Healthy Foods for People with Kidney Disease

Overview

In the early stages of kidney disease, you may have little or no limits on what you eat and drink. As your kidney disease gets worse, your doctor may recommend that you limit:

• Potassium
• Phosphorus
• Fluids

Here is a quick list of foods to include and foods to avoid. Eat these :

• Apples, cranberries, grapes, pineapples and strawberries
• Cauliflower, onions, peppers, radishes, summer squash, lettuce
• Pita, tortillas and white breads
• Beef and chicken, white rice
• Italian, French or sourdough bread
• Corn or rice cereals and cream of wheat
• Unsalted popcorn
• Some light-coloured sodas and lemonade

Avoid these:

• Avocados, bananas, melons, oranges, prunes and raisins
• Artichokes, winter squash, plantains, spinach, potatoes and tomatoes
• Bran products and granola
• Beans (baked, black, pinto, etc.), brown or wild rice
• Whole-grain bread
• Bran cereals and oatmeal
• Nuts and sunflower seeds
• Dark-coloured colas

If you do need to limit fluids, measure your fluids and drink from small cups to help you keep track of how much you’ve had to drink. Limit sodium to help cut down on thirst. At times, you may still feel thirsty. To help quench your thirst, you might try to:

• Chew gum
• Rinse your mouth
• Suck on a piece of ice, mints or hard candy (Remember to choose sugar-free candy if you have diabetes.)

Read this list with care

The foods listed above come from a general renal diet for people whose kidneys have already lost much of their function. Not everyone with kidney disease needs these limits. Early disease may need none, and advanced disease needs different ones. Many Indian staples such as dal, rice, roti, vegetables and curd matter here, and a dietician should say how much of each is right. See nutrition for kidney disease and chronic kidney disease home care.

What to do next

• Ask for blood test numbers (creatinine, eGFR, potassium, phosphorus) and what stage of kidney disease this is.
• Ask for a written diet plan from a renal dietician, using your parent's usual Indian meals.
• Weigh daily and check blood pressure, and note swelling; see monitoring kidney disease at home.
• Cut salt, including pickles, papad, namkeen and processed food.
• Avoid over-the-counter painkillers such as ibuprofen and diclofenac, and herbal remedies, unless the doctor approves.
• Know the fluid limit, if one has been set, and measure drinks.

Cooking tips

Cooking vegetables in plenty of water and discarding the water can lower their potassium. Do not use salt substitutes, because many are rich in potassium. Check labels on packed foods for sodium and phosphorus additives.

When to ask a professional

A nephrologist and a renal dietician should guide treatment and diet. Sudden swelling, very little urine, breathlessness, confusion or severe tiredness needs a doctor urgently.

About our care services

If you are an elder managing independently and need assistance of any form, please feel free to reach out to us on 1800-123-44-5555 or log on to www.emoha.com.