The kidneys play a vital role in our overall health by filtering waste products and excess fluids from the blood, regulating blood pressure, and maintaining the balance of electrolytes in the body. It is crucial to support kidney health to prevent the onset of kidney diseases and complications. While medical treatment and lifestyle modifications are essential, the role of a healthy diet cannot be overlooked, especially the inclusion of foods good for kidneys. Read through to know the best kidney friendly foods to eat.
Kidney Disease and Food
Managing kidney disease requires attention to diet. While certain foods can help support kidney function and prevent further damage, there’s a list of foods bad for kidneys that may aggravate the trouble.
The most important thing to look for in kidney healthy foods is the amounts of sodium, potassium, and phosphorus they contain. Also, a renal diet requires low protein intake and restricted fluid consumption. The dietary intake of each of the following for people with kidney disease is as follows:
- Sodium – under 2,000 mg per day
- Potassium – restrictions depend on the disease stage
- Phosphorus – at around 600-800 mg per day
- Protein – restrictions depend on the stage of kidney disease
- Fluid intake – restrictions depend on the stage of kidney disease
Foods Good for Kidneys
Listed below are the top 15 kidney healthy foods to include in your daily diet:
- Berries
Delicious berries like strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries are beneficial for our kidney health. They are rich in antioxidants like anthocyanins and dietary fibre. Antioxidants protect our body from inflammation and oxidative stress. Dietary fibres are excellent for controlling blood sugar levels and preventing constipation. Also, they contain low amounts of potassium, sodium, and phosphorus.
- Cauliflower
Cauliflower, the cruciferous vegetable, is a good source of vitamin C and minerals. Every half-cup boiled cauliflower contains 9 mg sodium, 88 mg potassium, and 20 mg phosphorus. Additionally, it includes fibre and compounds like indoles, glucosinolates, and thiocyanates. These compounds are beneficial for our health. They neutralise toxins from the liver and also protect cell membranes and DNA. Thus, it’s considered the best food for kidney. You can consume it with mashed potatoes for a renal diet or cook it by adding spices.
- Fish
Fish is a great source of high-quality protein and omega-3 fatty acids. This protein reduces the burden on kidneys. Omega-3 fatty acids protect our kidneys from diseases. Also, its anti-inflammatory properties decrease kidney inflammation. An interesting fact is that 85 gm of wild salmon fish contains approximately 50 mg of sodium, 368 mg of potassium, and 274 mg of phosphorus. These are essential ingredients for kidneys too.
- Garlic
Garlic is the best substitute for salt. It is rich in nutritional value and increases the taste of dishes. It plays a vital role in reducing inflammation of kidneys as it has anti-inflammatory compounds like sulphur. Moreover, it’s a notable source of vitamin B6 and manganese. Every three cloves (9 g) of garlic are full with 1.5 mg of sodium, 36 mg of potassium, 14 mg of phosphorus, and 0.5 g of protein. Thus, it becomes the best food for kidney.
- Olive Oil
Olive oil is free of bad fat and is rich in MUFA (monounsaturated fatty acids) and antioxidants. Thus, it’s good for the kidney diet. Olive oil gives positive results for chronic kidney diseases, stones, and peritoneal dialysis. Moreover, it’s essential for reforming nerve tissues and cell membranes.
- Red Bell Peppers
Red bell pepper is flavourful and an outstanding ingredient for making our meals. It’s enriched with vitamins C, B6 and A, fibre, and folic acid. A half cup of red bell pepper includes 1 mg of sodium, 10 mg of phosphorus, and 88 mg of potassium. Thus, you should not ignore it as a good food for the kidney. Furthermore, it has antioxidants like lycopene, which is full of anti-cancer properties.
- Egg White
Egg whites are excellent sources of protein for people with low phosphorus content. They have higher phosphorus compared to whole eggs. Thus, they are a good choice for curing kidney diseases. Doctors recommend following a renal diet with egg whites due to their high phosphorus content. According to researchers, two large raw egg whites (66 g) serve approximately 110 mg of sodium, 108 mg of potassium, 10 mg of phosphorus, and 7 g of protein.
- Onions
Onions give a distinct flavour to your dishes. The combination of onion, garlic, herbs, and olive oil gives a good taste to food. Also, this combination gives a good result for our kidney health. Onions are a good source of vitamins C and B, manganese, and folate. Onions have prebiotic fibre which nourishes the digestive system with the presence of beneficial gut bacteria. A small onion (70 g) is rich in 3 mg of sodium, 102 mg of potassium, 20 mg of phosphorus, and 0.8 g of protein.
- Whole Grains
They are rich in vitamin E, iron, magnesium, and zinc. Thus, they are known as good food for kidney. Often, they are considered a superfood. A half cup of this food contains 1 g to 6 g of dietary fibre and approximately 10 mg of dietary sodium. Also, researchers have found that whole grains are beneficial for diabetes, hypertension, and heart diseases.
- Pineapple
Having a great essence and taste, pineapple is a good fruit for our kidney diet. It has low sodium, phosphorus, and high vitamin C. It has zero fat, 1 g fibre, 1 g protein, and 13 g to 26 g carbohydrate per serving. You can prepare various dishes with pineapple for your kidney diet. You can consume it directly, make pineapple salad or include crushed pineapple with cream cheese.
- Radish
Radish contains low amounts of sodium, phosphorus, potassium, and protein which give good results for renal health. Also, it has bioactive compounds like glucosinolates, isothiocyanates, and polyphenols. Radishes are also capable of reducing anxiety and blood pressure.
- Turnips
Turnip is one of the foods good for kidneys. It is dense with vitamin C and fibre. Fibre contains low calories and increases our appetite levels for long hours. Thus, fibre aids in maintaining body weight. Also, it helps refine the digestive system and excrete toxins from our body through stool. Moreover, fibre reduces the risk of blood clotting and diabetes.
- Skinless Chicken
Skinless chicken contains less fat and phosphorus compared to skin-on chicken. Thus, it’s good for kidney diseases. Around 140 g cooked skinless chicken has 104 g sodium and 358 mg potassium. It has lean protein which is kidney-friendly too.
- Apples
An apple gives you a healthy kidney and heart. Its fibrous content and anti-inflammatory elements make it suitable for protecting us from kidney diseases. Also, its low cholesterol property reduces heart diseases and the risk of cancer and promotes regular bowel movement. A medium apple with peel contains 158 mg of potassium and 10 mg of phosphorus.
- Cabbage
Cabbage is a good choice for maintaining your kidney health. This cruciferous vegetable is rich in phytochemicals. Notably, phytochemicals protect our cells from damage and promote the growth of the body. Additionally, it has vitamins like C, K, and B6, as well as folic acid. A half cup of cabbage contains 6 mg of sodium, 60 mg of potassium, and 9 mg of phosphorus.
| Expert’s Tip:Managing your blood sugar levels is vital as high blood sugar can damage kidneys. |
Conclusion
Kidney health is important for overall well-being. And, a healthy diet plays a significant role in achieving this goal. Accommodate foods good for kidneys in your renal diet to reduce the risk of kidney diseases and promote optimal health. Also, it’s important to consult a doctor for personalised dietary recommendations if you have existing kidney problems.
