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Kidney Diet Basics

When you’re treating kidney disease, what and how much you should eat depends on how well your kidneys are working. Talk to your doctor or nutritionist about what to eat, drink and recommended serving sizes.

When you have kidney disease, your body processes things differently. Committing to a kidney-friendly diet can help you feel better and stay healthy.

4 Strategies for a Kidney-Friendly Diet

  • Eat protein in moderation. Protein produces a waste product called urea, which kidney disease makes difficult to remove and can leave you feeling tired or losing your appetite.
  • Skip the salt and sodium. Consuming salt or sodium can make it difficult for your body to maintain a proper salt and water balance. They can also cause fluid retention and high blood pressure (high blood pressure).
  • Control potassium. Sometimes called “other salt,” potassium can build up when your kidneys aren’t working properly. Too much potassium can cause irregular heartbeat or heart attack. Foods rich in potassium include potatoes, tomatoes, bananas and milk.
  • Limit phosphorus. Phosphorus, another mineral that is difficult to remove when you have kidney disease, can build up and lead to weak bones or cardiovascular disease. Foods high in phosphorus include cookies, pizza and processed meats.

Quick tips for eating well

  • Choose fresh foods.

Avoid processed, prepackaged and ready-to-eat foods.

  • Read food labels and check ingredients.

Monitor protein and avoid added salt, sodium, and phosphate (P).

  • Replace salt and soy sauce in recipes with bold flavors.

Try rosemary, lemon zest, paprika, curry powder or cumin.

Foods that patients with kidney disease should choose

Here are some examples of low sodium, low phosphorus, and low potassium foods and beverages. Serving sizes for all listed foods and beverages are 1/2 cup or 60-80 grams of protein.

Bread, Cereals and Cereals

* Cereals

* Spaghetti

* Quinoa

* Rice

 

Fruit

* Berry

* Pear

* Pineapple

* Plum

* Watermelon

 

Vegetable

* Broccoli

* Radish

* Corn

* Cucumber

* Lettuce

* Squash

 

Fluid

* Coffee

* Tea

* Water

 

Protein

* Beans

* Beef

* Egg

* Fish

* Lentils

* Poultry

* Tofu

Choose fresh, natural (not processed) foods.