What Should a Kidney Disease Diet Include?

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When you are diagnosed with kidney disease, your medical provider will create a treatment plan to slow the progression of the disease. This plan will likely include medical therapies and recommendations to improve your lifestyle habits, such as getting regular exercise and not smoking.

A kidney disease diet plays a particularly important role. Here is what you should know:

The Facts About Kidney Disease

To understand kidney disease, you first have to understand what the kidneys do. These small organs are about the size of a computer mouse and filter the blood in your body every half hour removing wastes, toxins and excess fluid.

They are also responsible for stimulating red blood cell production, controlling your blood pressure, promoting good bone health and regulating chemicals in your blood.

When you have chronic kidney disease (CKD), the kidneys are damaged and do not filter blood as efficiently as they should. This leaves behind excess fluid and waste which can contribute to several significant health issues.

The good news is that while CKD can be progressive, it does not always lead to kidney failure. Adjusting your diet is one step you can take to help slow the progress of the disease and keep your kidneys as healthy as possible.

Sodium, Potassium and the Kidneys

Together, sodium and potassium are known as electrolytes. Your body requires a careful balance of both to function at its best. But too little potassium and too much sodium can raise your blood pressure, even in a person who does not have kidney disease. In people with CKD, where the kidneys are not functioning effectively, electrolyte levels can become either too high or too low, putting your health in danger.

When too much potassium builds up in the body, a condition known as hyperkalemia, can lead to serious health issues including cardiac rhythm problems and a heart attack. Low potassium is called hypokalemia and can lead to heart rhythm abnormalities, muscle weakness and cramps. To keep a careful eye on these minerals in your body, your doctor can order lab tests to check your levels and offer suggestions for altering your intake as needed.

What Is the Best Diet for Kidney Disease?

While your doctor or a renal dietitian can offer you personalized guidance on what to include in your diet for optimal kidney protection, there are a few basic best practices for a kidney disease diet:

Limit sodium.

Because your kidneys are not functioning optimally, your risk of developing high blood pressure increases. Eating a diet of less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day can help you maintain blood pressure within a healthy range. To lower your sodium intake, you will not only need to put down the saltshaker, but you will also need to carefully review food labels to check the sodium content of prepared foods and ask about low-sodium options at restaurants.

Watch your protein portions.

When you eat protein, whether from an animal source or a plant, your body produces waste. When your kidneys are impaired, they may have difficulty clearing the waste from your body. Eating smaller amounts of animal protein and more plant-based protein may help slow the progression of kidney disease while improving general health. Substituting some or all animal protein with plant-based protein is also heart-healthy, increases fiber and can reduce phosphorous levels.

Choose foods with less phosphorus.

You may never have thought about phosphorus before, but it is an important consideration when you have kidney disease. Chronic kidney disease can cause phosphorus to build up in your blood, which pulls calcium from your bones, making them thinner and weaker. Talk with your doctor to see if you need to reduce phosphorous in your diet. Just like with sodium and potassium, too much or too little phosphorous can cause serious health issues.

Watch your potassium.

When you have kidney disease, your damaged kidneys can result in too much or too little potassium in your body. This can damage your nerves and muscles, with the potential to negatively impact your heart. Managing your potassium level can be a little tricky, especially when you are also trying to monitor your sodium intake. If your potassium is high, watch out for salt substitutes, which can be high in potassium. You will also want to limit oranges, bananas, potatoes, tomatoes, dairy, beans and nuts because these foods have high potassium content. If your potassium is low, you can try to add more of these foods to your diet. Always discuss with your physician what foods you may need to limit if you have CKD.

Use healthy food prep methods.

No matter what foods you choose to eat, how you prepare them matters. Choose lean cuts of meat and remove the skin from poultry. Cook with a small amount of healthy fat, such as olive oil, rather than saturated fats, such as butter. Avoid frying foods, and try grilling, baking, broiling or roasting them instead.

Stay hydrated.

It is important to maintain a good fluid intake also — and water is the best. Talk to your medical team to find out the appropriate amount of fluid a day for you. This amount can vary if you have underlying heart problems or other health issues.

When it comes to kidney disease, there is no single best diet. Your doctor may recommend the DASH diet, which stands for the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, since it could help decrease blood pressure and lower the risk of serious health issues. Plant-based diets can also be beneficial.