What should you eat with kidney disease?
Learn the basics of eating healthy with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Find out which foods are good for your kidneys, which nutrients to limit, and simple tips to stay healthy.
When you have chronic kidney disease (CKD), it’s important to understand what to eat so you can feel your best. Learning to take control of your diet can also help prevent serious health problems and control conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes.
Understanding a kidney-friendly diet
Your care team will help you create a nutrition plan based on your lifestyle and stage of CKD. They will help you understand how to read nutrition labels and will make suggestions for fresh, unprocessed foods to add to your diet to keep you healthy, including:
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Lean animal proteins and plant-based proteins (e.g., poultry, fish, eggs, beans, tofu, etc.)
- Starches and whole grains (e.g., brown rice, pasta, bread, oatmeal, etc.)
Knowing what to limit
Your care team will also help you understand what you will need to limit in your diet to feel your best.
| Nutrient | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Sodium | Too much sodium can make you thirsty and cause your body to hold onto water, leading to swelling, high blood pressure, and kidney damage. |
| Protein | Eating the right amount of protein helps keep you healthy. If you eat too much protein, it can hurt your kidneys. If you don’t eat enough protein, you might feel weak. Your care team will help you figure out the right amount of protein for you. |
| Phosphorus | When your kidneys aren’t working well, phosphorus can build up in your blood. This can make your bones weak and cause hardening in your blood vessels. |
| Potassium | Too much or too little potassium can cause muscle cramps, weakness, and heart problems. The amount of potassium you need depends on what medications you take and how well your kidneys are working. |
Key takeaways
- A kidney-friendly diet can help you feel your best and support your overall health.
- Add fresh fruits and vegetables, lean or plant-based proteins, and whole grains to your diet.
- Limit sodium, protein, phosphorus, and potassium as your care team advises; both too much and too little can cause problems.
- Your care team will help you build a nutrition plan based on your lifestyle and CKD stage.
We are here to help
Your care team can help answer your questions about nutrition and create the best plan for you. Reach out for any support you need.
This serves only as a guide. Talk with your healthcare provider for more information based on your health needs.
Julie Dominguez, MD
Vice President, Medical Office, Interwell Health
Julie Dominguez, MD, is a nephrologist with extensive experience in private practice nephrology and medical education. At Interwell Health, she helps advance high-quality kidney care programs that support patients and clinicians. Dr. Dominguez earned her medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, completed her Internal Medicine residency at Duke University, and completed her Nephrology fellowship at the University of California San Diego.