For kidney health, macadamia nuts, pecans, and walnuts are excellent choices because they are lower in potassium, phosphorus, and oxalates compared to other nuts, providing healthy fats, antioxidants, and minerals without stressing the kidneys, but always consult a doctor or dietitian for personalized guidance on portion sizes.
The best choice depends on your individual health needs, but here are our top 3 kidney-friendly nuts:
Here are the top 5 nuts lowest in potassium per 1-oz serving: 🥇 Macadamia – 103 mg 🥈 Pecans – 116 mg 🥉 Walnuts – 125 mg 🏅 Cashews – 160 mg 🏅 Peanuts – 180 mg And yes — they're delicious, filling, and packed with fiber and healthy fats.
Kidney-friendly snacks at the grocery store
Top 15 Healthy Foods for People with Kidney Disease
Diabetes and high blood pressure are the top culprits damaging kidneys most, as they harm the delicate filtering blood vessels, leading to chronic kidney disease (CKD) and failure; other major factors include smoking, obesity, dehydration, poor diet (high sugar/salt/red meat), certain medications (NSAIDs), lack of sleep, and genetic conditions. These factors create a cycle where damaged kidneys worsen blood pressure, further damaging them.
To strengthen your kidneys, focus on a healthy lifestyle: stay hydrated with water, eat a balanced diet low in salt and processed foods, exercise regularly, avoid smoking and excessive alcohol, manage blood pressure and sugar, limit over-the-counter pain relievers (like NSAIDs), and maintain a healthy weight to support overall kidney function.
Acute kidney failure can be caused by factors like severe dehydration, infections, or blockages. The good news is that with the right treatment, it's often possible to reverse kidney disease in these cases. Your kidneys can return to normal function after the underlying issue is resolved.
Here's a breakdown of the six most common supplements people with CKD may need to support kidney health.
Yet while more than one in seven adults—or 37 million people—in the country have chronic kidney disease, most go undiagnosed. On top of that, diabetes and high blood pressure are the leading causes of kidney failure, accounting for three in four new cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
There's no medicine that can cure CKD, but medicine can help control many of the problems that cause the condition, the complications that can happen as a result of it and keep the kidneys working for longer. You may need to take medicine to treat or prevent the different problems caused by CKD.
The best drink for kidney repair and overall health is plain water, as it helps flush toxins, but mineral water, unsweetened green tea, black coffee (in moderation), low-potassium juices (like unsweetened cranberry), and herbal teas (like ginger or mint) are also great for variety and added benefits, while sugary sodas, alcohol, and coconut water should generally be avoided. Always consult a doctor for personalized advice, especially with kidney disease.
Kidney regeneration may occur through various steps, including cell reconstitution, matrix remodeling, and tissue reorganization. Cell reconstitution involves the proliferation and transdifferentiation of remnant healthy cells, renal progenitor cells, and/or stem cells.
If you have a history of calcium oxalate stones, talk with your doctor or kidney dietitian about the need to limit oxalates. Almonds, mixed nuts without peanuts, and sesame seeds are high in oxalates.
How to manage kidney disease by being active
Take action to prevent, delay, or manage CKD:
You can check kidney function at home using at-home test kits for urine (detecting protein/albumin) or finger-prick blood tests (checking creatinine/eGFR), often with smartphone apps for analysis, or by monitoring symptoms like increased nighttime urination (nocturia), swelling, or changes in urine (blood, foam) and discussing results with a doctor, as home tests screen but don't replace professional diagnosis.
Diabetes is the most common cause of kidney disease. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. But also heart disease and obesity can contribute to the damage that causes kidneys to fail. Urinary tract issues and inflammation in different parts of the kidney can also lead to long-term functional decline.
Diabetes and high blood pressure are the top culprits damaging kidneys most, as they harm the delicate filtering blood vessels, leading to chronic kidney disease (CKD) and failure; other major factors include smoking, obesity, dehydration, poor diet (high sugar/salt/red meat), certain medications (NSAIDs), lack of sleep, and genetic conditions. These factors create a cycle where damaged kidneys worsen blood pressure, further damaging them.
What are the signs of AKI recovery?
Establishing a Consistent Hydration Routine. Start your day with a glass of water and space your intake evenly. Contrary to popular belief, drinking water at night is bad for kidneys unless it leads to frequent nighttime urination that disrupts sleep.
For people with normal kidney function, drinking enough water can help your kidneys flush out waste more effectively. You can increase your water intake by: Keeping water nearby and setting reminders to drink throughout the day. Eating water-based foods like leafy greens, strawberries, and tomatoes.
Can I increase my GFR score?