Watching what you eat as a CKD patient is essential to protect your kidneys from further damage and manage your condition. Consequently, following a kidney-friendly diet cuts down the amount of waste in your blood.

When your kidney functions are compromised, the kidneys cannot excrete waste buildup from your body.

Note that each CKD patient is unique and has different nutritional requirements, which is why it is important to work with a registered renal dietitian for a tailor-fit renal diet. 

The Basics

Sodium and CKD Diet

As a CKD patient or if you have high blood pressure, a good rule of thumb is to limit your sodium intake between 750 mg - 2000 mg per day. Your exact sodium limit should be advised by your primary healthcare provider.

Too much sodium in the body can build up fluid around the heart and lungs. It can also elevate your blood pressure, swell your ankles, legs, hands and face and cause shortness of breath. Keep in mind that Most whole foods-- even fruits and vegetables-- have natural sodium content.

In order to manage your daily sodium consumption you can simply these steps:

• Skimp on table salt, seasonings and condiments. 
• Consider the serving size and the milligrams of sodium per serving when reading the food label. 
• Cook at home, so you have control of your sodium. 
• Make use of  spices and herbs on your food such as cumin, paprika, thyme, etc. to enhance flavor without use of salt;
• Cut down on processed and packaged food as they tend to have high sodium content.

Protein and CKD Diet

KDIGO, a non-profit organization advocating for evidence-based clinical practice in managing kidney disease, suggests a lowering protein diet of 0.6 to 0.8 g/kg daily to manage CKD. On the other hand, if you have diabetes and CKD, it is recommended to limit your daily protein intake to 0.8-1 g/kg.

A low protein diet is gentle to your kidneys. Excessive protein can result in nausea, appetite loss, weakness, and taste changes. On the other hand, if you are on dialysis, your healthcare provider may suggest a higher amount of protein in your diet to manage your blood protein level. The dialysis treatment removes protein waste from the blood so following a low protein diet is no longer needed.

Manage your recommended protein intake through these steps:

• Minimize consuming high protein foods such as eggs, red meat, poultry and fish.
• Consider following a more plant-based dietas it could lower blood pressure, cholesterol level, and the risk of heart disease.  
• Include more plant-based  protein sources  such as beans, legumes, soy products, tofu, nuts and seeds, and whole grains.
• If you cannot give up animal proteins, consider alternating plant and animal protein sources in your diet.

Phosphorus and CKD Diet

You can avoid phosphorus buildup in your blood with these tips:

1. Cut down on cured meats, canned and bottled drinks, processed foods as they are quickly absorbed compared to plant-based phosphorus.
2. Avoid or limit high phosphorus foods such as Dairy, Beans, Nuts and peanut butter, Bran cereals, and egg yolk. 
3. Read the nutrition label to become more informed about the phosphorus content of the food.
4. Steer clear from products that have phosphorus additives including:

Bear in mind that the more processed a food item is, the more likely it will contain an additive.

Potassium and CKD Diet

Managing your potassium level intake is possible through these steps:

• Also known as leaching, double boiling the vegetables can extract and dissolve potassium in a liquid. Click here to know more about double boiling. 
• Soak and cook legumes such as beans, peas, lentils, and peanuts to reduce potassium and phosphorus content. Make sure to watch out for proper portioning.
• Limit or avoid high potassium foods including avocado, canned goods, nuts, beans, legumes, bananas, potatoes, dairy products, fats and processed foods, whole grains and vegetable juices. You can refer to this article to know more about low potassium diet.

Before making any changes to your diet, make sure to consult with your renal dietitian or healthcare provider. Here are a few of the kidney-friendly foods that are healthy for your kidneys:

Best Foods for CKD

1. Berries

Berries are high in antioxidants and vitamin C. Berries help in fighting inflammation, protect against heart disease and certain cancers, diabetes. Among the berries that you can enjoy are:

2. Olive Oil

Olive oil, much like fish, is a provider of nutrient-dense, unsaturated fats and considered to be the healthiest of oils.

A study has found individuals suffering from CKD who adopted this diet experienced improvements in both symptoms and survival. The active components in olives improve the life of CKD patients, and will certainly provide kidney support to anyone looking to maintain kidney health.

3. Garlic

Using herbs and spices is also a great way to manage your sodium without giving up flavor. Garlic has active compounds that can reduce blood pressure and protect against organ damage from heavy metal toxicity.

4. Onion

Onion has vitamin C, manganese, B vitamins, and prebiotic fiber that helps the digestive system. The powerful antioxidant found in the onion protects against many cancers and reduces the risk of heart disease.

5. Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a famous spice, cinnamon is known for its ability to help regulate glucose levels.   It’s been found that excess glucose from diabetes causes damage to the kidneys.

Cinnamon helps the body manage glucose better and offer protection from blood sugar disorders. Studies also confirm that cinnamon can be used as a supplement without the worry of increasing oxalate risk. Oxalates are naturally occurring substances found in a wide variety of foods that, if not regulated properly, can over-accumulate in the body, especially the kidneys.

Fair warning, though, too much cinnamon can cause liver damage, so it's better to stick to the 1-teaspoon-per-day limit

The Bottom line

Embracing a kidney-friendly diet can seem overwhelming and a bit limiting at times but understanding which foods are gentle to your kidneys can make a difference. It is possible to still enjoy a range of delicious and healthy foods that are gentle to your kidneys through the help of your renal dietitian. The kidney-friendly foods above may be great for your kidneys but it is always important to check in with your primary health care to meet your nutritional requirements and manage your CKD.