Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow the Diet WorksNutrients to MonitorWhat to EatLimiting What You EatWhat to AvoidBenefits and RisksWho Is the Diet Right For?Tips
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
How the Diet Works
Nutrients to Monitor
What to Eat
Limiting What You Eat
What to Avoid
Benefits and Risks
Who Is the Diet Right For?
Tips
The renal diet is an eating plan that promotes kidney health and slows kidney damage. The kidneys are a pair of organs that reabsorb nutrients from the diet and filter out waste. A person’s diet affects kidney health and how hard the kidneys need to work.
People with chronic kidney disease (CKD) may benefit from working with a dietitian and following the renal diet. The renal diet limits foods high in sodium, potassium, phosphorus, and protein.
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People who follow the renal diet to treat theirkidney diseasemay experience slowed disease progression, increased energy levels, improved muscle strength, and a lower risk of infection. People who follow the renal diet limit foods that are rich in:
29 Foods to Avoid With Kidney Disease
Nutrients to Watch for If You Have Kidney Disease
Some electrolytes and nutrients in the diet affect fluid and waste buildup in the blood. Nutrients that cause the body to retain fluids put stress on the kidneys. People with kidney disease may need to limit the following nutrients:
The renal diet provides a healthy way of eating that promotes both kidney and heart health. People following the renal diet consume the following types of foods:
Using the DASH Diet for Kidney Disease
Most people following the renal diet do not need to completely remove certain food groups from their diets.Rather, it is important to be mindful of portion sizes and how often you eat foods that require the kidneys to work harder.
Many people with chronic kidney disease need to limit saturated and trans fats in their diets.Animal products rich in saturated fats include butter, lard, red meat, and whole milk. Trans fats are usually found in processed foods like store-bought cookies, french fries, and doughnuts. Trans fats are also found in hydrogenated vegetable oils.
Sodium
Sodium is an electrolyte found intable saltand processed foods. Most healthy adults need to limit their sodium intake to 2,300 milligrams per day.
When a person has kidney disease, their kidneys stop functioning normally. As the kidneys lose the ability to control the sodium-water balance in the body, it is important to consume less sodium.Eating a low-salt diet lowers blood pressure and reduces fluid buildup and swelling.
To cut back on sodium in your diet, opt for fresh, homemade foods. Look for food labels that say “low sodium” and limit restaurant meals. To add flavor to your meals without salt, try new herbs, spices, mustards, and flavors of vinegar.
Phosphorus
Phosphorus is a mineral that keeps the bones and teeth strong. When the kidneys are not functioning normally, they cannot remove extra phosphorus from the blood, and the mineral builds up in the blood.When there is too much phosphorus in the blood, it can pullcalciumfrom the bones, weakening the bones.
Too much phosphorus in the blood may also damage the blood vessels, eyes, and heart. Phosphorus can be found in meat, dairy, beans, nuts, whole grain breads, and dark-colored sodas. Foods that are naturally low in phosphorus include fruits, vegetables, pasta, rice, and corn cereals.
Potassium
Potassium is a mineral essential for nerve and muscle health. It also plays a key role in heart health. When the kidneys are damaged, they do not remove potassium from the blood.Too much potassium in the blood can lead to heart problems.
Foods high in potassium include oranges, potatoes, tomatoes, and whole-grain bread. Apples, carrots, and white bread are naturally low in potassium. Some medications can increase your potassium levels. Review your list of your current medications with your healthcare provider to determine if any changes are needed.
Protein
Protein is an essential nutrient for building muscle and repairing tissues in the body. When the body breaks down protein, it creates waste that the kidneys need to remove. Eating a diet rich in protein in excess of what your body needs can be stressful for the kidneys.
Protein is present in both animal products and plants. Protein-rich foods include red meat, chicken, fish, eggs, and dairy products. Plant-based protein sources include grains, beans, and nuts.
People following the renal diet need to limit foods that are rich in sodium, potassium, phosphorus, protein, fat, and fluids. They may also want to avoid calorie-dense foods that provide few nutrients.
Consider avoiding the following foods when following the renal diet:
The renal diet is an eating plan rich in healthy foods like fresh fruits and vegetables.It is known to promote kidney health and slow the progression of kidney disease. The renal diet may improve energy levels in people with chronic kidney disease.
The renal diet is safe for most people with kidney disease. However, this eating plan limits certain nutrients that are essential for health. The body needs sodium, potassium, phosphorus, and protein. Completely cutting these nutrients out of your diet would cause health problems.
When your protein intake is too low, you may lose muscle mass and become weaker. If you are currently receivingdialysis treatment, your healthcare team may recommend eating more protein because dialysis removes it from the blood.Talk with your healthcare providers and dietitians to determine the right balance of protein and minerals in your diet.
The renal diet is usually right for people with CKD or any chronic health condition that affects kidney function. It may also be helpful for people withdiabetes. About 1 in 3 adults in the United States with diabetes also has chronic kidney disease.
Other Renal Diet Tips
The renal diet promotes fresh, healthy foods like fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and some lean proteins. Helpful tips for getting started with the renal diet include:
Summary
The renal diet is an eating plan that promotes kidney health and slows kidney damage. It has been proven to slow disease progression in people with chronic kidney disease.
The kidneys are a pair of organs located in the abdomen. They are responsible for absorbing nutrients from the diet and filtering out waste and extra fluid from the blood. The diet affects kidney health and function.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Eating right for chronic kidney disease.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes and kidney disease: what to eat?National Kidney Foundation.Nutrition and kidney disease, stages 1-5 (not on dialysis).National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diet & nutrition for adults with advanced chronic kidney disease.National Kidney Foundation.NKF nutrition coach.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Eating right for chronic kidney disease.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes and kidney disease: what to eat?National Kidney Foundation.Nutrition and kidney disease, stages 1-5 (not on dialysis).National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diet & nutrition for adults with advanced chronic kidney disease.National Kidney Foundation.NKF nutrition coach.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Eating right for chronic kidney disease.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes and kidney disease: what to eat?National Kidney Foundation.Nutrition and kidney disease, stages 1-5 (not on dialysis).National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diet & nutrition for adults with advanced chronic kidney disease.National Kidney Foundation.NKF nutrition coach.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Eating right for chronic kidney disease.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes and kidney disease: what to eat?
National Kidney Foundation.Nutrition and kidney disease, stages 1-5 (not on dialysis).
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diet & nutrition for adults with advanced chronic kidney disease.
National Kidney Foundation.NKF nutrition coach.
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