Fruits And Juices That Are Good For The Kidneys

Fruit and fruit juice -- what could be better choices for snacking and sipping? But if you have health problems with your kidneys, fruits and juices are not all equally nourishing. You’ll have to limit or avoid some fruits, no matter how wholesome they may be for those whose kidneys are perfectly healthy. And in some cases, just the amount of water in fruits and juices could pose problems for you.

About Your Kidneys

Until you have kidney trouble, you never think about the important role these two fist-shaped organs play in keeping you healthy. Day after day, they filter hundreds of quarts of blood, straining out potentially damaging waste and preparing it to be released from your body. Waste and excess water exit as urine, leaving pure, chemically balanced blood to supply your organs and tissues.

Potassium Problems

One of the vital minerals your kidneys help to regulate is potassium. The National Kidney Foundation explains that potassium helps to regulate your heartbeat and keep your muscles healthy. But if you have kidney trouble, potassium in foods, including fruits, can build up to dangerous levels. Stick to single portions of low-potassium fruits, such as apples, apple juice, applesauce; blackberries, blueberries, cherries, cranberries, fruit cocktail, grapes, grape juice, peaches, plums, raspberries, strawberries, pineapple and pineapple juice.

Kidney Stones

You’ve probably heard that people prone to developing kidney stones must be careful with their diets. For example, organ meats and too much salt may cause more stones to develop. Some fruits on the “approved” list should be avoided as well. According to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse, you should stay away from grapefruit juice if you tend to develop calcium oxalate kidney stones. Also avoid cranberry juice, which contains oxalate and could cause more stones to form.

Dialysis Concerns

When your kidneys are extremely impaired or they stop working, dialysis treatments may become part of your life. A dialysis machine functions as sort of an artificial kidney, cleansing your blood and filtering waste. Though you won’t want to live without fruits and fruit juices, you’ll have to be extra careful about the extra water they add. Fluid buildup can cause swelling, raise your blood pressure and strain your heart, warns the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. One way to enjoy a limited amount of apple or pineapple juice is to freeze it and eat it like an ice pop.

Planning Your Diet

Your doctor and dietitian can help you plan your diet to include some fruits and fruit juices. For example, your doctor can measure your potassium levels and advise you on how cautious you need to be about that. You may have to avoid high-potassium bananas, figs and kiwi fruit. But you might be able to enjoy fruit desserts such as sherbets and ices, even apple or berry pie if you’re not diabetic and you need to put on some weight. Don’t drink the liquid from canned fruits, and be sure to keep serving sizes small.