Nourishing Your Kidneys: Dietary Choices For Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic kidney disease can be managed with a heart-healthy eating plan called DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension). The DASH Diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products, whole grains, fish, poultry, beans, seeds, and nuts. It is recommended by the National Kidney Foundation and approved by The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, The American Heart Association, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and also forms the basis for the USDA MyPyramid. If you have diabetes, you may also need to carefully track how many carbs you take in.

Choose whole grains and healthy carbs such as fruits and vegetables

When you have chronic kidney disease, it is best to choose whole grains and healthy carbs such as fruits and vegetables. Unhealthy carbs include sugar, honey, hard candies, soft drinks and other sugary drinks. If you have diabetes, you may also need to carefully track how many carbs you take in.

Fruits, breads, grains, and vegetables are a good source of energy and can be replaced for calories from protein.

The DASH Diet helps manage high blood pressure and kidney disease with fruits, veggies, whole grains, and low-fat dairy. The DASH Diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products, whole grains, fish, poultry, beans, seeds, and nuts.

Grill, broil, bake, roast, or stir-fry foods, instead of deep frying.

A cooked portion of chicken, fish, or meat is about 2 to 3 ounces or about the size of a deck of cards. A portion of dairy foods is ½ cup of milk or yogurt, or one slice of cheese.

Grill, broil, bake, roast, or stir-fry foods instead of deep frying

When you have chronic kidney disease, it is best to grill, broil, bake, roast, or stir-fry foods instead of deep frying. This is because frying adds fat to your food, which can build up in your blood vessels, heart, and kidneys.

Grilling, broiling, baking, roasting, and stir-frying are all healthier cooking methods that add less fat to your food.

Another tip is to eat small portions of protein foods. This is because protein produces waste when your body uses it, and your kidneys remove this waste. Eating more protein than you need may make your kidneys work harder.

If you have diabetes, you may also need to carefully track how many carbs you take in. Eating too many carbs can lead to weight gain. When you have kidney disease, it is best to choose whole grains and healthy carbs such as fruits and vegetables. Unhealthy carbs include sugar, honey, hard candies, soft drinks, and other sugary drinks.

The DASH Diet is a heart-healthy eating plan that can help manage high blood pressure and kidney disease. It is rich in fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products, whole grains, fish, poultry, beans, seeds, and nuts.

Eat small portions of protein foods

When you have chronic kidney disease, it is best to eat small portions of protein foods. Protein is found in foods from plants and animals. Most people eat both types of protein. Talk to your dietitian about how to choose the right combination of protein foods for you.

A cooked portion of chicken, fish, or meat is about 2 to 3 ounces or about the size of a deck of cards. A portion of dairy foods is ½ cup of milk or yogurt, or one slice of cheese. A portion of cooked beans is about ½ cup, and a portion of nuts is ¼ cup. A portion of bread is a single slice, and a portion of cooked rice or cooked noodles is ½ cup.

Eating more protein than you need may make your kidneys work harder. When your body uses protein, it produces waste. Your kidneys remove this waste.

Choose whole grains and healthy carbs such as fruits and vegetables. Unhealthy carbs include sugar, honey, hard candies, soft drinks and other sugary drinks. If you have diabetes, you may also need to carefully track how many carbs you take in. Your dietitian can help you learn more about the carbs in your eating plan and how they affect your blood sugar.

The ketogenic diet or "keto diet" is a type of low-carb diet that focuses on eating very low carbs, high fats and moderate protein amounts, so your body uses stored fat for energy instead of carbs.

The DASH Diet helps manage high blood pressure and kidney disease

The DASH Diet is a heart-healthy eating plan that helps manage high blood pressure and kidney disease. It is rich in fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products, whole grains, fish, poultry, beans, seeds, and nuts.

The DASH Diet is low in salt and sodium, added sugars and sweets, fat and red meats. It is high in potassium, a mineral that affects blood pressure, muscle function, and many vital processes in your body. Potassium is found in many foods including fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products.

The DASH Diet is not recommended for people on dialysis. People on dialysis have special diet needs that should be discussed with a registered dietitian specializing in kidney disease.

The DASH Diet is a recognized treatment for hypertension, heart disease, and kidney disease and can slow the progression of heart and kidney disease. It is low in saturated fat, such as fatty meats, full-fat dairy products, and tropical oils such as coconut, palm kernel, and palm oils.

The DASH Diet is recommended by the National Kidney Foundation and approved by The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, The American Heart Association, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and also forms the basis for the USDA MyPyramid.

Choose the right combination of protein foods for you

When you have chronic kidney disease, it is best to choose whole grains and healthy carbs such as fruits and vegetables. Unhealthy carbs include sugar, honey, hard candies, soft drinks, and other sugary drinks. If you have diabetes, you may also need to carefully track how many carbs you take in. The ketogenic diet or "keto diet" is a type of low-carb diet that focuses on eating very low carbs, high fats, and moderate protein amounts, so your body uses stored fat for energy instead of carbs.

A cooked portion of chicken, fish, or meat is about 2 to 3 ounces or about the size of a deck of cards. A portion of dairy foods is ½ cup of milk or yogurt, or one slice of cheese. A portion of cooked beans is about ½ cup, and a portion of nuts is ¼ cup. A portion of bread is a single slice, and a portion of cooked rice or cooked noodles is ½ cup.

When your body uses protein, it produces waste. Your kidneys remove this waste. Eating more protein than you need may make your kidneys work harder. Talk to your dietitian about how to choose the right combination of protein foods for you.

The DASH Diet helps manage high blood pressure and kidney disease with fruits, veggies, whole grains, and low-fat dairy. The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) Diet has been recommended by the National Kidney Foundation and approved by The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, The American Heart Association, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and also forms the basis for the USDA MyPyramid. The DASH Diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products, whole grains, fish, poultry, beans, seeds, and nuts.

If you do not have a problem eating carbohydrates, these foods are a good source of energy. If your provider has recommended a low-protein diet, you may replace the calories from protein with: Fruits, breads, grains, and vegetables.

Frequently asked questions