A kidney removal (= nephrectomy) describes the surgical removal of a kidney if, for example, it is irreversibly (irreversibly) damaged. A kidney can also be removed as part of an organ donation (= donor nephrectomy). (see also organ transplantation)

The main job of the kidneys is to filter & purify the blood to detoxify the body. Kidney inflammation can be divided into two areas: 1. Inflammation of the kidney corpuscles (glomerulonephritis) or 2.  the connective tissue space and the tubulo-intestinal nephritis (tubulo-intestinal nephritis).

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Causes :

• congenital (congenital) abnormalities

• Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones)

• Kidney tuberculosis

• Recurrent nephritis (recurrent inflammation of the kidneys)

• Shrunken kidney (nephro cirrhosis)

• Injury to the kidney from an accident (kidney trauma)

• Hydronephrosis (water sac kidney)

• Tumor diseases such as renal cell carcinoma (hypernephroma)

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Why is nutritional therapy important?

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Your remaining kidney is a precious organ, it needs to be cared for and protected. Nutritional therapy supports you in optimally supporting your kidneys in their function. Furthermore, it is of the utmost importance to optimally supply your body with all of the fatty acids, micronutrients (vitamins and minerals), energy and protein that are important for you. Overall, the therapy aims to avoid foods that promote inflammation and at the same time consume plenty of anti-inflammatory foods. Weight reduction may be advisable if you are overweight / obese. Special attention is also paid to the supply of fluids; a drinking and eating log can provide information about a lack of fluid intake.

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You will learn how you can actively counteract inflammation through foods that naturally have antifungal (against fungi), antibacterial (against bacteria), antiviral (against viruses) and antioxidant as well as immune-boosting properties - that is, natural antibiotics.

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Please note:

Usually the creatinine level rises after kidney removal, from a normal range of around 1 mg / dl to around 1.2 - 2 mg / dl. In the course of time, this value can regress again (adjustment), but a slight increase can remain lifelong because, after all, 1 organ takes over the entire service.

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Info on painkillers / medication:

Avoid drugs that are harmful to the kidneys in consultation with your doctor (e.g. painkillers ("non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs" (NSAID), e.g. ibuprofen, diclofenac, but also acetylsalicylic acid. Occasional use of the specific painkillers for acute pain is unproblematic (1-2 times / week) Paracetamol is also not very harmful to the kidneys, but in higher doses it is harmful to the liver.

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See also: organ transplant .

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Functions of the kidneys:

• Detoxification: urinary substances (creatinine, urea, uric acid), foreign substances, medication, environmental toxins

• Keeping the water balance and osmotic pressure constant through electrolyte regulation

• Hormone production: renin & erythropoietin, vitamin D activation in calcitriol

• Maintenance of the acid-base balance: blood pH value: 7.4, supports the bicarbonate buffer (HCO3- + H + <-> H2CO3 <-> CO2 + H2O), H + excretion - regulation

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Urination

• Renin controls the filtration pressure

• Filtration / d = 180 liters = 1.5 liters of urine / day

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Kidney threshold of glucose: 180mg / dl / day

= max.absorption amount! -> more glucose is excreted as remainder (in diabetes mellitus)

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Nephron (renal cortex) = functional unit

Nephrons consist of kidney corpuscles & tubules

1) Kidney corpuscles - primary urine formation 

• Glomerulus-vessel unit (arteries) -> ultrafiltration

• Baumann capsule (close-meshed filter, proteins get stuck)

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2) renal tubules (tubular apparatus)

• - reabsorption, secretion, concentration

• Secondary urine formation (terminal urine)

• proximal tubule (reabsorption: AS, glucose, water, electrolytes)

• Henle loop (water)

• distal tubule (water, electrolytes)

• Connecting tubules (electrolytes)

Collection pipe (water reabsorption point) collects the secondary urine & guides it into the renal pelvis

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Classification of your weight - definition and classification of weight in relation to height.

Special percentile curves apply to children and adolescents; the BMI cannot simply be used here.

BMI and interpretation: BMI: body mass index. Formula: Body weight in kg : (body height in m) 2

Underweight: <18.5

Normal weight: 18.5 - 24.9

Overweight = pre-obesity: 25-29.9

Obesity grade I: 30 - 34.9

Obesity grade II: 35-39.9

Obesity grade III:> 40 = per magna

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Nutritional therapy

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• Anti-inflammatory nutrition as a basis, individually tailored to you

• Individual energy & protein requirement calculation

• Holistic therapy - do you have any comorbidities that need to be taken into account during the consultation?

• Overall fat selection, how should it be designed

• How many animal foods (e.g. meat products, milk and dairy products, cheese, fish products, eggs) are recommended?

• What do I have to look out for when choosing animal foods?

• How can I counteract inflammatory processes through diet?

• Body weight: If you are overweight / obese, weight reduction may be recommended.

• Avoid micronutrient deficiencies and mineral deficiencies & possibly counteract them with nutrient preparations

• Prevent protein deficiency / excess protein

• Which nutrients do I need in which ratio?

• Get enough fiber (> 30 g / day) through natural foods, possibly fiber substitution

• Sufficient fluid: total fluid per day: 30 - 35 ml per kg body weight and day. Attention, this is not just a drinking liquid. The liquid from food (approx. 500 - 800 ml) must still be subtracted from this, so that an amount of approx. 1.3 - 2 l of drinking liquid is created. In consultation with your doctor, a fluid limit may be necessary, this will then be taken into account.

• add valuable anti-carcinogenic (anti-cancer) secondary plant substances

• A selection of foods tailored to your needs with cooking and technical information (for breakfast, snacks, lunch, dinner)

• Do you like to eat your warm meal in the evening? I am happy to cater to your individual situation and we will create a plan on how you can implement your wholesome diet into your everyday life.

• which oils are good for me? What should I watch out for in relation to the anti-inflammatory diet?

• How much fat spread (butter / margarine / vegetable fat) can I use and which products are recommended?

• Get enough Omgea-3 fatty acids and essential fatty acids

• How can I boost and support my metabolism with natural foods?

• Coordinate sensible meal frequency for your individual case - meal allocation

• Define the desired weight stabilization / normalization & the estimated period for this

• what should be considered with beverages and alcoholic beverages?

• How does exercise affect your body and thus also your diet?

• Avoid blood sugar fluctuations

• Sweetening foods - sweeteners, glucose, fructose, sugar and sugar substitutes, what can I use and in what quantities? How high is the respective sweetness of the different products?

• what should be considered when baking and cooking?

• what are cheap snacks / main meals

• Eating out - what should you watch out for?

• Vacation, boat trip or hospital stay, what should be considered?

• Flatulence, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, heartburn, loss of appetite, pain related to eating, what can I do about it?

• Daily plans as an example for practical implementation in everyday life

• Enjoyment training

• Optimizing your eating situation

• long-term maintenance of a jointly defined weight

• Strengthen the stomach and intestines with natural foods

• Additional therapy options

• Dietetic products in support of nutritional therapy

• Food supplements - under certain circumstances, a supplement can be useful

• and other topics

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Any questions? I look forward to your call or email. To contact form

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Assistance:

• KISS self-help groups

• Self-help network

• German Kidney Foundation

• German Society for Nephrology