We do not think about our kidneys until there is a problem. Because kidney disease has no outward symptoms, by the time you realize your kidneys are not functioning properly, it might be too late to save them. African Americans have 4x the rate of end-stage kidney disease, and women are more likely to have it than men. Your diet plays a significant role in both the decline and improvement in kidney function.
The kidneys are part of an important body system – filtering your blood to remove wastes and excess fluid. The kidney also performs many other important functions such as regulating your blood pressure, ensuring you have enough red blood cells, and helping to make your bones strong. Kidney disease is any condition that causes reduced kidney function over a period of time. It is referred to as the “disease multiplier” because once you have a loss of kidney function, the incidence of other diseases and death is more likely. Unfortunately, kidney disease is silent. Without medical evaluation, kidney disease does not manifest itself until it is too late. Diabetes and hypertension are the leading causes of kidney disease. Since these diseases are on the rise, so is kidney disease. Up to 15% of Americans have chronic kidney disease, but since most people do not know they have it, this number is likely higher.
Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is used to measure kidney function. Estimated GFR is the volume of fluid filtered from the kidney capillaries per unit of time; slower rates indicate your kidney is not working as well as it should. The eGFR is calculated based on your age, sex, level of creatinine and your race. It is normal for eGFR to decline as we age but not enough to cause kidney disease. Trends in your eGFR are used to determine whether your kidney function is declining or improving. Ask your doctor to test your kidney function AND tell you what it means.
| Stage | Signs and symptoms | GFR |
| Stage 1 | Normal kidney function | ≥ 90 mL/min |
| Stage 2 | Mild loss of kidney function | 60 – 89 mL/min |
| Stage 3 | Mild-to-severe loss of kidney function | 30 – 59 mL/min |
| Stage 4 | Severe loss of kidney function | 15-29 mL/min |
| Stage 5 | Kidney failure requiring dialysis or transplant | < 15 mL/min |
Lifestyle changes you can make to reduce your risk for kidney disease are to maintain a healthy weight, manage your blood glucose and blood pressure, and consume a plant-based diet. I’ll post a video soon of my interview with Nina Kolbe, MS, RD, an expert in kidney disease and diet. Stay tuned! Meanwhile, you can purchase a copy of one of her books loaded with tips and recipes.
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