As the main cook and menu-preparer of the house I take total
responsibility for the standard of our diet. If we eat rubbish then I’ve only
myself to blame. Diet features high on the guidelines for caring for our
kidneys and that’s something that I now have to take very seriously.
We spent the last two days in the Amyloidosis Unit of the
Royal Free Hospital in London and we chatted with a lot of people whose kidney
functions are far worse than Mr A’s and who are consequently on dialysis. Amyloidosis
produces sticky platelets in the blood and so the kidneys are often the first organ
to be affected. These tests that Mr A has twice-a-year are designed to keep him
off dialysis for as long as possible but it’s not only Amyloidosis sufferers
who have kidney problems...
...how many of us abuse our kidneys on a daily basis? *sticks
hand up in air*
As cook it’s up to me to take care of Mr A’s kidneys, to
keep them going as long as possible and to stop abusing my own at the same time
so here goes. I'm going to try and:
- Eat lots of fruit and vegetables (including peas and beans) and grain-based food like bread, pasta, noodles and rice.
- Eat some lean meat like chicken and fish each week.
- Eat only small amounts of salty or fatty food.
- Drink plenty of water instead of other drinks.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Stay fit. Do at least 30 minutes of physical activity that increases my heart rate on five or more days a week.
- Not smoke.
- Limit alcohol to one small drink a day. (That's because I'm a female. It's two small drinks a day if you're a bloke.)
- Have my blood pressure checked regularly.
- Do things to help me relax and reduce my stress levels.
I don't really drink and I certainly don't smoke but my hardest ones are 3 (I can’t resist eating crisps!) 6 (I’m
lazy!!!) and 10 (I get wound up too easily!)
Which ones are hard for you?
