What Diet is Good For Kidney Disease?

A kidney-friendly diet is low in sodium, phosphorus, potassium and protein. It also helps you control blood sugar and maintain fluid balance in your body, says registered dietitian Lori Maruschak.

Foods that contain too much phosphorus can harm your bones and may damage other parts of your body. Talk with your doctor about how much phosphorus is too much for you.

Sodium

Sodium is an essential mineral in the body, but too much of it can put too much strain on your kidneys. Fortunately, there are some foods you can eat that are low in sodium.

Eating more fresh fruits and vegetables is one of the best ways to limit your daily intake of salt. You can find these foods in most grocery stores, and they are easy to prepare.

Fruits and vegetables contain potassium, a mineral that your kidneys need to remove from your body. Too much potassium can build up in your blood, causing symptoms such as weakness, numbness or even heart palpitations, according to the National Kidney Foundation (NKF).

It’s also good to reduce your intake of processed and packaged foods. These include pre-packaged meals, snacks, canned and frozen foods, flavored waters, sports drinks, energy drinks, and soft drinks.

Many of these items have added salt or sodium, so it’s important to read labels carefully and talk with your doctor before buying them. Similarly, be sure to avoid products such as lunchmeat, hot dogs, burgers and other processed meats, which may have been injected with sodium-containing solutions.

Sodium is also found in many prepared or packaged foods, such as soups, bread, cold cuts, condiments and sauces. So if you’re preparing your own meals, make sure to use only the recommended amount of salt or salt substitute to give your food flavor without overdoing it on sodium.

Your diet should have less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium each day, based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. This is about a half teaspoon of table salt, so it’s easy to reach the goal.

While your kidneys do their job of filtering waste from your blood, they also help regulate the balance of sodium and other minerals in your body. Having too much of any mineral can cause problems, including high blood pressure and kidney disease.

Whether you have a normal or a chronic kidney disease, working with a registered dietitian can help you create a healthy eating plan that works for your lifestyle. Your diet can help you feel better, live longer and prevent health complications such as diabetes and heart disease.

Potassium

Potassium is a key electrolyte that helps maintain normal fluid levels inside your cells. It also keeps muscles and nerves working well. It’s important to have the right amount of potassium in your diet, especially if you have kidney disease or are on dialysis.

The best way to keep your potassium level at a healthy level is to make sure you eat enough fruits and vegetables. These foods are high in potassium and low in sodium, which is a different mineral that your body needs.

A balanced diet that is low in salt and contains potassium-rich foods can help prevent kidney disease. Talk with your doctor and dietitian to create a diet plan that is right for you.

Your doctor may recommend a blood test to check your potassium level. This can be done as part of a basic metabolic panel that tests your blood for other health conditions, such as diabetes and kidney function.

If your kidneys cannot remove excess potassium in the body, it can build up in your blood and cause problems with your heart rhythm or muscle weakness. It can also lead to a condition called hyperkalemia.

This condition is a serious complication of kidney disease, so it’s very important to manage your potassium. Symptoms of high potassium include tiredness, weak muscles, nausea, chest pains and trouble breathing.

You can get high potassium by eating too much food that contains it, such as fruit, vegetables, milk and other dairy products, potatoes, meats and fish. It can also happen from using certain medicines, including water pills (diuretics), insulin and steroid medication.

In some people, potassium can be a sign that their kidneys are failing and they will need to start dialysis to remove extra potassium from their body. Dialysis is a treatment for kidney disease that can help reduce your risk of developing other health problems and improve your quality of life.

You should eat plenty of fresh, unprocessed fruits and vegetables to get your daily potassium needs. Be sure to choose a variety of colors and textures. Avoid processed foods, as they often contain sodium and other nutrients that are harmful to your health.

Carbohydrates

If you have kidney disease, it is important to eat the right kinds of carbohydrate. This will help you maintain your energy levels and keep your blood sugar in a healthy range, which can lower your risk for diabetes and other health complications.

Carbohydrates are found in foods such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes. These are high in fiber, which can help control your weight and prevent heart disease and other health conditions.

You may also want to consider eating a diet that contains plenty of plant-based protein. This type of food is low in saturated fat and sodium, and it can help keep your cholesterol in check. It also contains antioxidant nutrients and phytochemicals that can lower dietary acid loads and improve kidney function (36).

The quality of your carbohydrate intake can affect your chances of developing chronic kidney disease, or CKD. Studies show that people with higher dietary glycation indexes (GIs) are more likely to develop kidney disease. This is because glucose binds to proteins in the blood, causing advanced glycation end-products (AGEs).

It is also important to eat a variety of vegetables and fruits as part of your kidney disease diet. These foods are low in fat and sodium, and contain vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that can help keep your kidneys functioning properly.

Various leafy green veggies, such as spinach, beet greens, and chard, are rich in potassium, which can help reduce your risk of developing kidney stones. This can be particularly helpful for those with early stage kidney disease.

A high-quality dietary pattern can also help prevent chronic kidney disease in those who already have it. This includes a balanced diet that limits your sodium, potassium, and phosphorus intake. You can also limit your consumption of packaged foods, instant meals, and fast food.

You can also ask your nephrologist and renal dietitian which nutrient-dense foods are best for you. They can suggest which snacks to enjoy as part of your diet, such as a fresh fruit or veggie platter, and which nutrient-dense beverages are beneficial for diabetics.

Fats

The kidneys are an important organ in your body and play a variety of important functions, including maintaining blood volume and composition; filtering and excreting or saving various chemical metabolites; and helping to maintain proper blood pressure. When your kidneys are not working properly, you are at risk for developing high blood pressure and other serious health conditions.

One of the best things you can do for your kidneys is to eat a healthy diet that is rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. The National Kidney Foundation recommends limiting foods that contain large amounts of saturated fat, protein and sodium to prevent or delay the onset of kidney disease.

Another way to protect your kidneys is to eat more fruits and vegetables, which are a good source of potassium and vitamin C. You can find a wide variety of fruits and veggies that are low in sodium and potassium, including tomatoes, oranges, avocados, bananas, carrots, potatoes, spinach and broccoli.

Fruits and vegetables are also a good source of fiber, which is beneficial for your digestive tract and kidney health. Vegetables with high fiber include radishes, turnips, cauliflower, cabbage, brussels sprouts, spinach, and broccoli.

These vegetables are also a good source of magnesium, potassium and calcium. Adding fruits and vegetables to your diet can help you achieve the recommended daily intake of these nutrients, which are critical for maintaining healthy kidney function.

A diet rich in fiber is also a great way to reduce your risk of obesity, which is a major cause of kidney disease. Several types of fruits and vegetables can help you achieve this goal, including apples, bananas, carrots, sweet potatoes and berries.

Moreover, vegetables that are high in potassium can help your kidneys function better as they work to remove excess water from the body. For example, you can cook and mash sweet potatoes and other root vegetables to make a tasty and nutritious side dish.

Similarly, fruits that are high in calcium can help your kidneys work more efficiently, while reducing the amount of sodium that your body absorbs. Some examples of high-calcium foods include dairy products, fortified cereals, enriched breads and dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach or kale.