Candy, diabetes and chronic kidney disease People with diabetes and chronic kidney disease may be asked to avoid or limit the amount of candy they eat to help control blood sugar levels. Candy bars, hard candy, jelly beans, gum drops and chocolate are some of the sweets you are asked to cut back on.
Dark chocolate has many health benefits, including lowering blood pressure, improving vascular system function, and reducing total cholesterol and LDL. These significant benefits could reduce chronic kidney disease or kidney failure complications.
Chocolate, or the compounds within it, does not have any known negative effect on kidney function. However, if you already have kidney disease you may have to limit your intake of chocolate due to the high content of potassium or other minerals.
White chocolate is considered a low potassium chocolate. It has just 81 milligrams of potassium per ounce. A bar of white chocolate would contain about 284 milligrams of potassium, which would make it a high potassium dessert.
Explore Healthy Snacks for Chronic Kidney Disease
You can also enjoy low-sodium chips, crackers, or fruit-based desserts for a treat on the go.
Foods that are high in fat, sugar and salt, such as crisps, chocolate, biscuits and cakes, can be included in your diet. However, because they do not contain good nutrients, they should only be included in small amounts occasionally.
Put limits on phosphorus- and potassium-laden foods.
To keep phosphorus and potassium levels at a minimum, cut out or reduce your intake of dairy products (milk, cheese, ice cream, creamy soups, chocolate), dried beans, peas, nuts and peanut butter.
What milk can I have when I have chronic kidney disease? The best milk alternative for damaged kidneys appears to be coconut milk since it has low potassium, sodium, and oxalates. Macadamia milk is also a good choice as it's much lower in sodium than cow's milk.
Pizza – avoid mushroom / tomato / sun-dried tomato to reduce potassium content, avoid extra cheese to limit phosphate and avoid too many processed meats to limit salt content. Remember: Use some of your fluid allowance for rice and pasta dishes.
A small amount of chocolate may be safely incorporated into a kidney diet. Consider daily intake, portion size, and your lab values for potassium and phosphorus.
The good news is that people on a low-potassium diet don't have to give up chocolate entirely. Although dark chocolate is relatively high in potassium, white and milk chocolate contain much less of this mineral5,6. All types of chocolate contain potassium due to its cocoa content.
Dark chocolate has a higher cocoa content and a lower phosphorus content than milk chocolate. It also has less sugar and less of the unhealthy saturated fat.
Beta-Carotene Benefits
Beta-carotene, the water-soluble form of vitamin A in carrots, helps the kidneys filter toxins out of the blood and prevent urinary tract infections, according to Dr. George D.
Water: Water is simply the best drink you can have! Water is a zero-calorie, perfectly hydrating, cheap drink. If you are in the earlier stages of kidney disease, choosing water most of the time to quench your thirst will keep your body and kidneys functioning well.
While plain water is the best drink for your kidneys, other fluids are perfectly acceptable, including coffee, green tea, low-potassium juices, and infused water. Avoid sweetened, carbonated beverages and coconut water.
Calcium-fortified soy, oat and coconut-based yogurts have a favorable nutritional composition for patients with kidney conditions.
Whole eggs provide a nutrient-dense source of calories to meet the increased energy demands of CKD patients. Additionally, eggs are naturally low in sodium, a nutrient which is restricted in renal diets.
Sugar is not a problem for the kidneys unless the blood sugar level gets too high.
Potatoes are high in potassium (also know as “K”) which is a nutrient that must be limited when following a diet to manage kidney disease. People following a kidney-friendly diet can cut up and soak their potatoes in water to reduce their potassium content.
Butter contains saturated fat, which increases your risk for heart disease. The National Kidney Foundation notes that heart disease is a major risk factor for kidney disease and vice versa. Consume less butter, lard and shortening to reduce your intake of saturated fat and lower your risk for heart and kidney disease.
While many kinds of cheese are high in phosphorus and sodium, there are lower phosphorus and sodium cheeses more suitable for people with kidney disease. Most cheeses are also high in saturated fat; but lower-fat versions of many cheeses are available.