Healthy kidneys are responsible for cleaning the circulatory system and preventing chemical imbalances in the bloodstream. Along with the liver, the kidneys ensure that humans can get the right nutrients from their food and live long lives. Kidney disease has many causes, but it always results in damage to the kidney and its function. For those with kidney disease, doctors generally recommend making significant dietary changes to manage the condition.
What Impact Does Food Have on People with Kidney Disease?
It’s no surprise that food has a major impact on overall health. The human body needs both macronutrients (such as carbohydrates and proteins) and micronutrients (such as vitamins, iron, and other minerals) to maintain its healthy condition. While it is possible to supplement these needs with pills or additives, the vast majority of the energy and nutrition the body needs must come from food.
Therefore, a person’s specific diet significantly affects their overall health. People are different and adapt to different diets, but over their lifetimes, diseases can drastically alter their dietary needs. Kidney disease is a condition that requires major changes to reduce the amount of nutritional waste products, as well as certain minerals such as salt.
In a manner of speaking, those with kidney disease need to eat more “efficiently.” That is, they need to eat foods that digest more completely or pass through without being digested at all, such as fiber. Processed foods tend to be high in salt and fat, both of which can strain damaged kidneys. High-protein foods are also a risk factor, as they produce a lot of waste products when broken down. Further, luxury “foods” such as alcohol require effort from the kidney to process, so they should be avoided as well.
The Best Foods for Those with Kidney Disease
Given these restrictions, it’s not immediately obvious what kind of diet fits those with kidney disease. The ideal diet involves balancing fiber with nutrition while avoiding excesses of those minerals and macronutrients that put the most strain on the kidney. The following foods comprise the core of a kidney-friendly diet.
- Unprocessed Foods – Given the choice between a factory-processed version and a home-cooked version of the same food, the home-cooked version will always be easier on the kidneys. Processed foods include additives and preservatives that need to be “cleaned out” before your body can unlock the nutrition. Further, processed foods tend to include excess fats and salt, both of which put a strain on the kidneys.
- Spices – Explore other parts of the spice rack; while salt puts strain on the kidneys, seasonings such as cumin, paprika, granulated garlic and onion, pepper, basil, thyme, and rosemary are all kidney-friendly and can add new dimensions to food. It’s always better to replace than just remove when it comes to adapting to a new diet, so replace salt with other spices to make the transition easier.
- Lean Proteins – While excess protein is a problem for the kidney, it’s still necessary to eat the right amount. Those with kidney disease can minimize the kidney strain by prioritizing low-fat meats and trimming the fat from chicken, beef, and fish. Beans and low-fat yogurts are also good sources of protein that are a bit easier on the kidney.
What Those with Kidney Disease Need to Avoid
Just like with salt, some other nutrients put a strain on the kidneys. Phosphorous and potassium are absolutely essential elements for the body’s health down to the cellular level. Without these elements, it’s impossible to actually digest food. However, kidney disease impacts the body’s ability to filter out excesses, potentially leading to some significant problems if they are not pre-balanced in terms of diet.
Low-phosphorous foods include corn, bread, rice, unprocessed iced tea, fresh fruits, and fresh vegetables. Beans, despite being ideal as a lean protein, are high in phosphorous, so must be taken in moderation. Similarly, many processed foods, such as colas and dairy foods, have high phosphorous levels. As phosphorous is often found in foods with a lot of protein, it’s yet another reason to moderate protein intake.
Low-potassium foods are a more varied bunch, including specific fruits such as apples and grapes, vegetables such as carrots and green beans, and white rice. High-potassium foods show up in similar fruits, such as oranges and bananas, vegetables, such as potatoes and beans, dairy foods, and whole-grain foods. It’s not as easy to avoid excess potassium, so those with kidney disease are obliged to read every nutrition label before putting together their dinner.
While navigating the dietary restrictions around kidney disease may seem daunting, it’s possible to live a healthy life by keeping these factors in mind. Those with kidney disease can streamline the transition by working with a nutritionist to design a diet that minimizes risk factors while maximizing flavor and nutrition.