Great Renal Diet Liquids for CKD Patients

It is often a person on dialysis who's told to limit their fluid intake. This is to prevent the dialysis machine from extracting too little or too much fluid from their bloodstream and causing an imbalance to the amount of fluid in their body.

However, prevention is always better than cure. And while you are most likely not on dialysis yet, it would be a great help to your kidneys if you regulate your fluid intake as early as now.

Frankly, this should be one of the basics of renal dieting: to regulate your fluid intake and choose the right beverages to drink.

And with that, here are a few suggestions on what you can drink for your renal diet.

1. Water

Let's start with the most obvious one: H2O.

However, having impaired kidneys might complicate things. Your body's filters aren't as effective in filtering waste out as before. Your body can accumulate excess fluid in your system which, in turn, can cause edema (swelling of your extremities) or hyponatremia (condition caused by too much water diluting sodium in your body).

Our advice: ask your health professional for limits specific to you. You can follow the general advice you've read above, but if you want to be extra safe, always consult with your doctor/dietitian.

2. Cranberry Juice

Sure, pure apple or grape juice works, too. But if you really want the best for your renal diet, cranberry juice is best.

Not only that, it also has vitamin C and manganese. Truly, cranberries are wondrous fruits for CKD patients. It is, after all, one of the top 7 kidney-boosting foods.

3. Herbal Tea

The use of herbal medicines to treat CKD has been a subject of studies and researches in and out of the country.

While there have been published results on the positive side of the spectrum, still the most dominant advice is to be careful with using herbal and traditional medicines, and to always consult your doctor about it.

That being said, there are certain types of green and herbal tea which could help you pass creatinine from your blood. Tea helps stimulate the kidneys and increase urine production. 

We suggest about 8 ounces (250 mL) of herbal or green tea per day. However, if your doctor sets a different amount or limit for you, follow his/her advice.

4. Ginger Ale

Ginger ale is basically carbonated water flavored with ginger. But what people don't often know is that this drink is also gentle to your kidneys!

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Ginger, which is often used as a cooking ingredient in Asian and Indian dishes, can also be used to make tea and ginger ale. This plant aids in digestion, nausea, inflammation and many other ailments. 

Also, in a 2012 study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) website, it's been found that ginger can protect the kidneys from impairment and reduce nephrotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) on animal test subjects.

So, if you want something flavorful to drink, skip the alcohol. Go with a glass of ginger ale!

Other Kidney-Friendly Beverages 

Aside from the 4 options you have above, you can try these, too... (Side note: these beverages are found in our renal diet food list, as well.)

• Fruit punch
• Apple juice
• Grape juice / grape soda
• Nectar (apricot, peach, or pear; ½ cup servings)
• Root beer
• Cream soda
• Lemon-lime soda

Remember: always consult your health professional -- nephrologist or dietitian -- with regards to your daily fluid limits. Opting for kidney-friendly foods is good, but moderation will make it better.