Foods to Eat with Kidney Disease

Antioxidant-rich foods can aid in the body’s defense against free radicals. People on dialysis or those with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have access to many foods in the kidney diet that guard against oxidation. Because persons with kidney illness experience increased inflammation and have a higher risk for cardiovascular disease, eating foods high in antioxidants as part of your kidney diet and consulting with a kidney dietitian are crucial.

Foods to Eat with Kidney Disease

Overall, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and moderate quantities of protein, exercising regularly, and addressing underlying medical issues are the best strategies to keep your kidneys functioning well. However, if you have kidney disease, a renal diet can help reduce the condition’s progression before it worsens.

Reference: Plant-Based Diets for Kidney Disease: A Guide for Clinicians

Red Bell Peppers

Red bell pepper, 1/2 cup serving, has 1 mg of sodium, 88 mg of potassium, and 10 mg of phosphorus.

Red bell peppers are excellent for the kidney diet for a number of reasons, not the least of which is their low potassium content and great flavor. In addition to being delicious, these vegetables are a great source of fiber, and vitamins B6, C, and A. Because they contain lycopene, an antioxidant that helps prevent some cancers, red bell peppers are healthy.

Red bell peppers can be used for tuna or chicken salad or eaten raw with a dip as a snack or an appetizer. Additionally, you can cut peppers for an omelet, add them to kabobs on the grill, roast peppers as a topping for sandwiches or lettuce salads, stuff peppers with ground beef or turkey and bake them as a main meal.

Cabbage

Green cabbage serving size equals 6 mg of sodium, 60 mg of potassium, and 9 mg of phosphorus.

Cabbage, a cruciferous vegetable, is bursting with phytochemicals, chemical substances found in fruits or vegetables that disperse free radicals before they can harm. Numerous phytochemicals are also known to support cardiovascular health and protect cells from the cellular deterioration that could cause cancer.

Cabbage is a good source of fiber, vitamins K, C, and B6, as well as B vitamins B6 and folic acid. It’s inexpensive for the kidney diet because it’s low in potassium and cost.

When used as coleslaw or as a garnish for fish tacos, raw cabbage is a fantastic addition to the dialysis diet. It can be steamed, microwaved, boiled, or served as a side dish with butter, cream cheese, pepper, or caraway seeds. If you’re feeling sophisticated, you can stuff a cabbage with ground pork and bake it for a tasty meal loaded with nutrients. Turkey-filled cabbage rolls make a terrific appetizer.

Cauliflower

Boiling cauliflower for one serving equals 9 mg of sodium, 88 mg of potassium, and 20 mg of phosphorus.

Cauliflower, another cruciferous vegetable, is rich in vitamin C and a good source of fiber and folate. Indoles, glucosinolates, and thiocyanates are abundant; these molecules aid the liver in neutralizing poisons that can harm DNA and cell membranes.

Serve it raw with a dip or steamed or boiled and seasoned with spices like turmeric, curry powder, pepper, and herb seasonings. You may also add it to a salad. A non-dairy white sauce can also be prepared, poured over the cauliflower, and baked until soft. Cauliflower can be used with pasta or even mashed to substitute for mashed potatoes in a dialysis diet.

Garlic

1 mg of sodium, 12 mg of potassium, and 4 mg of phosphorus in one clove of garlic

Garlic lowers cholesterol, soothes inflammation, and contains antibacterial qualities that help prevent plaque from accumulating on teeth.

Add it to pasta, vegetable, or meat recipes whether you buy it fresh, in a bottle, minced, or powdered. A head of roasted garlic can also be smeared on bread. In the dialysis diet, garlic powder works well in place of garlic salt since it adds a delightful flavor.

Onions

3 mg of sodium, 116 mg of potassium, and 3 mg of phosphorus per 1/2 cup of onion.

The sulfur compounds in onions, an Allium family member and a staple ingredient in many cooked meals, give them their strong aroma. Onions are high in flavonoids, including quercetin, a potent antioxidant that may lower heart disease, defend against many malignancies, and make some individuals cry. Onions are a high source of chromium, a mineral that aids in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, and they are low in potassium.

Use several types of onions, such as white, brown, red, and others. Onions can be eaten raw on salads, burgers, and sandwiches or cooked and used as a caramelized topping. Try creating your own onion rings if you have an air fryer. When making dishes like Italian Beef with Peppers and Onions, add onions.

Apples

1 medium apple has 158 mg of potassium, 10 mg of phosphorus, and 0 mg of sodium.

Apples may lower cholesterol, decrease constipation, prevent heart disease, and lower the risk of developing cancer. Apples are high in fiber and anti-inflammatory ingredients, which is good news for kidney disease sufferers who already make a lot of doctor’s appointments.

A unique Apple Onion Omelet can be created with this kidney diet winner and the prior healthy food, onions. Apples have several uses. They can be raw, roasted, stewed, or made into apple sauce, juice, or cider.

Cranberries

3 mg of sodium, 22 mg of potassium, and 3 mg of phosphorus per 1/2 cup portion of cranberry juice cocktail. Cranberry sauce serving size is 35 mg of sodium, 17 mg of potassium, and 6 mg of phosphorus. Dried cranberries, 1/2 cup serving, contain 2 mg of sodium, 24 mg of potassium, and 5 mg of phosphorus.

These tart, delicious berries may guard against bladder infections by preventing bacteria from adhering to the bladder wall. Cranberries may shield the stomach from germs that cause ulcers and enhance the balance of beneficial gut bacteria, supporting GI health. Cranberries are also demonstrated to aid in preventing cancer and heart disease.

The most popular cranberry products are cranberry sauce and cranberry juice. Dried cranberries can also be eaten as a snack or added to salads.

Blueberries

Fresh blueberries in 1/2 cup equal 4 mg of sodium, 65 mg of potassium, and 7 mg of phosphorus.

The antioxidant phytonutrients that give blueberries their blue color are known as “anthocyanidins,” They are brimming with anti-inflammatory natural substances. Blueberries are a wonderful source of vitamin C, fiber, and manganese, which helps to maintain the health of your bones. They might also shield the brain from some of aging’s consequences. Blueberries and other berries include antioxidants that may help reduce bone loss.

Try blueberries in cereal or a fruit smoothie with whipped topping after purchasing them fresh, frozen, or dried. Additionally, blueberry juice is an option.

Raspberry

93 mg potassium, 7 mg phosphorus, and 0 mg sodium per 1/2 cup of raspberries.

Raspberries are rich in ellagic acid, a phytonutrient that helps the body combat free radicals and stops cell damage. Additionally, they contain the antioxidant flavonoids known as “anthocyanins,” which give them their red hue. Raspberries, a good source of manganese, vitamin C, fiber, and folate, a B vitamin, may have qualities that prevent the development of tumors and the growth of cancer cells.

Raspberries can be mixed into cereal, pureed and sweetened to create a dessert sauce, or blended into vinaigrette dressing.

Berries

Medium-sized strawberries in a 1/2 cup portion provide 1 mg of sodium, 120 mg of potassium, and 13 mg of phosphorus.

Anthocyanins and ellagitannins, two different phenols, are abundant in strawberries. Strawberries’ red hue is caused by anthocyanins, potent antioxidants that assist in safeguarding bodily cell structures and stopping oxidative damage. Strawberries are a fantastic source of fiber, vitamin C, manganese, and other micronutrients. In addition to having anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties, they might offer cardiac protection.

Strawberries go well with cereal, smoothies, and salads. They can also be sliced fresh and served with whipped topping. You can purée and sweeten strawberries to serve as a dessert, or you can prepare strawberry pudding or sorbet.

Cherries

Fresh sweet cherries in a portion of 1/2 cup include no sodium, 160 mg of potassium, and 15 mg of phosphorus.

When consumed regularly, cherries have been demonstrated to lessen inflammation. Additionally, they are rich in phytochemicals and antioxidants that support heart health.

As a snack, consume fresh cherries or prepare a cherry sauce to accompany lamb or pig. Another way to enjoy this delectable dish is by drinking cherry juice.

Red Grapes

1 mg of sodium, 88 mg of potassium, and 4 mg of phosphorus are found in 1/2 cup red grapes.

Numerous flavonoids in red grapes give them their scarlet hue. By lowering blood clot formation and avoiding oxidation, flavonoids can prevent heart disease. A flavonoid in grapes called resveratrol may also encourage the creation of nitric oxide, which helps relax blood vessel muscle cells and improve blood flow. These flavonoids also aid to reduce inflammation and offer protection against cancer.

Purchase grapes with red or purple skin because they have higher anthocyanin levels. Freeze them for individuals on a fluid restriction for the dialysis diet to eat as a snack or to alleviate thirst. Incorporate grapes into a fruit or chicken salad. Try a special turkey kabob recipe for the kidney diet that includes grapes. Additionally, you can drink them as grape juice.

Egg White

1 egg white has 7 grams of protein, 110 mg of sodium, 108 mg of potassium, and 10 mg of phosphorus.

Egg whites are a source of high-quality, pure protein that contains all nine essential amino acids. Egg whites offer protein for the kidney diet with less phosphorus than other protein sources like egg yolks or meats.

Purchase fresh, pasteurized, or powdered egg whites. You can add pasteurized egg whites to smoothies or shakes, make deviled egg snacks, make omelets, make egg white sandwiches, or add hard-boiled egg whites to tuna salad or garden salad to boost the protein content.

Fish

50 mg sodium, 368 mg potassium, and 274 mg phosphorus are included in 3 ounces of wild salmon.

High-quality protein and “omega-3s”—anti-inflammatory fats—can be found in fish. Fish’s heart-healthy fats can aid in the fight against conditions like cancer and heart disease. High-density lipoprotein, or HDL cholesterol, which is good cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein, or LDL cholesterol, which is harmful cholesterol, are both increased by omega-3 fatty acids.

Eating fish at least twice a week is advised by the American Heart Association1 and the American Diabetes Association2. Whitefish, striped bass, herring, mackerel, rainbow trout, and salmon are the fish with the greatest omega-3 fatty acids.

Olive Oil

Less than 1 mg of sodium, less than 1 mg of potassium, and 0 mg of phosphorus per tablespoon of olive oil.

Oleic acid, an anti-inflammatory fatty acid, is abundant in olive oil. Olive oil’s monounsaturated fat aids in oxidation resistance. Polyphenols and antioxidant chemicals found in the olive oil help to reduce inflammation and oxidation.

According to studies, populations that use a lot of olive oil instead of other oils have reduced cancer and heart disease risks.

Olive oils with higher antioxidant content should be purchased, such as extra virgin or virgin. Use olive oil for dipping bread, frying, salad dressing, or marinating vegetables.

Are Low-Sodium Meals Good for the Kidneys?

You can eat various low-sodium foods, such as salads and soups. Avoid processed foods and fast food because they frequently have high salt levels. Additionally, pick unsalted butter over salted. Even if many manufactured meals have a decent flavor, you might want to try a few different spices and seasonings to see which ones have the least salt. Additionally, think about cooking at home, where you have more control over the salt content of your meals.

You must be careful of what is concealed in these foods because sodium is present in many foods. To prevent hidden sodium, look for the terms “no salt added” or “reduced” on food labels. The salt content of foods with this designation is less than 5 mg per serving. 400 milligrams of sodium per serving is the threshold for high-sodium foods. To avoid consuming too much sodium, go for homemade meals and snacks. Alternatively, you can add herbs or spices to your dish to season it. And remember to take any salt off the table because many beverages and drinks have extra sodium.

Can the Kidney Regenerate on its Own?

It was previously believed that kidney cells stopped reproducing once the organ was fully developed, but recent findings indicate that the kidneys continue to regenerate and repair themselves throughout life. A recent study disproves long-held theories and demonstrates that kidneys may regenerate independently.

What Causes Renal Failure Primarily?

Kidney disease is most frequently brought on by diabetes. Diabetes of both types 1 and 2. However, obesity and heart disease can also contribute to the harm that results in renal failure. Long-term functional decline can also be brought on by problems with the urinary system and inflammation in various kidney regions.

What Color is Urine in Kidney Failure?

Due to the increasing concentration and accumulation of chemicals in failing kidneys, urine takes on a deeper hue that might be brown, red, or purple. The aberrant protein or sugar, the abundance of red and white blood cells, and the number of cellular casts, which are tube-shaped particles, cause the color change.

Conclusion

You can eat numerous things even if you have kidney illness, but finding the proper balance will depend on your situation. Start with foods that are low in salt. Other excellent options include dark berries and skinless poultry. If you don’t like white potatoes, you can substitute sweet potatoes. Just be sure to verify the items you choose for salt levels. Additionally, stay away from fried foods with a lot of sodium.