Nephrotic Syndrome Diet

As we all know a well-planned diet plays an important role in slowing down the progression of Nephrotic Syndrome.
Sodium intake
You should not drastically limit your sodium intake, but should aim for a total of 2000-3000 milligrams (mg)/day. In general, processed foods are the highest in sodium. You will want to limit your intake of foods that are purchased in boxes or cans. For example, Hamburger Helper® and similar type meals, regular canned soups, some canned vegetables, boxed stuffing and noodle/rice mixes, and most frozen dinners are very high in sodium. Many cheeses, condiments (such as ketchup, barbecue sauce, steak sauce, etc), processed meat products, and snack foods also contain a shocking amount of sodium. It is very important that you carefully read all food labels and consider your total diet when grocery shopping.
Fat and cholesterol intake
Avoid saturated fats and trans fats. Look for the words “partially hydrogenated fatty acids” on the food’s ingredient list to determine whether or not it contains trans fat. You should focus on eating foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids, such as:
Flaxseed
Canola oil
Olive oil
Soy nuts
Wheat germ
Walnuts
Walnut oil
Butternuts (similar to walnuts)
Salmon
Tuna
Sardines
Atlantic mackerel
Atlantic herring
Anchovies
You should avoid the following foods:
Fried foods
Ice cream
Fatty meats
Poultry with skin
Regular deli meats and cheeses
2% or whole milk
Cream
Regular sour cream
Coconut oil
Palm kernel oil
Palm oil
Butter
Lard
Shortening
Hard margarines (stick)
High-fat snack foods
High-fat baked goods
Cream soups
High-fat condiments, such as regular mayonnaise or tartar sauce
Limit cholesterol to 200-300 mg/day. Limit total fat to 20%-30% of your total calories.
Soluble fiber
You will want to increase your intake of soluble fiber. Soluble fiber helps the body to rid itself of cholesterol. Soluble fiber is found in:
Oats
Legumes
Barley
Apples
Citrus fruits
Strawberries
Carrots
Protein needs
Your doctor or dietitian can analyze your lab results to better estimate how much protein you require. At one time, it was recommended that people with nephrotic syndrome eat a high-protein diet, but this is rarely encouraged anymore. Most people only require 0.8 grams (g) of protein/kilogram (kg)/day.
Number of meals/day
Many people with nephrotic syndrome find that they can not eat much at one time, because they feel full faster. If this is the case for you, you may want to try to eat six small meals/day, rather than the traditional three larger meals. You also may want to avoid drinking fluid when eating, because this can cause you to feel full more quickly.
Any follow up questions, please contact us immediately. We are glad to help you in any time.