Kidneys are paired organs that help keep your blood chemically balanced and clean. Each day, a person's kidneys process roughly 200 quarts of blood and remove about 2 quarts of waste products and water, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Injuries and illnesses, such as kidney disease, can impair kidney function. Although changing your diet will not restore kidney function, eating certain foods and avoiding others may slow the progression of kidney disease, guard against complications and enhance your wellness.
Low-Potassium Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are top sources of antioxidants, which support your body's ability to resist and heal from infections and disease. Because failing kidneys may have difficulty regulating proper potassium levels in the body, your doctor may suggest limiting potassium-rich foods. To maintain low potassium intake, the NKUDIC recommends replacing fruits and vegetables high in potassium, such as oranges, bananas, kiwi, sweet potatoes, beans and cooked spinach, with lower-potassium varieties such as apples, canned fruit, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, pineapple, plums, cabbage, cauliflower, mustard greens and broccoli.
Starches
Starches, such as breads, pasta and rice, provide valuable amounts of glucose, which is your body's main dietary source of energy. If you have diabetes or carry excess body weight, your doctor may suggest limiting starches. Otherwise, starches provide useful alternatives to protein-rich foods, which may be limited before dialysis treatments. If your doctor suggests limiting phosphorus, which is more common in later-stage kidney disease, consume rice and corn-based cereals instead of bran-based cereals. Pasta and rice are also low in phosphorus. Avoid high-sodium starches, such as pretzels, crackers and salted popcorn, which may worsen kidney health.
Protein-Rich Foods
Protein enhances tissue repair, physical strength and immune function. Before dialysis treatments, your doctor may suggest a moderate-protein diet, which limits protein to 1 g of protein per kilogram of body weight per day. Once dialysis begins, your protein needs increase and you may require protein-rich foods, such as fish, poultry or eggs, at each meal, according to the UMMC. Even if your protein intake is limited, consuming modest amounts of nutritious sources is important. Lower-protein alternatives to meat and seafood include egg substitute, shrimp, tofu, imitation crab meat and beef stew.
Healthy Fats
Fats provides energy and helps your body transport and absorb fat-soluble nutrients, such as the antioxidant vitamin E. Because saturated and trans-fats, prevalent in fried foods, red and processed meats, stick margarine and commercially-prepared cakes, cookies and pastries, can increase cholesterol and lead to clogged arteries, the NKUDIC recommends eating heart-healthy sources such as vegetable oils. Top breads and salads with olive or canola oil instead of butter or high-fat creamy salad dressing, and grill fish, tofu and other foods in vegetable oil instead of butter.
References
- National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse; The Kidneys and How They Work; Feb. 2009
- National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse; Nutrition for Later Chronic Kidney Disease in Adults; Jan. 2006
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Diet: Chronic Kidney Disease; Parul Patel, MD; Oct. 5, 2009
