If you were recently diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD), you’ve likely googled “kidney friendly foods” many times. After reading a few articles or tabling through Facebook posts, you’ll quickly realize that kidney nutrition can feel overwhelming. One website says bananas are good for you because they’re healthy. Another says to avoid bananas because they’re high in potassium. One article says eat more protein. Another says watch your protein intake.
Pretty soon, choosing what to make for dinner feels complicated and the kidney diet feels complicated.
You’re not alone if this kidney nutrition learning journey sounds all too familiar. In fact, many individuals with kidney disease say that the kidney diet is one of the hardest things to adapt to when living with kidney disease. Most diets promote eating patterns based on one or two main principles. But kidney disease? It often requires managing several nutrients simultaneously.
Plus, what you should and shouldn’t eat can change based on your kidney disease stage, labs, medications, dialysis status, other health conditions, etc.
The good news is that it doesn’t have to be this way. Learning why kidney diet feels SO complicated (and finding reputable sources of information) can help ease some of the confusion.
Here’s why kidney nutrition can feel overwhelming and what you can do to feel more confident about your food choices.
Why the kidney diet feels complicated
Everyone has unique nutrition needs when living with chronic kidney disease.
One reason the kidney diet may feel stressful is because there’s not ONE kidney diet. Just like each person with CKD is unique, so are your nutrition recommendations.
Maybe you were recently diagnosed with CKD and need to focus on limiting sodium and making heart healthy food choices. Another person with more advanced kidney disease may need to focus on potassium and phosphorus levels. Your friend who just started dialysis may have very different protein needs than you.
When you read generalized kidney-friendly diet tips online, it can be hard to decipher what’s right for you.
There are multiple nutrition factors to balance
Diets like keto, vegan, Whole30, etc. tend to focus on limiting certain macronutrients like carbohydrates or encouraging food patterns like gluten-free or plant-based 2.
Nutrition recommendations for CKD often require you to balance MANY different nutrients at once:
Sodium: Most people with CKD are encouraged to lower sodium intake. Too much sodium can cause fluid retention and high blood pressure, which can be hard on your kidneys.
Potassium: While potassium is necessary for heart and muscle function, your kidneys help remove excess potassium from your blood. If your kidneys aren’t working well, potassium can build up in the blood. Some people with CKD may need to restrict potassium, while others may need to eat more of it. This is why you see so many “don’t eat potassium-rich foods like…” lists on google.
Phosphorus: Similar to potassium, phosphorus can build up in the blood if your kidneys are damaged. Too much phosphorus can cause bone problems and heart issues over time. Like potassium, phosphorus is found in a variety of foods, especially processed foods that add phosphorus as a preservative.
Protein: Some people with CKD benefit from reducing protein intake to lessen the workload on the kidneys. But when you’re on dialysis, your body needs more protein since dialysis can remove protein from your blood.
As you can imagine, balancing sodium, potassium, phosphorus, and protein can feel impossible, especially when you’re just starting to learn about kidney disease.
The internet loves to give kidney diet advice
You aren’t alone if you often feel overwhelmed by google searching “kidney diets.” The internet can be a great source of information, but it can also make kidney disease diets feel extremely overwhelming.
Many websites don’t explain WHY certain foods are bad for kidney disease or use fear tactics to drive website traffic. Facebook and Instagram can be helpful but also add to your confusion with “kidney detoxes,” low potassium recipes, and diet plans that don’t apply to everyone.
One common piece of advice we see is blanket statements about every person with kidney disease needing to avoid certain foods. In reality, there’s no ONE diet that applies to everyone with kidney disease. Your nutrition recommendations should be based on YOUR medical history, medications, labs, stage of kidney disease, and preferences, not what someone shared on social media.
If you’re unsure whether a certain food fits into your kidney diet, bring it up with your doctor or dietitian. Asking questions is always better than ignoring potential nutrients you may need (or not need!) based on false internet advice.
Why the internets kidney diet may be wrong
If you have other chronic health conditions like diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, or high cholesterol, you probably receive dietary advice for those as well.
Balancing sugar and carbohydrate intake is important for blood sugar control if you have diabetes. But what about sodium, phosphorus, and protein intake? If you also have kidney disease, what foods should you be focusing on?
Managing multiple health conditions often means adapting to several different dietary recommendations. While learning everything at once can seem impossible, try to focus on changing one habit at a time. Over time, small changes equal one BIG change.
What actually helps with a kidney diet
While the kidney diet can be overwhelming, there are ways to simplify kidney nutrition.
Work with a dietitian: Having someone you can talk to about your diet questions makes a HUGE difference. A registered dietitian, particularly one that specializes in CKD, can make personalized nutrition recommendations based on your labs and dietary preferences.
Ask your dietitian questions about your favorite foods, what to do when eating out, and strategies for eating healthier without feeling deprived. Your dietitian should also be able to help you decipher confusing lab results.
Make one change at a time: Facing down a huge list of “things to improve” in your diet can seem daunting. Instead of trying to eat perfectly each day, pick one goal you’d like to work on. Maybe you want to learn how to cook more meals at home or lower your sodium intake by avoiding processed foods. Work on that one thing for a few weeks until it becomes a habit. Then, start another!
Find trustworthy online sources for the kidney diet: Unfortunately, there’s A LOT of nutrition misinformation out there. To keep your sanity (and stress levels about kidney diets) look for reliable sources of information online. Stick to websites from kidney foundations, registered dietitians, hospitals, and reputable health organizations. These articles will typically include explanations about why certain foods are recommended or avoided. They’ll also address that recommendations may look different for someone else with CKD.
Avoid labelling food as good or bad: Most foods can be incorporated into a kidney friendly diet. Labeling foods as bad or off-limits will only stress you out and make eating feel like a punishment. Focus on portion control and fitting the right foods into your diet according to your nutrition plan.
Plan ahead: Simple meal prep and knowing you have kidney-friendly snacks on hand can also help you feel prepared and confident. When eating out, check the menu online before you go.
Remember this about the kidney diet
Every person’s kidney diet is different which can make googling “kidney diets” overwhelming. Balancing sodium, potassium, phosphorus, and protein can make you feel like you’re having a Calculus midterm every time you eat. If you don’t know where to start, use these tips to manage kidney disease one meal at a time.
Plus, you aren’t alone in feeling confused by kidney diets. Ask for help when you need it and take baby steps when learning how to eat for kidney health. Every little step you take towards a healthier YOU is one step closer to feeling confident and in control of your disease.
This article was written by Nadine Abdelmalak, Nutrition Student Volunteer.
This article was reviewed by Emily Campbell, RD CDE MScFN.
