cereals. Pick those that do not contain dried fruit, nuts or chocolate. Good options include porridge, cornflakes, Rice Krispies, Weetabix, shredded wheat, Special K and Cheerios.
Healthy options for kidney disease are protein, egg whites, fish, unsaturated fats, fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, apple juice, grape and cranberry juice, light colored soda.
When your kidneys are not healthy, you need to limit certain foods such as nuts, tomatoes and chocolate that are high in potassium. You may feel some weakness, numbness and tingling if your potassium is at a high level.
While many kinds of cheese are high in phosphorus and sodium, there are lower phosphorus and sodium cheeses more suitable for people with kidney disease. Most cheeses are also high in saturated fat; but lower-fat versions of many cheeses are available.
Yes, you can still eat potatoes when you have kidney disease. Today, I'm sharing my favorite dairy free mashed potato recipe for you to try! The reason you may hear potatoes are “bad” for those with kidney disease is because they are high in potassium.
Some people with kidney disease, especially those with advanced stages of disease, do struggle with high blood potassium levels. If this is you, you can STILL enjoy potatoes occasionally. You just need to count them as one of your high potassium food choices.
I recommend whole grain, whole wheat or multigrain bread for people with kidney disease. Be careful to check the sodium in whatever bread you buy. Bread is a surprising source of salt! Historically, white bread was recommended because it has less phosphorus in it.
If you have CKD Stage 3 then one of the most important things you can do is to eat a healthy balanced diet with a variety of fruit and veggies, including tomatoes! If you have not been advised that you need a low potassium diet, then there is absolutely no need for you to stop eating tomatoes.
Eggs: perfect for meals or snacks
Eggs are the perfect protein for people with kidney disease. Keep hard-boiled eggs on hand but turn up the flavor meter and switch things up. “Deviled eggs are a great side snack,” says Chef McCargo.
Limit protein in all stages of kidney disease. Limit the portion sizes of protein you eat to limit the amount of work your kidneys have to do. Foods that are high in protein are meat, poultry (chicken and turkey), fish, eggs, and dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt).
The key is to stick to high-quality dark chocolate in small amounts: 20–30 grams daily with pure cocoa levels of 85% and above will provide the most benefits. Avoid candy bars and milk chocolate as they are high in ingredients that can worsen kidney disease.
Pastas that are low in protein and sodium are also available to help people with their kidney diet.
Yogurt is packed with protein, a nutrient in high demand for dialysis patients. It's also a good source of calcium and vitamin D. Although high in potassium and phosphorus, dietitians may recommend limiting to a 4-ounce portion if you are following a low-potassium, low-phosphorus kidney diet.
Conclusions: About half of the patients with stage 3 CKD progressed to stage 4 or 5, as assessed by eGFR, over 10 years.
Greek yogurt is high in phosphorus and potassium, which some people with kidney disease need to limit in their diet. However, it is also a good source of protein, which people on dialysis need. Protein sources contain phosphorus naturally, so a good guide to use is the phosphorus-to-protein ratio.
Carrots and the Kidneys
Research shows that beta carotene is one of the best nutrients for helping the kidneys flush out toxins. Beta carotene, which the body converts to Vitamin A, also has anti-inflammatory properties and is especially helpful for preventing and managing urinary tract infections.
Choose soy, almond, cashew, or rice milk for less phosphorus and less potassium than cow's milk. Avoid cow's milk substitutes that are "Enriched" or have the word phosphorus or "phos" in the ingredient list. For a change, try hot cereal like oatmeal, cream of wheat, cream of rice, or Malto-meal.