Kidney Love Guide | Can you eat kimchi?

For kidney patients, whether kimchi can be eaten is a question worth paying attention to. The following is a relevant analysis:

1. Ingredients and characteristics of kimchi

1. High salt: A lot of salt is usually added to kimchi during its production process to serve as a preservative and seasoning. This makes kimchi have a high sodium content, and a high-salt diet is a burden on the kidneys, which may cause water and sodium retention, increase blood pressure, and affect the blood perfusion and filtration function of the kidneys.

2. May contain nitrite: In the early stage of pickling kimchi, a certain amount of nitrite will be produced. Excessive intake of nitrite may have adverse effects on the body, such as affecting the oxygen-carrying capacity of hemoglobin, etc. For people with weak kidney function, it may increase the metabolic burden of the kidneys.

2. Analysis of the situation of kidney patients eating kimchi

1. Kidney patients with normal renal function

- Eat in small amounts: If you want to eat kimchi occasionally, you can eat some fresh kimchi that has been pickled for more than 20 days (the nitrite content is lower at this time). At the same time, pay attention to pairing it with other low-salt, low-potassium, and low-phosphorus foods to balance the overall diet. For example, you can pair it with some light vegetable salad or fruit.

- Note: Drink plenty of water after eating to promote salt excretion and reduce the burden on the kidneys. Also pay attention to changes in your blood pressure. If you find that your blood pressure is rising, you should adjust your diet in time.

2. Patients with renal insufficiency

-Eat with caution: Due to impaired kidney function, the ability to excrete salt and harmful substances decreases, so you should try to avoid eating kimchi. If you really want to eat it, you need to decide whether to eat it and how much to eat under the guidance of a doctor based on your own kidney function indicators, blood pressure, blood potassium, etc.

-Alternative options: You can choose some low-salt, nitrite-free pickled alternatives, such as simple salads made with fresh vegetables, adding a small amount of vinegar, lemon juice and other seasonings, which can not only satisfy the taste buds' need for sourness, but are also relatively healthy.

When faced with the temptation of kimchi, kidney patients should fully consider their own kidney health, make reasonable choices, and eat it scientifically to maintain the stability of kidney function.