You may ask yourself “is romaine lettuce good for CKD patients?”, and we're here to say YES! It's low in potassium and a good source of folate, an important nutrient for preventing anemia, making romaine lettuce good for kidney disease.
Dark leafy greens, such as spinach or kale, are packed with vitamins and minerals that promote healthy kidney function. These vegetables also contain antioxidants which can help make the kidneys' job of filtering out the blood easier.
Fruits and veggies lowest in potassium are: apples, blueberries, limes, and iceberg lettuce.
High in vitamin K, vitamin C and fiber, cabbage is also a good source of vitamin B6 and folic acid. Low in potassium and low in cost, it's an affordable addition to the kidney diet. Raw cabbage makes a great addition to the dialysis diet as coleslaw or topping for fish tacos.
Finding low-potassium produce can sometimes be a challenge for people with kidney disease, yet the cucumber offers a tasty treat that is versatile and kidney-friendly.
Generally, patients with CKD, especially those who suffer from hyperkalemia, should avoid consuming large amounts of raw vegetables, such as lettuce, in order to reduce their potassium intake from meals.
Fresh is always best. If possible, make meat sandwiches from low sodium, fresh-cooked meats such as chicken, turkey breast, roast beef, pork or fish. Use meat leftover from dinner, or cook fresh meat specifically for lunch sandwiches. Consider freezing cooked meat in 2- to 3-ounce portions until needed.
Depending on the individualized protein needs of a CKD patient, the choice of whole egg or egg whites provides versality in adding or limiting protein in the renal diet plan. Whole eggs provide a nutrient-dense source of calories to meet the increased energy demands of CKD patients.
Sandwiches are easy to make and don't take long to prepare. In the dialysis setting, sandwiches are a popular item to eat before or after dialysis treatment. Sandwiches that are low in sodium and phosphorus, plus limit potassium are a great fit with the kidney diet.
Avoid the temptation to overindulge, as too much potassium and fluid can still make you unwell. Italian and Spanish food: Pasta (spaghetti, noodles) can make an excellent starter or main course, however be aware of what the sauces are made from.
Carrots contain a moderate amount of potassium and can healthfully be included in a kidney-friendly diet.
Your safest bets include iceberg, arugula, Bibb, Boston, red leaf or green leaf lettuces. If you are not on a blood thinning medication, raw spinach, romaine and kale are good options as well. Keep your lettuce portion to about 1 cup or ½ cup if choosing kale or raw spinach.
Salad greens are naturally low in sodium and protein, making them optimal for kidney friendly meals. In fact, a one cup portion of lettuce has less than 15 mg of sodium, and under 1 gram of protein per serving! These leafy greens also provide fiber, which are fantastic at improving digestive health.
Low potassium foods like iceberg lettuce can be made a part of a healthy kidney diet.
Most people with early-stage CKD or a kidney transplant do not have to limit tomatoes because of potassium. If your laboratory results show higher levels of potassium, your doctor or kidney dietitian may talk with you about how much to eat.
A great plant based protein, shiitake mushrooms are an ideal food for those with kidney issues. They are better than white button and portobellos since they contain much less potassium.
Whole grains and whole wheat are both great options for people with kidney disease. Both whole grain and whole wheat products contain the entire kernel. Whole wheat refers to products that are only using whole wheat kernels.
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. If you do eat high-phosphorus foods, ask your doctor for a phosphate binder to be taken with your meals.
Fresh or frozen red meats without breading, marinades or sauce are better choices for a kidney diet. On average, fresh meat contains 65 mg of phosphorus per ounce and 7 grams of protein per ounce. Seafood is an excellent source of low-fat, high-quality protein.