What type of food plan should I follow if I have kidney disease?
People with kidney disease may need to control these important nutrients: sodium, potassium and phosphorus. Please discuss your specific and individual diet needs with your healthcare provider or the registered dietitian at your dialysis center. Here are some tips to follow for a renal diet.
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What should I know about sodium and salt if I follow a renal diet?
Sodium is a mineral found in salt (sodium chloride). It’s widely used to prepare foods.
Salt is one of the most commonly used seasonings. It’ll take time for you to get used to reducing the salt in your diet. However, reducing salt/sodium is an important tool in controlling your kidney disease.
Here are some suggestions.
- Don’t use salt when cooking food.
- Don’t put salt on food when you eat.
- Learn to read food labels. Avoid foods that have more than 300mg sodium per serving (or 600mg for a complete frozen dinner). Avoid foods that have salt in the first four or five items in the ingredient list.
- Don’t eat ham, bacon, sausage, hot dogs, lunch meats, chicken tenders or nuggets, or regular canned soup. Only eat reduced-sodium soups that don’t have potassium chloride as an ingredient (check the food label.) Also, only eat 1 cup, not the whole can.
- Choose only canned vegetables that say “no salt added” on the label.
- Don’t use flavored salts such as garlic salt, onion salt, or seasoned salt. Don’t use kosher or sea salt.
- Be sure to look for lower salt or no salt added options for your favorite foods such as peanut butter or box mixes.
- Don’t purchase refrigerated or frozen meats that are packaged in a solution or those that have been flavored or pre-seasoned. These items can include boneless chicken and bone-in chicken pieces, turkey breast, whole turkeys, steaks, roasts, burgers, pork tenderloin and pork chops.
What should I know about potassium if I follow a renal diet?
Potassium is a mineral involved in how muscles work. When your kidneys don’t work properly, potassium builds up in your blood. This can cause changes in how your heart beats and possibly even lead to a heart attack.
Potassium is found mainly in fruits and vegetables, as well as milk and meats. You’ll need to avoid certain fruits and vegetables and limit the amount of others.
Potassium-rich foods to avoid
These include:
- Melons such as cantaloupe and honeydew. (Watermelon is OK.)
- Bananas.
- Oranges and orange juice.
- Avocado.
- Prune juice.
- Tomatoes, tomato sauce and tomato juice.
- Dried beans — all kinds.
- Pumpkin and winter squash.
- Cooked greens, spinach, kale, collards and Swiss chard.
- Broccoli and Brussels sprouts.
- Nuts and nut butters.
You should also avoid:
- Bran cereals and granola.
- Salt substitutes or “lite” salt.
- Molasses.
Canned fruits
Canned fruits usually have lower amounts of potassium than fresh ones. Be sure to pour off the juice before you eat the fruit.
Potatoes and sweet potatoes
Potatoes and sweet potatoes need special handling to allow you to eat them in small amounts. Peel them, cut them into small slices or cubes and soak them for several hours in a large amount of water.
When you're ready to cook them, pour the soaking water off and use a large amount of water in the pan. Drain this water before you prepare them to eat.
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What should I know about phosphorus in my diet if I follow a renal diet?
Phosphorus is another mineral that can build up in your blood when your kidneys don’t work properly. When this happens, calcium can be pulled from your bones and can collect in your skin or blood vessels. Bone disease can then become a problem, making you more likely to have a bone break.
Tips to limit phosphorus in your diet
Dairy foods are the major source of phosphorus in the diet, so limit milk to 1 cup per day. If you use yogurt or cheese instead of liquid milk, have only one container of yogurt or 1.5 ounces of cheese per day.
Some vegetables also contain phosphorus. Limit these to 1 cup per week:
- Dried beans.
- Greens.
- Broccoli.
- Mushrooms.
- Brussels sprouts.
Certain cereals should be limited to 1 serving per week. These are:
- Bran.
- Wheat cereals.
- Oatmeal.
- Granola.
White or Italian bread and low-salt crackers made with white flour have less phosphorus than whole-grain bread and crackers.
Soft drinks contain phosphorus, so only drink clear ones. Don’t drink Mountain Dew® (any kind), colas, root beers, Dr.Pepper® (any kind). Also, avoid Hawaiian Punch®, Fruitworks®, Cool® iced tea, and Aquafina® tangerine pineapple.
Beer also has phosphorus. Avoid all kinds.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
We all need to pay attention to what we eat. If you have kidney disease, following a renal diet gives you more control over how you feel. Work with your providers and dietitian because you’re the most important part of your healthcare team.
To establish my expertise, let's delve into the specifics of managing a renal diet for individuals with kidney disease, focusing on sodium, potassium, and phosphorus regulation.
Sodium plays a crucial role in kidney disease management. Excessive sodium intake can exacerbate hypertension and fluid retention, common complications in kidney disease. The guidance provided in the article aligns with standard recommendations for reducing sodium intake:
- Limit Salt Usage: Advising against using salt while cooking or adding it to meals directly is essential to curbing sodium intake.
- Read Food Labels: Monitoring sodium content in packaged foods, aiming for products containing no more than 300mg of sodium per serving, assists in making informed choices.
- Avoid High-Sodium Foods: Discouraging consumption of processed meats, canned soups, flavored salts, and certain vegetables helps minimize sodium intake.
- Opt for Low-Sodium Options: Choosing low-sodium or no-salt-added alternatives for common foods like peanut butter contributes to managing sodium levels.
Potassium regulation is another critical aspect of a renal diet. In kidney disease, impaired kidney function leads to potassium retention, potentially affecting heart health. The article offers advice on managing potassium intake:
- Limit Potassium-Rich Foods: Fruits like bananas, oranges, and tomatoes, as well as vegetables such as spinach and broccoli, are rich in potassium and should be moderated or avoided.
- Special Handling for Potatoes: Potatoes and sweet potatoes, despite their potassium content, can be consumed in small amounts with proper preparation involving peeling, soaking, and draining to reduce potassium content.
Phosphorus control is equally crucial for individuals with kidney disease:
- Manage Phosphorus Intake: Limiting phosphorus from dairy products, specific vegetables, cereals, and even certain soft drinks and beers aids in preventing bone-related complications associated with kidney disease.
Overall, a renal diet involves meticulous monitoring of sodium, potassium, and phosphorus intake to alleviate symptoms and manage the progression of kidney disease. Always consult healthcare providers or registered dietitians for personalized dietary recommendations tailored to individual health conditions and needs.
