Short Answer: Sardines are good for CKD. Because they have protein, omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, iron, and vitamin D, and they can help reduce inflammation, lower blood pressure, prevent anemia, strengthen bones, and support immune function.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition that affects your kidneys, which are the organs that filter waste and excess fluid from your blood.
In CKD, your body cannot remove these substances efficiently, and they build up in your blood.
This can lead to various health problems, such as high blood pressure, anemia, bone disease, and cardiovascular disease.
One of the key factors in managing CKD is diet.
What you consume can affect your electrolytes, minerals, and fluid balance, which can impact your CKD symptoms and overall health.
To effectively manage CKD, you should consume protein, potassium, phosphorus, and sodium in moderation, and follow the recommendations of your doctor or dietitian.
You should consume foods rich in fiber, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids, like fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and oily fish.
You should avoid foods high in salt, sugar, saturated fat, and processed ingredients, like fast food, chips, cookies, and soda.
Now, sardines are small, oily fish that are usually canned in oil, water, or tomato sauce.
People usually eat them as a snack, spread, or salad ingredient.
Sardines are good for CKD because they contain high-quality protein, omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, iron, and vitamin D.
These nutrients can help reduce inflammation, lower blood pressure, prevent anemia, strengthen bones, and support immune function.
One can (3.75 oz) of sardines can give you about 23 grams of protein (46% of your daily needs), 1.5 grams of omega-3 fatty acids (75% of your daily needs), 351 mg of calcium (35% of your daily needs), 2.9 mg of iron (16% of your daily needs), and 164 IU of vitamin D (41% of your daily needs).
Protein can help maintain muscle mass and repair tissue damage, but too much protein can strain your kidneys and increase waste products in your blood.
Omega-3 fatty acids can help lower triglycerides and inflammation, but too much omega-3 fatty acids can increase bleeding risk and interact with some medications.
Calcium can help keep your bones strong and prevent fractures, but too much calcium can cause calcification of your blood vessels and organs.
Iron can help prevent anemia and improve oxygen delivery, but too much iron can cause oxidative stress and liver damage.
Vitamin D can help regulate calcium and phosphorus levels and support immune function, but too much vitamin D can cause hypercalcemia and hyperphosphatemia, which can damage your kidneys and other organs.
Furthermore, sardines are a low-mercury fish and a sustainable seafood choice.
Mercury is a toxic metal that can accumulate in your body and harm your nervous system and kidneys.
Sustainable seafood is seafood that is caught or farmed in a way that does not harm the environment or the fish population.
You can eat one to two servings of sardines per week safely.
More than that can cause excess intake of protein, omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, iron, and vitamin D, which can have negative effects on your health.
Also, you shouldn’t eat sardines if you have gout or high uric acid levels to prevent gout attacks.
Because sardines are high in purines, which are compounds that break down into uric acid in your body.
Uric acid can form crystals in your joints and cause pain and inflammation.
You can buy canned sardines in your local market or online.
Always choose sardines that are packed in water, olive oil, or tomato sauce, and avoid those that are packed in soybean oil, sunflower oil, or other vegetable oils.
Because these oils are high in omega-6 fatty acids, which can increase inflammation and counteract the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids.
You can store them in a cool, dry place for up to a year.
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Finally, remember, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, stress management, and essential medical care, is key to managing CKD effectively.
I always recommend my CKD patients to follow a CKD-friendly diet to improve their overall well-being and enjoy a longer and healthier life.
