Polycystic kidney disease (PCKD) is a progressive disorder that involves noncancerous cyst growth on the kidneys along with other organs (spleen, large bowel, liver, pancreas, etc) and in most cases is genetic. This in turn damages the kidneys, compromises blood filtration and is the fourth cause of kidney failure in the US. Often times people with this condition do not develop symptoms until they are at least 30 years of age. These include frequent bladder or kidney infections, high blood pressure and low back/abdominal/flank pain. There is also a high rate of diverticulitis in PCKD.
This disease has been long thought to be progressive and irreversible, but new literature (Ketosis Ameliorates Renal Cyst Growth in Polycystic Kidney Disease) documents the benefits of fasting or a ketogenic diet on the glucose dependent cysts found in PCKD. The body's state of ketosis during intermittent fasting or the ketogenic diet, inhibits the growth of the cysts seen in PCKD. Ketosis is a metabolic state your body uses to make energy from fatty acids, causing ketone production (rather than using glucose for energy).
The SAD (standard American diet) is high in both carbohydrates and sugar, which can encourage a wide array of chronic illnesses ranging from PCKD, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's, some cancers and more. Decreasing carbohydrate intake along with sugar and increasing your non-starchy vegetable intake will help reduce your risk of these chronic illnesses. Many of the chronic diseases on the rise are greatly influenced by diet, nutritional status and environment. This means you have power in determining your health status.