Nuts and seeds are tiny but mighty. They actually deliver quite a punch of nutrition. Are there top nuts and seeds for CKD?
Did you know nuts are actually the seeds of plants? Whereas seeds come from vegetables, flowers or other crops. But they are packed with healthy nutrients like omega-3, fibre, and plant-based protein.
Nuts and seeds are extra wonderful because:
- Can help suppress hunger because of their protein, fat, and fiber content.
- Add texture, crunch and flavour to foods.
- A convenient snack.
Benefits of Nuts and Seeds
Promotes Heart Health
Heart disease and CKD are linked. So including foods that are heart healthy, like nuts and seeds can help to prevent heart disease. Nuts and seeds are a source of omega-3 which help to reduce bad cholesterol levels in the blood. When we have too much bad cholesterol, we can develop heart disease.
Rich in antioxidants and are anti-inflammatory
Nuts and seeds are a great source of vitamin B6, vitamin B3, vitamin E, and minerals like calcium, iron, selenium, copper which all help to beat inflammation in our bodies.
May help lower blood pressure
A source of L-arginine, an amino acid needed to build muscle. Often found in animal protein, which are limited with CKD, nuts are also a great source of L-arginine. Research suggests that L-arginine may help to lower blood pressure and cholesterol.
Top Nuts and Seeds for CKD
So you might be wondering, what are the top nuts and seeds for CKD? Here are some of the best choices. But remember to choose unsalted.
| Nuts and seeds (1/4 cup) | Phosphorus (mg) | Potassium (mg) | Protein (g) |
| Pumpkin seeds (whole) | 15 | 149 | 3.0 |
| Sunflower seeds | 375 | 276 | 6.3 |
| Macadamia | 66 | 122 | 2.6 |
| Pecan | 82 | 118 | 2.7 |
| Hazelnuts | 93 | 226 | 4.5 |
| Walnut | 88 | 112 | 3.9 |
| Almonds | 165 | 250 | 7.3 |
| Cashew | 170 | 196 | 5.2 |
| Pistachio | 146 | 314 | 6.5 |
How To Enjoy Nuts and Seeds with CKD
Looking to include some nuts and seeds in your kidney-friendly diet? Here are some ways to get started:
- Add nuts or seeds as an ingredient to foods. Try them on oatmeal, in a salad, or on top of soup. Maybe make your own nut butter.
- Incorporate them in your pasta dish or salad for some plant-based protein. Try this feta, spinach, lentil salad with sunflower seed recipe (be sure to make some low sodium swaps).
- Toss some into your smoothie for a bit of extra fibre and protein.
- Enjoy it as a snack. Pair nuts with a piece of fruit for a delicious snack.
- Pair with vitamin C foods like clementines, strawberries, bell peppers, or tomatoes to help increase their iron absorption.
Does Today’s Article Speak To Your Struggles?
Heart health and CKD go together, if you’re looking to improve your cholesterol, connect with Emily here.
Want to learn more about Emily? Learn more here.
Where can I find more information on eating well? Thank you!
Hi JoAnne!
Great question.
You can get access to lost of information in my Facebook Group: https://emilykidneynutrition.com/freebies/
Also check out this blog post: https://emilykidneynutrition.com/2022/07/16/five-myths-about-nutrition-for-ckd/
Emily
Pumpkin seeds 1/4 cup only has 15 mg of potassium? is that a typo?
Hi there! Thanks for reaching out. You are correct. It was a typo, the post has been updated.
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I thought tomatoes are too high in potassium for a renal diet.
Great question! Potassium is a concern for some with kidney disease, but not everyone, Having a dietitian review your bloodwork and provide personalized recommendations for how much potassium you can have per day is important. With potassium understanding how much of a serving and how much potassium a food has can help us include a variety in our diet. High potassium is not always related to foods. So it is important the cause is resolved.
How else is potassium related to a healthy body if not in foods??
Great point Lynn! There have been a lot of updates in research recently for kidney diets. As a result some items may not be updated when you search online. Working with a renal dietitian is the best choice to support you. Feel free to email me at hello@kidneynutrition.ca and I am happy to help.
Potassium helps our heart beat. We need some potassium in our diet. At later stages of kidney disease, you may not be able to get rid of excess potassium. If it builds up it can change the heartbeat. That’s why checking your bloodwork is important. Not everyone needs a potassium restriction. So working with a renal dietitian can help you determine this.
I find the internet my best source for how to get the best information for my CKD 3a. Yet, there are still contradictions of one says it’s good & safe for CK then another source says “No”. How can I possibly create a healthy diet for myself?
Great post on nuts and seeds for CKD. There is one nut that is missing. How much phosphorus and potassium do peanuts have in 2 tablespoon or 1/4 cup?
Thank you!
Yes! You can check all nuts and seeds at this link: https://food-nutrition.canada.ca/cnf-fce/?lang=eng
This web page has a list of Nuts and Seeds, including peanuts.
https://www.kidney.org/sites/default/files/national_kidney_foundation-superfood-nutsseeds.pdf
Thanks for sharing! I also like the Canadian Nutrient File for nutrition information. You can access it here https://food-nutrition.canada.ca/cnf-fce/?lang=eng
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