What Can't I Eat/Drink if I have Polycystic Kidney Disease

Polycystic kidney disease is hereditary and at present there is no satisfying cure for it. Patients have to live with it for life-long time, therefore proper home nursing cares are very important for stabilizing and slowing down illness conditions.

We know that kidneys are vital organs for producing urine and at the same time discharging excessive water, electrolytes and metabolic wastes from the blood. While PKD will gradually alter renal structure and damage renal functions, therefore PKD patients should be very careful on what they eat and drink so as to avoid any stimulation to cyst growth and reduce strain to the kidneys.

Foods that PKD patients can not eat

Plant proteins: beans, tofu and other bean products. Plant proteins will produce more nitrogen-containing wastes which are the causes and worsening factors of uremic states such as elevated creatinine and BUN. Low-protein diets can reduce synthesis of nitrogen metabolites and reduce burdens to the kidneys. And the positive role of low-proteins diets has been confirmed to help slow down the decline rate of kidney functions, weather it is PKD or other kidney diseases.

Too salty foods include pickles, canned foods, etc. Limiting salt intake can help alleviate edema and high blood pressure.

Spicy and stimulating foods such as chili, crabs, alcohol, etc.

Greasy foods and grilled foods

Polluted foods such as left-overs and rotten foods

Fermented foods such as fermented bean curd

Chocolate should be avoided by PKD

Drinks that PKD patients can not have

Alcoholic drinks, weather it is beer, wine or white spirits. Alcohol can stimulate the activity of polycystic protein and speed up growth rate of the cysts.

Coffee, along with chocolate should be totally avoided by PKD patients.

Of cause, there are a lot of foods and drinks are beneficial to PKD patients.

Black fungus can help dissolve kidney stone which is a common complication of PKD.

Radish contain rich iron and can help alleviate renal anemia.

Cranberry juice, especially unsweetened cranberry juice is very beneficial for PKD patients.

Flaxseed oil has been proved to help show down PKD progression in rats.

Alkaline foods are good for PKD.