Kidney problems do not always announce themselves dramatically. Some symptoms can appear only after kidney function has already been affected.
Swelling around the feet, ankles or face, changes in urination, blood in the urine, persistent nausea, unusual tiredness or pain in the side or back should not simply be blamed on a new diet.
Repeated kidney stones deserve attention too. But symptoms are not the best way to monitor kidney health. Kidney function can change before a person notices anything unusual. For people following a restrictive diet for months, especially those with existing health risks, periodic medical assessment can be more useful than waiting for symptoms.
A balanced eating pattern also does not mean avoiding protein. Protein remains an important part of a healthy diet. The goal is to match intake with the person’s age, activity level, body size, medical conditions and nutritional needs.
For someone trying to lose weight, the more sustainable question may be less about finding the most extreme diet and more about finding the least restrictive diet that produces useful, lasting changes.
That could mean increasing protein without pushing it to excessive levels, choosing more whole foods, reducing ultra-processed foods, eating enough fibre and keeping sodium under control.
As Dr Srivatsa put it, “There is no single diet that is ideal for everyone. A diet should be personalised based on kidney function, age, activity level, existing medical conditions and the person’s nutritional requirements.”
Extreme diets can certainly have a place in selected medical situations under professional supervision. But a diet that works for one person on social media is not automatically a prescription for another person’s kidneys.
The kidneys do not care whether a diet is trending. They respond to the actual workload, fluid balance, blood pressure, metabolic changes and overall health of the person following it.