People with chronic kidney disease are often advised toavoid certain foodsand beverages to help keep their kidneys working properly.
Certain nutrients are harder for your kidneys to filter out than others once the kidneys are damaged.
In kidney disease, the kidneys are damaged and unable to properly filter the blood as they normally would.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
Continue reading to learn more about diet for people with kidney disease.
Some people in the early stages of kidney disease may not need to make any changes to their diet.
This might include sodium, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, vitamin D, andalbumin.
Based on your blood test results, your doctor or dietitian may recommend you limit or avoid certain foods.
You will most likely still be able to include small amounts of foods with these nutrients.
Low Sodium
The amount of fluid in your body can affect your blood sodium levels.
Additionally, your kidneys work to control the amount of sodium in your body.
When shopping, read the nutrition facts label to look for foods low in sodium.
Be careful if you also need to restrict potassium, as some salt substitutes contain potassium.
Limit Potassium Intake
Potassiumis a mineral that works to help coordinate muscle function, including the heart.
Having the right amount, not too much or too little, in your body is important.
Symptoms of high potassium levels include feeling weak, having numbness or tingling, or having an irregular heartbeat.
Potassium is found in many foods, so it would be difficult to eliminate it from your diet completely.
However, limiting foods high in potassium can help prevent a buildup of potassium in your body.
Phosphorus also works withcalciumandvitamin Dto keep your bones strong.
Damaged kidneys are unable to filter out extra phosphorus in the blood.
Over time, this increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Phosphorus from animal sources is more easily absorbed than from plant sources.
Manage Protein Intake
When you eat foods with protein, the protein gets broken down and digested.
As part of protein digestion, waste is created that your kidneys then work to remove from your body.
Your doctor or dietitian will let you know if you should probably change your portion sizes of protein foods.
Protein comes from both plant and animal sources.
Animal sources of protein include red meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy foods.
Plant-based sources of protein include beans, legumes, nuts, seeds, soy foods, and whole grains.
If you have kidney disease and are not on dialysis, a diet lower in protein may be recommended.
Limit Fluids in Advanced Kidney Disease
Water is necessary for life.
Summary
Healthy kidneys work to filter excess fluid and waste from your blood.
The dietary restrictions on a kidney disease diet vary from person to person depending on their disease progression.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chronic kidney disease basics.
National Kidney Foundation.Chronic kidney disease (CKD) symptoms and causes.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Eating right for chronic kidney disease.
National Kidney Foundation.Sodium and your CKD diet: how to spice up your cooking.
National Kidney Foundation.Potassium and your CKD diet.
National Kidney Foundation.Phosphorus and your diet.
National Kidney Foundation.CKD diet: how much protein is the right amount?
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Nutrition for advanced chronic kidney disease in adults.
2020;76 Suppl 1:69-70. doi:10.1159/000515276
