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Low-Protein Diets
A low-protein diet is any diet in which the protein intake is reduced. Anyone diagnosed with kidney or liver disease may be prescribed a low-protein diet. In any case, a diet which is especially low in protein should only be undertaken under medical direction.
Why is a low protein diet necessary?
Protein is needed, but can cause problems for diseased organs
Protein is necessary for a healthy body. When protein is metabolized by the liver and digested, urea is produced as a waste product. If the liver is diseased, then food metabolism is compromised. If the kidneys, which are responsible for excretion of urea, are not functioning properly (renal failure), or if high levels of protein are continually present in the diet, urea builds up in the bloodstream causing loss of appetite and fatigue. A low-protein diet will reduce the workload on these organs.
It is usually the case that serious liver and kidney disease are accompanied by the need to limit salt or sodium intake due to high blood pressure or fluid retention. Table salt (the primary source of sodium in the diet) should therefore be limited, along with other foods with a high sodium content, as an additional feature of the low-protein diet.
Too much protein can worsen your health
It is generally accepted that a healthy person needs 40-60 grams of protein each day to remain in good health. However, it has been reported that the amount of protein typically consumed by people in affluent societies (American diet typically comprises 12-15% protein) may overtax the kidneys – to the extent that up to 30% of kidney function may be lost by the time someone is in their eighties. High-protein diets for weight loss often recommend 30% or more protein in the daily diet, and in prolonged use can cause serious metabolic changes leading to bone loss and kidney stones!
Reduced protein intake can improve your health
Low protein diets (4-8% protein) are used routinely to treat patients with liver disease, kidney (renal) failure, and disorders involving the urea cycle, the metabolism, and amino acids.
How is a low-protein diet achieved?
Reduce amount of protein
Some of each type of protein should still be consumed each day from the two main sources:
- Animal products (fish, poultry, eggs, meat, dairy products) – considered high quality or complete protein.
- Vegetable products (breads, cereals, rice, pasta, dried beans) – considered low quality or incomplete protein.
Click Here for over 100 very low protein recipes.
To reduce the amount of protein consumed, protein foods in recipes can be ‘stretched’ (to consume less) or reduced as against more of the low- or non-protein foods (less in proportion), making a smaller amount seem just as satisfying.
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Boost calories to compensate
Decreasing protein in the diet may also mean a reduction in calories. To compensate so as to maintain a healthy weight, increase calories by substituting or adding certain ingredients with minimal protein content, such as:
- Increase heart-healthy fats like polyunsaturated vegetable oils (corn, cottonseed oil, safflower oil, soybean or sunflower oils), olive oil, mayonnaise-type salad dressings.
- Use candy and sweeteners (hard candy, gum drops, jelly beans, marshmallows, honey, jam and jelly – even sugar (diabetics need medical advice).
- Use canned fruits in heavy syrup.
Sample low protein menu
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Sample low protein menu contains
- Protein: 39 gm
- Calories: 1476
- Fat: 48 gm
- Carbohydrates: 237 gm
- Sodium: 1270 mg
- Potassium: 2282 mg
See Also
The Kidney Diet - Reveals how Kidney disease can be treated using dietary measures. Includes over a 100 kidney disease fighting recipes.
Look for low protein meal ideas here.
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mr friend is quite ill with liver disease, and told to go on low protein diet, but we havn’t a clue about this, could you please send a some kind of diet sheet. Are citrus acids such as apple juice or orange juice good or bad to take.
Is there a good vitamin tablet she can take as she hates vegatables.
I am 78 yrs old male and have been told I have too much protien in my urine and I would like to know how many grams of protien am I allowed daily..Thank you and waiting for your answer.
Can you please suggest or advise a dietary guidlines for Type 2 DM, HTN, Nephrotic syndrome and hypercholesteremia and vegetarian.
Thank you
One of the problems I have is sticking to this low-protein diet. My nutritionist said I have to be on 5 oz. meats max per day I normally eat this in one sitting, but maybe I am not seeing the truth of the disease as I know something is bothering me. I could never follow directions without being watched. When I am watched and must report to some- one I will tend to follow more closely than when I am not watched at all.
My father has liver cirrohsis and is also a diabetic. Can you please advice a low protein diet
i need a good low protein diet. i am in stage 4 renal disease. my doctor said to lose 60 pounds or i will go to dialysis in 3 years. please send me a 60gram per day protein diet to help me. thanks so much. lou
Hello. My husband needs a 85 gram per day protein diet with 2000 grams of sodium. He is a diabetic, has high blood pressure and now his kidneys are at 33 % usage. I n eed help in some menu planning. Any cook books or recipes ideas would be most appreciative. Thanks. Ruth
am suffering adult polycystic kidney disease… advice me if there is any specified restriction in food and lifestyle that i should practice
My husband is on a 2000 mg sodium diet for high bp, low fat for heart disease and low protein for kidney problems. I am struggling with the low protein part of the diet. Can you give me a menus or diet guidelines to go by. Thank.
My husband was told that he has too much protein in the 24hr urine test that he did,650 when it should be 150. Is there a chart to see the protein value of the Meats, Vegetables, grains…. that I can make for my husband. I’m very concern because he is very thin to beging with and now with this diet he will loss more weight. I don’t want him to get sick.
I HAVE STAGE 4 RENAL DISEASE I WOULD LIJE TO KNOW WHAT I CAN EAT I LOVE CANTELOPE , TOMATOES SPAGHETTI & i have always eaten wheat bread, i guess thats wrong. I EAT CHEERIOS FOR BREAKFAST&A SLICE OF CANTELOPE IS FISH ALLOWED?
My father needs a low potassium, low protein, low sodium, no vitamin K diet. Can you help me what foods I can give him? Thanks.
People why don’t you do a search online for low protein diet suggestions… or ask your doctor. Nobody on this board is going to send you a personalized diet sheet!
I’m on a low-protein, low-sodium diet. It works, but it’s hell: eat vegetables and fruits, supplement with 10 grams of amino acids (I use Amino bites). Find low protein “fun” food at cambrookefoods.com. Read Dr. Walzer’s book on kidney failure for more information.
My Mom need a low protein diet please give me one
my husband has glomerolonephritis. His serum creatinine
and potassium are high. CAN you recommend a low protein diet
THANK YOU
28/6/09
chin
I too am on low sodium low protein because of poor kidney function…just got a great book from amazon
The no-salt, lowest sodium cookbook by donald Gazzaniga.
very helpful.
Thank you for showing the one day diet. Where can I find more like it?
i need a low protein diet thanks
excellent information.
I have been diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis with my ck check at 12,500. Dr. wants me to eat no meat or anything with potassium. Any suggestions?
My doctor rcommended a low protein diet due to kidney problems. Looking at the above I already eat a low protein diet. Any suggestions where to look for more help would be appreciated. I already cannot eat spicy, tomatoes, chocolate, caffein and must limit fat content. What can I eat?
My wife aged 21 Yrs is diagnosed with End Stage Renal Failure + High BP + Pulmonary TB. Can you suggest a diet that can help patients with above three diseases ? Thanks a lot for such useful information.
my doctor told me that my creatinine level is 1.4
is that ok or risky for my future my age is 26 now
my uricacid level is6 what indian low protein diet and cholestrol diet should i follow pls recomendthe diet should be based on indian food
My dad was just diagnosed with cirrosis of the liver. Being a non-drinker, we are worried about his diet. What can we do to help him?
Ok, so you showed a low protein sample for eating one day.
Can you personally send me how it would look for the other 6 days! My doctor told me to eat low protein foods because of kidney failure. I am 60 years old. Can you help me with this request?
Thanks
Ed Lara
my doctor told me that my creatinine level is 1.7 . He put me on a low protein diet. Is there a book available to list protein levels in all foods and receipes such as listed here , one for each day ? My age is 66 as of this month.
my dr. wants me to eat the least protein I can. I also have to eat the least potassium also . What can i eat.??? Almost every thing has potas. in it. Is there a book that can help me. thank you
MY 13YR OLD DAUGHTER HAS KIDNEY DAMAGE. THANKS FOR THE SAMPLE MEAL. IM STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW YOU MEASURE THE GRAMS. IF YOUR TURKEY HAS 28G AND THE LEAN MEAT HAS 56G, HOW DOES THE DAY END UP 39G? WOULD YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN AND EMAIL OTHER IDEAS TO ME?