Can patients with nephritis eat cooked lamb kidneys?
I have been experiencing some pain during urination recently, and after an examination, the doctor diagnosed me with nephritis. Today, I saw lamb kidneys being sold outside and felt a strong urge to eat them. I would like to ask, is it okay for someone with nephritis to eat lamb kidneys?
Doctor's answer (1)
Patients with nephritis need to pay special attention to their diet and should avoid foods high in salt, fat, and purines to reduce the burden on the kidneys. Lamb kidneys, as an animal offal, contain relatively high levels of fat and purines, which may increase the workload and strain on the kidneys. Lamb kidneys are actually the kidneys of sheep and contain abundant nutrients such as protein, fat, minerals, and vitamins. However, for patients with nephritis, intake of these nutrients should be carefully considered.
In cases of impaired kidney function, the kidneys' ability to excrete these substances declines, and excessive intake may further burden the kidneys, leading to elevated blood uric acid and increased serum phosphorus levels, which could worsen kidney damage or trigger other complications such as hyperphosphatemia and disturbances in calcium and phosphorus metabolism. Patients with nephritis are usually sensitive to foods such as animal offal, so it is recommended to avoid consumption. Additionally, although cooking methods such as roasting can remove some harmful substances, they cannot completely alter the nutritional composition and impact on the kidneys.
Whether lamb kidneys can be consumed, and the appropriate quantity, must be determined based on the patient's individual condition, kidney function status, and medical guidance. In daily diet, patients with nephritis should follow the principles of low salt, low fat, and moderate intake of high-quality protein.
