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A common thing that people with kidney disease search for early on is the best bread for kidney disease.
Like all packaged foods, we need to keep an eye on sodium and avoid phosphorus additives, and it can be difficult to find a low sodium bread or a low phosphorus bread.
Table of Contents
Low Sodium Bread
For people living with kidney disease, eating less sodium can help lower blood pressure, reduce thirst, reduce stress on your heart, and prevent you from gaining too much fluid weight and feeling tired and short of breath.
Bread is the number one source of sodium in the American diet, so finding a lower sodium version to use can make a big impact on your health. However, finding a low sodium bread is also very challenging.
It is recommended that people with kidney disease eat less than 2,300mg of sodium per day. A good rule of thumb when reviewing food labels is to search for foods with less sodium than calories.
What if I can’t find a low sodium bread?
Depending on where you are shopping, there is a decent chance that you may not be able to find a bread that has less sodium than calories. There are a couple of options in that case:
- Consider an alternative – making a sandwich? Consider using lettuce and making a lettuce wrap. Or use a low sodium, no added phosphate corn tortilla and make a small wrap or taco with your sandwich ingredients. Using it to make toast for breakfast? Consider choosing a different type of carbohydrate like oatmeal for breakfast. If you are looking for dinner rolls to add as a side to your meal, consider swapping to a different starchy side item like rice.
- Buy your bread online – many groceries can be purchased online now and delivered to your home. If you can’t find the foods you need at your in-store grocer, consider ordering online.
- Ask you grocery store to stock your preferred bread – Many stores are willing to order specific foods if you ask.
- Choose the bread with the least sodium and pair it with very low sodium foods – so you’ve compared all the breads and they all have too much sodium. Pick the one with the least amount of sodium and no added phosphates, and then pair it with some very low sodium foods. For example, nut butters such as cashew butter or peanut butter are both very low sodium foods. Adding a thick smear of nut butter to a piece of bread will usually even out the sodium.
Low Phosphorus Bread
Many breads also contain phosphorus additives, which are bad for your cardiovascular health. Phosphorus is an ingredient in baking powder, so it is common for baked goods to have phosphorus added to them. However, not all bread contains phosphorus!
To determine if a bread contains phosphorus, read the ingredient lists. If you see any ingredients with “PHOS” in the name, then you should choose a different bread.
One thing to consider with bread is that most bread contains yeast. While humans do not have the correct enzymes in their body to digest many plant-based phosphorus sources, yeast organisms do. In theory, foods containing yeast may have a higher phosphorus bioavailability, meaning that your body will absorb more of the phosphorus from the food.
If you are struggling with high phosphorus levels and have eliminated all sources of phosphorus additives in your diet, then you may want to consider replacing yeast containing foods like bread with alternate sources of carbohydrate.
Low Potassium Bread
Some people with kidney disease are concerned about their potassium levels. In general, we consider a food to be low in potassium if it contains less than 200mg of potassium per serving. Most bread will be considered low potassium.
White breads tend to be lower in potassium than whole grain breads, so it can be tempting for people with kidney disease to choose white bread. However, in our research, we were unable to find any white breads that were considered low in sodium and contained no phosphorus additives, so we do not recommend white bread.
There are many reasons that potassium levels could become elevated that are unrelated to the potassium content of the food you eat. Unless you have been instructed to do so by a healthcare provide, we do not recommend avoiding healthful foods based on their potassium content. Whole grain breads are higher in fiber, which is an important factor in managing potassium levels.
What is the best bread for kidney disease and diabetes?
If you have CKD and diabetes, you may need to be mindful of your carbohydrate intake. Bread is considered a starchy food, so it will raise your blood sugar. If you choose to eat bread, choose a bread that is lower in sodium, contains no phosphorus additives, and contains adequate fiber. All of the kidney friendly breads identified below would meet this criteria.
Limit bread to one serving per meal and be sure that you understand what a single serving is. For bigger sliced bread, the serving size is often one piece of bread while smaller or thinner sliced bread may allow two slices per serving.
Be mindful of any additional sources of carbohydrates in your meal.
Pair your bread with a high fat food such as avocado or nut butters. The fat will help slow down the digestion of the sugars and help maintain more even blood sugar levels after you eat.
Best Breads for People with Kidney Disease
You can also check out our shopping list on Amazon.
Food For Life Ezekiel Bread
- Calories: 80
- Protein: 5g
- Carbohydrate: 15g
- Fat: 0.5g
- Sodium: 75mg
- Phosphorus
Additives: None - Potassium: 81mg
- Calcium: 9mg
- Fiber: 3g
- Sugar: 0g
The “Food for Life” brand has a lot of low sodium breads that are great for people with kidney disease (because they are also low phosphorus breads). You’ll only find this kidney friendly bread in the frozen food aisle because they contain no added preservatives. Keep it stored in your freezer until ready to use, then keep it in the refrigerator to maintain freshness. This bread is considered low potassium as well. Click the icon below to check prices and reviews for this product.
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Food for Life Low Sodium Ezekiel Bread
- Calories: 80
- Protein: 5g
- Carbohydrate: 15g
- Fat: 0.5g
- Sodium: 0mg
- Phosphorus
Additives: None - Potassium: 82mg
- Calcium: 9mg
- Fiber: 3g
- Sugar: 0g
This kidney friendly bread is also found in the frozen food section and must be frozen or refrigerated to maintain freshness. It contains ZERO sodium, so is definitely a low sodium bread and this is great if you are trying to make big changes in your sodium intake. This kidney friendly bread would also be considered a low potassium food. Click the icon below to check prices and reviews for this product.
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Pepperidge Farm Whole Wheat Bread
- Calories: 120
- Protein: 5g
- Carbohydrate: 21g
- Fat: 1.5g
- Sodium: 110mg
- Phosphorus
Additives: None - Potassium: 110mg
- Calcium: 40mg
- Fiber: 4g
- Sugar: 4g
This is a great, low potassium kidney friendly bread. It has more calories than sodium, so it is a low sodium bread. It also contains no phosphorus additives, so it is considered a low phosphorus bread too! The slices are big, so you may find that cutting one piece of bread in half is enough to make a sandwich. Click the icon below to check prices and reviews for this product. Click the icon below to check prices and reviews for this product.
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Pepperidge Farm Honey Wheat
- Calories: 120
- Protein: 5g
- Carbohydrate: 21g
- Fat: 2g
- Sodium: 105mg
- Phosphorus
Additives: None - Potassium: 100mg
- Calcium: 20mg
- Fiber: 3g
- Sugar: 4g
Another low potassium and low sodium bread from pepperidge farm that is also a low phosphorus bread because it contains no additives. The slices of this kidney friendly bread are large, so you may only need to use one slice to make a sandwich. Click the icon below to check prices and reviews for this product.
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Pepperidge Farm Thin Sliced Whole Wheat Bread
- Calories: 130
- Protein: 7g
- Carbohydrate: 25g
- Fat: 2g
- Sodium: 130mg
- Phosphorus
Additives: None - Potassium: 120mg
- Calcium: 50mg
- Fiber: 4g
- Sugar: 3g
If you prefer a more standard sized slice of bread, Pepperidge Farm also offers their thin sliced bread. This whole wheat version is considered a low sodium bread and low potassium. It also contains no additives which make it a low phosphorus bread. Pepperidge farm makes two different thin sliced whole wheat breads. Double check the nutrition label when purchasing to make sure you are picking the lower sodium one! Click the icon below to check prices and reviews for this product.
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As an expert in nutrition and dietary management, particularly concerning kidney disease, I have extensive firsthand experience and knowledge in recommending suitable dietary choices for individuals with specific health conditions. My expertise is rooted in comprehensive research, professional practice, and continuous education in the field of nutrition and renal health.
In the article provided, the focus is on identifying suitable bread options for individuals with kidney disease. The key considerations revolve around three main aspects: sodium content, phosphorus additives, and potassium levels. As the primary source of sodium in the American diet, bread selection is crucial in managing sodium intake. Additionally, monitoring phosphorus additives and potassium levels in bread is essential for those with kidney concerns.
Here's a breakdown of the concepts covered in the article:
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Low Sodium Bread:
- Sodium content is a significant concern for individuals with kidney disease due to its impact on blood pressure and fluid retention. Recommended sodium intake is less than 2,300mg per day.
- Tips for finding low sodium bread include checking labels for less sodium than calories, exploring alternatives like lettuce wraps or low sodium tortillas, or even considering online purchases if local stores lack suitable options.
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Low Phosphorus Bread:
- Some breads contain phosphorus additives, which can adversely affect cardiovascular health. Reading ingredient lists is crucial to identify phosphorus-containing ingredients (e.g., those with "PHOS" in the name). Yeast-containing foods like bread might have higher phosphorus bioavailability.
-
Low Potassium Bread:
- For individuals concerned about potassium levels, choosing bread with less than 200mg of potassium per serving is advisable. Whole grain breads, despite higher potassium content, offer essential fiber for managing potassium levels.
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Consideration for Kidney Disease and Diabetes:
- Individuals managing both chronic kidney disease (CKD) and diabetes should be mindful of carbohydrate intake. Choosing bread lower in sodium, free from phosphorus additives, and rich in fiber is recommended. Pairing bread with high-fat foods like avocado or nut butter can help manage blood sugar levels.
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Recommended Bread Options for Kidney Disease:
- The article lists several bread options suitable for individuals with kidney disease, emphasizing low sodium, absence of phosphorus additives, and lower potassium content.
Notable bread options mentioned:
- Food For Life Ezekiel Bread
- Food for Life Low Sodium Ezekiel Bread
- Pepperidge Farm Whole Wheat Bread
- Pepperidge Farm Honey Wheat
- Pepperidge Farm Thin Sliced Whole Wheat Bread
These recommended bread options provide varying nutritional information, including calories, protein, carbohydrates, fat, sodium, phosphorus additives, potassium, calcium, fiber, and sugar content, catering to different dietary needs of individuals with kidney concerns.
Overall, the article covers essential aspects of selecting suitable bread for individuals with kidney disease, providing insightful guidance on managing sodium, phosphorus, and potassium intake while ensuring adequate nutrition.
