Processed foods are found just about everywhere. And it is easy to get confused about which foods are processed and which are not. But the question is: are processed foods good for kidney disease?

Processed Foods for Kidney Disease

Here’s a list of the commonly consumed processed foods and the reasons you should avoid them:

High in sodium

High in potassium

Why are they bad for you?

Scientific studies have revealed that processed foods are bad for those who have Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). It is recommended that CKD patients either limit or altogether avoid their consumption of these food types. 

Dr. Robert Lustig, an endocrinologist from the University of California in San Francisco (UCSF), further asserts in his book Fat Chance: “Processed foods of many sorts contribute more than 3,400 milligrams of sodium per day to the average American diet. Salt is one method by which the food industry can preserve foods and increase their shelf life. So salt and calories almost always go together.”

Meaning: more salt, more calories, more risk for your kidneys.

Also, much of processed foods are meat. Animal protein produces high amounts of acid in the blood that can be harmful to the kidneys and cause acidosis, an illness in which malfunctioning kidneys cannot eliminate acid from the body fast enough. Although protein may be needed for growth and repair, your kidney-friendly diet moreover should be well balanced with fruits and vegetables.

Renal dietitians recommend that instead of animal protein from ground beef, shrimp, salmon, tuna, chicken breast, roasted chicken, or their processed versions, plant protein from beans, nuts, or whole grains or these lower-protein alternatives are more preferable:

Cliché as it sounds, moderation is key. But cutting down or avoiding processed foods can be one of the healthiest things you can do.