What is The Renal Diet?
The Renal Diet is a special way of eating for those with chronic kidney disease, who are not on dialysis. It's a way of eating that will allow the kidneys to do their work and not sustain further damage.
It is prescribed differently depending on the stage of kidney disease, blood work results and other factors such as prescriptions the patient may be on. The diet is created for each patient, in order to prevent a buildup of toxins in the body, which are cleared away by healthy kidneys. It also works to reduce the workload of the kidneys, and importantly, it meets all of your nutritional needs.
Generally speaking a renal diet restricts your input of sodium, protein, fluid, potassium and phosphorus. With CKD, your kidneys are no longer working properly. They are failing to filter your blood, and that means certain toxins and nutrients can build up to dangerous levels.
For example, if potassium builds up too much in your body, it can cause shakiness, restless leg syndrome, and even heart problems. Too much sodium buildup can cause fluid retention and high blood pressure. Too much phosphorus leaches calcium from your bones, weakening them.
Protein needs to be limited because your kidneys can no longer process the waste products from those foods. Fluids often need to be limited in the renal diet to avoid increased blood pressure and edema (which is swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in your body's tissues).
Ok, that all sounds overwhelming. Many people on a renal diet are unsure what they can and can't eat, and it's critically important to follow the directions of your dietitian and doctor. MagicKitchen.com can help, with their renal-friendly meals. There are nutritional panels on the website for each meal, so you can send the links to your dietitian if you're concerned.
Tips for Eating Right on The Renal Diet
When you have CKD, you'll want to eat right to protect your kidneys. Here are some tips from dietitians.
Limit Potassium
Potassium is a mineral found in a number of foods. It's necessary for proper muscle function, but can build up in the bloodstream if your kidneys are damaged. You want to make the right food choices to manage potassium levels.
Here are some high potassium foods to avoid:
- Avocados
- Bananas
- Melons
- Oranges
- Prunes
- Raisins
- Artichokes
- Winter Squash
- Plantains
- Spinach
- Potatoes
- Tomatoes
- Bran Products
- Granola
- Beans (baked, black, pinto)
- Brown Rice or Wild Rice
- Peanut Butter
- Chinese Cabbage
- Salt Substitutes/Lite Salt
And here are some low potassium choices.
- Lean Beef
- Chicken
- Cauliflower- use as a mashed potato substitute.
- Blueberries
- Sea Bass
- Red Grapes
- White breads, Pitas, Tortillas
- Egg Whites
- Garlic
- Apples
- Cranberries
- Strawberries
- Pineapple
- Onions
- Radishes
- Peppers
- Summer Squash - Spiralize it! With a roasted red pepper sauce.
- Lettuce
- White Rice
Limit Phosphorus
Phosphorus is another mineral found in many foods. It, along with calcium, help keep your bones healthy. But like potassium, it can build up in your system when your kidneys are unable to properly process it. Generally, for people on a renal diet, 800 to 1000 mg of phosphorus per day is the limit.
Here are some high phosphorus foods to avoid:
- Beer and Ale
- Dark Colas
- Chocolate
- Cheese
- Milk
- Cream Soups
- Pudding
- Yogurt (except Greek Yogurt is ok)
- Oysters
- Organ meats
- Sardines
- Pizza
- Most processed foods
- Most canned foods
- Nuts & seeds
- Peanut butter and other nut butters
- Legumes like dried peas, navy beans pinto beans, lentils
And here are some low phosphorus choices.
- Rice Milk (unenriched)
- Cream Cheese
- Sherbet, Sorbet
- White Bread
- Crackers
- Cereals
- White Rice
- Pasta
- English Muffins
- Green Peas, Green Beans
- Lean beef, chicken, seafood
- Popcorn
- Pretzels
- Jam or jelly
- Honey
- Jelly beans & hard candy
- Gumdrops
Limit Protein
Protein and its by-products are hard for the kidneys to clean away as well. Many people find that food doesn't taste the same when they have kidney disease, and may not like to eat much protein anyway. It's important to keep up your albumin levels for good health. Your albumin level should be 4.0 g/dL or higher.
Here are some high Protein foods to avoid:
- Red meat
- Poultry
- Fish
- Eggs
And here are some low Protein choices.
- Bread
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Pasta and rice
Limit Fluids
People in the later stages of Chronic Kidney Disease should limit their intake of fluid, because at that stage, your kidneys can no longer remove fluid from the body. But you may be surprised as what counts as fluid.
Obviously liquids like water, coffee, juice, tea and sodas are fluids. But your allowance count should also include fruits, soups, vegetables, sherbets, meat and bread.
Davita provides a list of kidney-friendly foods that contain fluid but don't count towards your allowance, listed below.
- Apples
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Celery
- Cherries
- Cranberries
- Cucumbers
- Eggplants
- Grapes
- Lettuce
- Peaches
- Pears
- Peppers
- Pineapple
- Plums
- Strawberries
- Tangerines
- Zucchini
Limit Sodium
Especially if you are limiting your fluids, you will want to keep sodium down on the renal diet. Too much sodium causes thirst, and can cause high blood pressure and fluid weight gain. Fluid retention can become very serious, even life threatening. Generally you want to keep sodium to 2000mg per day.
Here are some tips for eating less sodium, while keeping food interesting.
- Avoid Fast Food
- Avoid Cured Meats like bacon and corned beef
- Avoid pickles and Sauerkraut
- Do use herbs and spices to make your meals taste more interesting, but avoid low-salt or lite salt products, as they can be high in potassium
- Check for sodium on the nutrition label of food packages
- Cook foods from scratch instead of eating prepared foods
- Try black pepper, lemon juice and vinegar to bring out the flavor of foods.