What You Can and Cannot Eat with IgA Nephropathy

Proper diet is very important for IgA nephropathy patients. Many clinical symptoms such as blood in urine, anemia can be much alleviated by proper diet which can also help consolidate the curative effects of prescribed medicines and treatments and promote recovery.

Generally speaking, proper diets for IgA nephropathy should be light and easy to be digested, more fruits and vegetables and avoid spicy, alcohol and tobacco.

What you can eat with IgA nephropathy

1. More fresh fruits and vegetables especially apples, black sesame seed and edible fungus which can help clearing internal heat and relieving hematuria.

2. Intake of adequate vitamins especially vitamin C is very necessary for IgA patients because they often have anemia due to blood loss in urine. Supplying of vitamin C can promote the absorption of iron and alleviate anemia. Tomato, green-leaf vegetables, fresh jujube, cucumber are all good choice.

3. It is good for IgA nephropathy patients to have proper supply of trace elements like zinc, copper, manganese, etc. Milk, carrot are good sources which can also help promote metabolism and enhance the body’s immunity.

What you cannot eat with IgA nephropathy

1. Avoid salty foods such as pickles and other pickled foods. Low-salt diets is good for the treatment and daily salt intake should be less than 2-3g especially if patients have edema and high blood pressure.

2. Avoid sea products, beef, mutton, spicy and stimulating foods such as hot pepper, aniseed, coffee, parsley, etc.

3. Avoid supplying of tonics especially if the patients have stasis syndromes such as choking sensation in chest, abdominal distention, etc.

4. If patients have high uric acid, animal offals, crabs, beer, bean products and spinach should be avoided.

5. If patients have high blood potassium, fruits and vegetables that are high in potassium should be avoided or at least limited.

Besides proper eating, it is good that IgA nephropathy patients should have good rest during invasion period and proper exercises such as tai chi, qi gong is good during remission period.