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.
Ice cream or frozen yogurt can be substituted for the half cup of milk usually allowed on the renal diet. Your dietitian can give you a list of the best non-dairy substitutes to use.
Low-quality chocolate containing high levels of milk, sodium, sugar, and preservatives is far from a healthy option. On the other hand, high-quality dark chocolate containing a high percentage of cocoa (above 85%) offers health benefits if you have kidney disease.
Snacking is okay on the kidney diet as long as you make healthy choices. Rather than eating food that is high in sodium, such as a small bag of potato chips, a better option is a piece of kidney-friendly fruit.
Does Greek Yogurt Fit in a Kidney-Friendly Diet? Greek yogurt is high in phosphorus and potassium, which some people with kidney disease need to limit in their diet. However, it is also a good source of protein, which people on dialysis need.
Phosphorus and Dairy Foods
Most dairy foods are very high in phosphorus. People with kidney disease should limit their daily intake of milk, yogurt, and cheese to ½ cup milk, or ½ cup yogurt or 1-ounce cheese.
Milk, yogurt, and cheese can be part of a healthy kidney diet. Shop for natural cheeses, avoiding items labeled “cheese food” or “cheese product.” Greek yogurt and cottage cheese can be easy and tasty snacks, and, in most cases, milk servings should be 1 cup per day.
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.
Choose soy, almond, cashew, or rice milk for less phosphorus and less potassium than cow's milk. Avoid cow's milk substitutes that are "Enriched" or have the word phosphorus or "phos" in the ingredient list.
Potatoes are very high in potassium. Avoid baked potatoes or potatoes cooked in a microwave because all of the potassium stays inside the potatoes. Avoid scalloped and instant mashed potatoes as well as French fries.
Avoid foods that have salt in the first four or five items in the ingredient list. Don't eat ham, bacon, sausage, hot dogs, lunch meats, chicken tenders or nuggets, or regular canned soup. Only eat reduced-sodium soups that don't have potassium chloride as an ingredient (check the food label.)
Your body needs protein to build tissue and stay strong, so eat the right amount without eating an excess. Most people with chronic kidney disease need between 60-70 grams of protein a day, which is the amount in about 7 ounces of meat or 10 large eggs.
Mushrooms are rich in Vitamin D and are essential to regulate kidney function and help prevent kidney disease.
People with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are often concerned about eating tomatoes if they have been advised by their renal dietitian to follow a low potassium diet. However, in the right amount and served with the right foods, tomatoes can still be enjoyed safely.
Carrots contain a moderate amount of potassium and can healthfully be included in a kidney-friendly diet.
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.
Soy, almond, and cashew milks have a high oxalate content and may be restricted if you have a history of calcium oxalate kidney stones. Consult your doctor or kidney dietitian for more information on oxalate-containing foods.
Objective(s): Despite the nutritional benefits of potato tuber, patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) should limit the consumption because of its high potassium content.
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.
Breaded veal or pork cutlets, fried chicken, sliced eggplant or zucchini, fried okra and hash browns made from leached potatoes are all kidney-friendly examples of pan-fried foods.