Is It OK to Have Hot Chocolate For PKD Patients

2014-04-06 01:12

Question: I would like to know if it's OK to have hot chocolate made from cocoa powder, and also how about dark chocolate is it good or bad for my kidneys, since I have polycystic kidney disease.

Answer: Hot chocolate and dark chocolate taste very well. If your kidneys are healthy, you can enjoy yourself in having chocolate, but your kidneys are damaged by the growing cysts so that they can not remove the wastes from your blood. Chocolate contains high content of phosphorus. High levels of phosphorus in the blood pull calcium from the bone, making you more vulnerable to fractures. The calcium can deposit in blood vessels, resulting in angiosteosis. Besides, it can also cause skin itch. What is worse, the caffeine in chocolate can make cysts grow much faster, accelerating progression to kidney failure. Therefore, you had better limit the intake of chocolate.

Healthy diet really plays an important role in slowing down its progression to kidney failure. Besides chocolate, you should also pay attention to other foods.

-Salt: because high sodium intake can worsen your high blood pressure, you had better limit salt intake. Processed food should also be avoided.

-Protein: protein metabolism produces lots of wastes. In order to lower your BUN, you should follow a low protein diet. When you choose protein, egg white, lean meat, fish are preferred. Because they produce less wastes.

-Vegetables and fruits: they are very good for your health, especially fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins like cabbages, peppers, guava and cranberries. They can boost your immune system to fight with your kidney disease.

-Fluid: if you do not have edema, drinking plenty of fluid is good for reducing urinary tract infection and restraining the cysts from growth. But if your kidneys are severely damaged, you should limit the intake of fluid.

If you would like a personalized diet plan, please send information on your medical condition to pkdtreatment169@gmail.com. Our doctors can help you after analyzing your case.

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