The Kidney Foundation of Canada suggests double boiling high-potassium tuberous vegetables or rooting vegetables like yams, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and others. The double boiling process is scientifically proven to remove potassium from these vegetables.

Eating these vegetables raw may not be advisable since uncooked and raw foods are linked to food-borne illnesses. The risk for food poisoning from raw foods is high for people with a weak immune system and those with chronic conditions such as kidney disease. 

Consult your doctor or dietitian on the amount and kinds of double-boiled high potassium root vegetables you can consume.

Kinds of Root Vegetables

Trivia: A 2018 psychological study revealed that “higher intakes of fruits and vegetables, rich in micronutrients, have been associated with better mental health. However, cooking or processing may reduce the availability of these important micronutrients.”

Important reminder:​ While double boiling vegetables is considered the best way to remove the most potassium from root vegetables, this process actually does not turn root vegetables into low-potassium food. It does, however, allow you to include these foods safely to your chronic kidney disease diet as long as it is in moderation.

So how to double boil vegetables?

1. Wash and peel the vegetable.

2. Dice or thinly slice the vegetable.

3. Place the diced or sliced vegetable in room temperature water. Use two times the amount of water to the amount of vegetable.

4. Bring the water to a boil.

5. Drain off the water and add fresh, room temperature water. Use two times the amount of water to the amount of vegetable.

6. Bring the water to a boil again and cook until the vegetable is soft and tender.

Fact: Steaming vegetables helps to retain their flavor.

To give you more ideas, Food Revolution Network lists down foods that are more nutritious when cooked and foods that are more nutritious when eaten raw.

More Nutritious When Cooked

More Nutritious When Raw

The Balancing Act 

Vegetables and fruits have a low content of calories, fat, and sodium. Depending on the recipe and meal plan, cooking can add fat, calories, sugar, and salt — but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing, especially when they are healthy fats, like those from olive oil and other plant-based oils.

So, which one is it — raw or cooked? 

Trivia: There is more lycopene found in tomato paste and tomato sauce than in fresh tomatoes. Cooking allows the breaking of plant cell walls which means more nutrients available for consumption.

The consensus among most nutrition experts, according to the Food Revolution Network, is that we need both raw and cooked veggies to get the most food nutrients. The key is to be mindful of your nutritional requirements as a CKD patient.