Diet for Kidney Disease

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KEY POINTS

• When you have kidney failure, your body can’t keep a healthy balance of water and minerals, or get rid of wastes.
• When you have kidney disease, eating the right amount of protein, sodium, potassium, and phosphorus may help control the buildup of waste and fluid in your blood. Your kidneys will not have to work as hard to remove the extra waste and fluid. Ask your provider to refer you to a dietitian to help you plan meals that include the right foods.

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What is chronic kidney disease?

Chronic kidney disease causes damage to the kidneys slowly over time and may cause kidney failure. Kidney failure is a shutdown of your kidneys. Acute kidney failure happens suddenly when your kidneys don’t get enough blood flow to work properly or are damaged in some way.

The kidneys are inside your belly, on either side of your spine just above your waist. They make urine by removing waste products, extra salt and other minerals, and water from the blood. As long as you have at least one kidney that is working, your body can filter enough blood and make enough urine to keep you healthy.

When you have kidney failure:

• Your body cannot get rid of wastes.
• Your body cannot keep a healthy balance of water and minerals.
• Your kidneys may make more urine, less urine, or no urine at all.

What changes should I make in my diet?

When you have kidney disease, your diet may need to change over time, depending on how well your kidneys are working. If you also have diabetes or a heart problem, you may need a diet that helps with those conditions too.

When you have kidney disease, eating the right amount of protein, sodium, potassium, and phosphorus may help control the buildup of waste and fluid in your blood. Your kidneys will not have to work as hard to remove the extra waste and fluid. Ask your provider to refer you to a dietitian to help you plan meals that include the right foods.

Sodium, potassium, phosphorous, and calcium are minerals in the blood that are called electrolytes. Electrolytes help control the amount of fluid in your body and the way your muscles, nerves, and other cells work. The balance of electrolytes in your body can be affected by diet, how much water you drink, and problems with your kidneys.

Sodium

Too much salt in your diet can lead to too much sodium in the blood and cause health problems. For example:

• Your body may keep too much water. This may cause swelling of your hands, feet, and belly.
• Your blood pressure may get too high. High blood pressure increases your risk for heart disease and stroke.

Your kidneys help control how much sodium is in your body. Your dietitian or healthcare provider can tell you the right amount of sodium you should have each day.

Potassium

Normally, your kidneys keep potassium in a normal range. When you have kidney disease, your kidneys may not be able to get rid of extra potassium. High potassium levels may cause muscle weakness or dangerous abnormal heartbeats. Medicines such as ACE inhibitors can help protect your kidneys, but can also raise the amount of potassium in your blood.

Some examples of foods high in potassium are:

• Fruits such as apricots, bananas, mangoes, melons, kiwis, oranges, prunes, and raisins
• Yogurt, cow’s milk, soy milk, and low-fat cottage cheese
• Nuts and nut butter
• Sunflower seeds
• Vegetables such as avocados, broccoli, lima beans, Brussels sprouts, pumpkin, tomatoes, Swiss chard, sweet potatoes, and baked potatoes
• All meat, including chicken, soy products and fish such as cod, salmon, and sardines

Your dietitian or healthcare provider can tell you the right amount of potassium you should have each day.

Phosphorus

Phosphorus is a chemical your body needs to get energy from the food you eat. It’s also important for healthy bones. When your kidneys are not working properly, phosphorus can build up in your blood and cause your bones to get weaker. Your dietitian or healthcare provider can tell you if you need to limit foods that are high in phosphorus, such as beans, peas, organ meats, and dairy products.

Calcium

Calcium is a mineral that is very important for heart health, bone health, teeth, nerves, muscles, and blood clotting. Foods that are high in phosphorus are also good sources of calcium. Your dietitian or healthcare provider will tell you if you need to limit calcium. Talk to your healthcare provider before taking any vitamin D or calcium supplements.

Protein

Proteins are a kind of building block found in every cell of your body. Your body uses protein to build and repair skin, muscles, and organs. Protein is found in foods such as meats, poultry, fish, beans, soy products, nuts, and seeds. You can tell how much protein is in a food by reading the nutrition facts food label.

If you have kidney disease, too much protein can cause waste to build up in your blood. Your kidneys may not be able to remove all the extra waste. The amount of protein you need is based on your body size, the condition of your kidneys, and the amount of protein that may be in your urine. Your dietitian or healthcare provider can tell you how much protein you should eat.

Liquids

If your kidney disease is not severe, you may not need to limit the amount of liquid you drink. If your kidney disease gets worse, your dietitian or healthcare provider will tell you how much you should drink each day.

Weight control

Too many calories cause weight gain, which makes your kidneys work harder. If you are overweight, weight loss may help your kidneys work better. However, when you have kidney disease, talk with your healthcare provider before you start any diet to lose weight. Some diets, such as high-protein/low-carbohydrate diets, can worsen kidney function and cause waste products to build up.

Too few calories can cause breakdown of muscle and put you at risk for infections.

Vitamins and minerals

Vitamins and minerals are chemicals that your body cannot make on its own and that are needed in tiny amounts to stay healthy. A healthy diet is the best way to get these nutrients. When you need to limit some foods because you have kidney disease, you may need to take vitamin or mineral supplements. You should only take the supplement your dietitian or healthcare provider tells you to take. Some supplements are harmful when you have kidney disease.

With the right diet, you can help keep kidney disease from getting worse and help prevent other problems. Follow your healthcare provider's advice carefully about what foods to eat and how much liquid to drink. Ask your provider to refer you to a dietitian to help you plan meals that include the right foods.