A healthy diet can slow down the progression of IgA Nephropathy and decrease
the damage to their renal function. Therefore, it is very important for he
patients with IgA Nephropathy to follow a special diet under their doctors’
guidance.
1. Keep a low-salt diet
For some patients with IgA Nephropathy, their kidneys lose their function of
regulation of water and electrolyte balance thus causing retention sodium and
water. If too much fluid builds in body, it can strain hearts and lungs.
Therefore, the patients with IgA Nephropathy should keep a low-salt diet to
minimize the stress to the kidneys and avoid fluid retention, especially for
those with edema or high blood pressure. Even if they do not showing those
signs, a low-sodium diet is also an good idea for them. The patients should keep
their salt intake within 1 gram per or more lenient (2 grams per day). Moreover,
the patients should avoid eating the foods containing high salt.
2. Being a vegetarian
A vegetarian diet is advocated to the patients with IgA Nephropathy.
Especially for those with moderate to heavy proteinuria should strictly limit
the intake of meat and milk products for there are many chemicals in meat and
mike products that can aggravate the inflammatory process taking in the kidneys.
In order to keep enough nutrient supplements, the patients with IgA Nephropathy
should eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain, fish and so on.
Moreover, the patients should mainly deprive protein from vegetables. Some
researches prove that vegetable protein rich in “good” fatty acids, which can
prevent the inflammatory reaction in kidneys.
However, a healthy diet is just an assistant therapy for the patients with
IgA Nephropathy. What the patients should primarily do is to receive early
treatment in time so as to avoid Renal Failure.