Essential Tips for a Renal Diet

Managing kidney health can be challenging, but with the right dietary choices, you can support your kidneys effectively. Improving your nutrition is CRUCIAL in CKD stages 1-3 because it can delay or even PREVENT needing dialysis. A renal diet is designed to reduce the intake of certain nutrients that can burden the kidneys while ensuring a balanced and nutritious meal plan. This article provides essential tips for a kidney-friendly diet for people with CKD stages 1-3 and not those with end stages 4-5 or on dialysis. Stages 4-5 require closer monitoring of electrolyte blood levels, this is why patients on dialysis meet regularly with a dietitian. 

Understanding the Renal Diet

A renal diet for CKD 1-3 focuses on limiting sodium, phosphorus, and somewhat reducing protein to prevent further kidney damage (National Kidney Foundation [NKF], 2023). Each of these nutrients affects kidney function differently, making it essential to understand their roles in meal planning.

Sodium and Kidney Disease

Reducing sodium intake helps control blood pressure and decreases fluid retention. High sodium levels can lead to hypertension, which worsens kidney function (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2022). The recommended daily sodium intake for CKD patients is less than 2,300 mg or lower, as advised by a healthcare provider. Use herbs and spices instead of salt and check food labels for hidden sodium sources (Mayo Clinic, 2023).

Potassium and Kidney Disease

Potassium is crucial for muscle function and heart health. Potassium is not typically restricted in CKD stages 1-3 unless the potassium blood level is too high (DaVita, n.d.).  Foods high in potassium, such as bananas, oranges, potatoes, and tomatoes, should be limited if you have a high potassium level. Instead, opt for lower-potassium alternatives like apples, berries, and bell peppers. If your potassium level is low or normal, you do not need to avoid or limit these nutritious foods.

Phosphorus and Kidney Disease

Too much phosphorus is also not good for CKD but it is important to think about the types of foods and how much. For example, dark soda like Coco-Cola, and Greek yogurt are both high in phosphorus. However, Greek yogurt has many other beneficial nutrients in it where Coco-Cola does not. Not only this, but as long as you aren't having several servings per day, you can still eat foods like Greek yogurt, eggs, and low-sodium cheese in moderate amounts, 3-4 servings total daily. It is much better for you to eliminate non-nutritious high phosphorus foods, like soda and deli meat, to make room for nutritious foods high phosphorus, like Greek yogurt and eggs. 

Protein and Kidney Disease

While protein is necessary for muscle maintenance and repair, excessive protein intake can strain the kidneys by increasing waste production. High-quality protein sources such as lean meats, eggs, and fish should be consumed in moderation. Plant-based proteins like tofu and lentils may be beneficial due to their lower phosphorus and potassium content (CDC, 2022).

Kidney-Friendly Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables provide essential vitamins, antioxidants, and hydration. You do not need to limit bananas, oranges, tomatoes, or potatoes unless you have a high potassium blood level.

Cooking at Home

Cooking most meals might seem like a challenge for many people. It can be difficult to cook dinner after a busy day but it is the best way to improve your nutrition. There are a few tips that can make it much easier. Plus, I regularly post recipes that are usually adapted from those created by Gordon Ramsay and Rachael Ray to make them perfect for kidney disease. I make and taste every recipe that I post and all of them take less than 30 minutes. You'd be surprised how much easier cooking is if you use these cooking tips:

Mise En Place

This means that you get all of your ingredients out, measured, and ready to use. Think of how chefs in cooking shows have all their ingredients at their fingertips at the start of the show. Not only does it look nice for them on camera, but it actually makes cooking so much easier, faster, and enjoyable. You don't need to buy anything fancy like matching ceramic bowls or glassware, just some basic plastic containers will work to hold your ingredients.

Start Cleaning Up Early

My recipes usually involve sautéing for a few minutes so I use this time to start cleaning up. This will leave less dishes to do at the end and it frees up space on the counter. 

Meal Prep

This will be necessary if you do not eat breakfast and/or lunch at home. The trick is to find a recipe you like and make a couple days worth of it. I usually don't prep more than 3 lunches at at time because it doesn't taste as good if you go longer than this. I like to pick something simple like beans with rice or hard-boiled eggs with sweet potatoes and heat it up at work. This is where the sauces and toppings come into play: they add flavor and make a simple meal really pop. I like to have a container of homemade Pico de Gallo with beans and rice. This meal can also have many variations. You could make a crockpot with home-made chili beans and garlic rice, use half cauliflower rice, half real rice or only cauliflower rice if you're cutting carbs.  

Conclusion

Getting started on a kidney-friendly diet requires careful planning initially but as you develop good habits, it will become easier. By choosing the right nutrition, you can slow the progression of chronic kidney disease and even prevent the need for dialysis in some cases. Making all of these changes at once will be overwhelming for most people so I recommend starting off by planning one kidney-friendly meal per week and adding in 1 serving of veggies everyday. The next time you go to the grocery store, try to spend more time than you normally would in the produce section. Hint: a quick and easy way to add veggies is by making a smoothie.

References

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. (n.d.). Kidney-friendly eating plan: Managing chronic kidney disease (CKD) through diet. Retrieved from https://www.eatright.org

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Chronic kidney disease initiative: Nutrition for CKD. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/kidneydisease

DaVita. (n.d.). Diet and nutrition goals for people with stage 3 chronic kidney disease. Retrieved from https://www.davita.com/diet-nutrition/articles/advice/diet-and-nutrition-goals-for-people-with-stage-3-chronic-kidney-disease

Mayo Clinic. (2023). Nutrition and healthy eating: Kidney disease diet. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org

National Kidney Foundation. (2023). Eating right for kidney health. Retrieved from https://www.kidney.org

By following these dietary recommendations, individuals can better manage kidney disease and improve their overall health.