Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is said to be one of the most common kidney diseases according to the American Kidney Foundation. It is also one of the most life-threatening genetic disorders since it is caused by one specific gene. According to statistics, every 1 in every 400 people all across the world get diagnosed with this disease. Though being a genetic disease, it can be kept under control by people who have had a family history of suffering from this kidney disorder. A properly mapped PKD diet should be followed, which can help postpone the onset of the disease at an earlier age. If you suspect that you may be carrying the gene of this disease, it would be safer to suggest that starting with a healthy renal diet would be the best option. This Buzzle article will help you chalk out what you must and mustn't include in your renal diet. Foods that You Must Eat The objective of a special diet is to try to make it easier for the kidneys to function properly. The following diet for PKD, will help you do just that: Have Less Proteins Proteins take longer for the kidney to process. Once it's done, the waste product produced is called urea. It is the kidney's basic function to help remove the urea from the body. Therefore larger the total amount of proteins produced by the liver, causes larger quantities of urea to be produced. The goal should be to reduce the total consumption of proteins. According to the USDA's analysis the total Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of proteins is equal to 0.8 grams of protein per kilo of body weight which is about 0.4 grams of protein per pound. Avoid eating all types of meat and chicken as they have high protein contents. That includes having less legumes, groundnuts, corn as well as certain beans that have high protein content such as lentils and chickpeas. Avocado and olive oil should be consumed as they contain healthy fats that are much-needed. Also add more high fiber vegetables and fruits into your diet such as spinach, broccoli, cabbage, pomegranate, papaya as well as bananas. Grains help in compensating for the loss in calories and are excellent for people suffering from this disease. Though there is one exception when it comes to proteins. Soya is one type of protein that is believed to be excellent for keeping this disease under control. Only fermented soy must be consumed, as it has some side effects. Fermented soy such as miso, tofu and tempeh should become an inseparable part of your renal diet. Have More Omega -3 Omega-3 fatty acids have proven to have excellent potential in reducing the possibility of kidney cysts from occurring, because of its anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertensive and lipid-lowering effects. Fish is known to be a rich source of omega-3 essential fatty acids. Flake seed oil, linseed oil, pecans and walnuts are also considered rich in this fatty acid and therefore must be made a part of the renal diet. Keep Salt and Sugar low Too much of salt disturbs the balance of the minerals in the kidney, which increases the chances of high blood pressure among people suffering from PKD. The same goes for sugar, wherein too much consumption of sugar can lead to faster insulin resistance among these patients. These people should try to avoid artificial sugar completely and instead opt for fruits and fruit juices instead. Regulated Intake of Potassium Potassium should be made a part of the PKD diet though only in very limited quantities. According to medical research, potassium increases the body's resistance against this disease. Though it is important to remember that the total intake must be regulated, as an increase in the blood potassium levels can escalate the chances of heart related problems. Therefore, you must have foods that are rich in potassium such as sweet potatoes, papaya, prune, raisins, cantaloupe melon, oranges, mangoes, pears and honeydew are all have potassium. Remember to have water at regular intervals, even if you are not thirsty. Water helps flush out the toxins and urea that may be getting collected in the kidneys. A well-balanced low protein diet can help prevent this disease from occurring as well as prevent it from getting worse if it has already been diagnosed. This diet has helped people avoid dialysis for many years.