, potatoes, mushrooms, seaweed, and low-sodium salts containing high potassium ingredients.

However, for patients with simple renal cysts and normal renal function, there is usually no need to specifically restrict potassium.

Sixth taboo: Smoking and excessive alcohol

Smoking is a factor that has been clearly identified as causing blood vessel damage. Smoking will cause a reduction in renal blood flow, which will then affect its microcirculation. From a theoretical perspective, it does not seem to be conducive to the health of the tissues surrounding the cyst.

The metabolism of alcohol increases oxidative stress in the kidneys.

Even though there is no direct evidence that smoking and alcohol will directly cause cysts to grow in size, in terms of comprehensive health management, quitting smoking and strictly limiting alcohol (preferably not drinking) is one of the most friendly choices for the kidneys, and can also help to properly control blood pressure.

The seventh taboo: insufficient drinking water and sweet drinks

For people with normal heart function, drinking enough water can dilute the urine, thereby helping the body to excrete metabolic waste, and can also reduce the risk of stone formation, which is a kind of protection for the kidneys.

The recommendation is that the amount of water you drink should be in the range of 1,500 to 2,000 ml per day, and it is best to use boiled water and light tea as drinking water.

Sugar-sweetened drinks with high sugar content may aggravate metabolic disorders, which is especially unfavorable for patients with diabetes or high blood sugar, and it is these drinks that need to be strictly avoided.

You also need to pay attention to choosing soda water that is sugar-free and has no added phosphorus.

In general, when faced with the situation of kidney cysts, you do not always need to be in a state of fear when it comes to diet. The key is to be "aware" and to be able to avoid related changes in a flexible way.

The core is low salt, protein control, avoiding excessive supplementation, staying away from tobacco and alcohol, and drinking enough water.

Developing good dietary habits is not only necessary to manage kidney cysts, but is also the foundation for maintaining the health of the entire body.

At the same time, you must remember to go for regular review, such as a renal B-ultrasound once a year, to monitor the changes in cysts, and then maintain communication with your attending doctor to develop an individualized follow-up plan, as well as a treatment plan.

Developing a healthy lifestyle, coupled with scientific monitoring methods, is an extremely powerful weapon for you to protect your kidneys.