What's the best thing to eat when you have kidney disease?

October 12, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the CDC, approximately 1 in 3 adults with diabetes also have kidney disease. Understanding what's the best thing to eat when you have kidney disease is crucial for managing symptoms and slowing disease progression, often involving a tailored diet that controls key nutrients like sodium, potassium, and phosphorus.

Quick Summary

Managing kidney disease requires a renal diet focused on controlling key nutrients like sodium, potassium, and phosphorus. The best approach involves eating fresh, unprocessed foods, adjusting protein intake, and using specific cooking methods to reduce mineral content. A personalized eating plan should always be developed in consultation with a healthcare professional.

Key Points

Control Sodium Intake: Focus on fresh foods, rinse canned items, and use herbs and spices instead of salt to help manage blood pressure and fluid levels.
Monitor Potassium Carefully: Choose low-potassium fruits like berries and apples, and vegetables such as cauliflower and cabbage, to prevent dangerously high blood levels.
Avoid Phosphorus Additives: Check food labels for ingredients with "phos" and limit processed foods, cola, and many dairy products to protect bone and heart health.
Adjust Protein Intake Based on Needs: Work with a dietitian to determine the correct amount of protein, choosing lean options like skinless chicken or fish, and plant-based proteins like tofu.
Embrace Fresh, Whole Foods: A diet emphasizing fresh fruits, vegetables, and homemade meals minimizes intake of harmful additives and allows for better nutrient control.
Seek Professional Guidance: Individual dietary needs vary significantly with the stage of kidney disease and treatment plans (e.g., dialysis), so consultation with a renal dietitian is essential.

Navigating a Kidney-Friendly Diet

For individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD), dietary choices play a vital role in managing the condition and preserving kidney function. A kidney-friendly, or renal, diet helps to regulate the waste and minerals that damaged kidneys cannot filter effectively. This often means carefully monitoring intake of sodium, potassium, and phosphorus, while also adjusting protein consumption based on the stage of CKD. The best foods for this diet are typically fresh, unprocessed items, while heavily processed options should be avoided. Tailoring a diet to your specific needs is best done with the guidance of a doctor or registered dietitian specializing in kidney health.

Prioritizing Low-Sodium Foods

Excess sodium can lead to high blood pressure and fluid buildup, putting extra strain on the kidneys. Most of the sodium in a typical diet comes from processed and packaged foods, not from the salt shaker. By focusing on fresh foods and avoiding high-sodium processed items, you can significantly reduce your daily intake. The National Kidney Foundation recommends aiming for less than 2,300 mg of sodium per day, though some patients may need to limit it even further.

Flavor your food with fresh herbs and spices: Use garlic, onions, dill, or lemon juice instead of salt and salt-based seasonings.
Rinse canned foods: For items like beans or vegetables, draining and rinsing them before use can remove excess sodium.
Cook at home more often: Restaurant and fast food meals are notorious for being high in sodium, giving you more control over ingredients when you cook yourself.
Read food labels carefully: Look for products marked “low-sodium” or “no salt added,” but always double-check the ingredient list for hidden sodium or potassium chloride, a salt substitute that is not kidney-friendly.

Selecting Low-Potassium Options

Potassium is a mineral important for heart and muscle function, but when kidney function declines, levels can rise to dangerous levels (hyperkalemia). A doctor or dietitian can help determine if potassium restriction is necessary for your stage of CKD.

Low-potassium fruits (per 1/2 cup serving):

Apples and applesauce
Blueberries and cranberries
Pineapple
Red grapes
Peaches

Low-potassium vegetables (per 1/2 cup serving):

Cabbage
Cauliflower (a great low-potassium alternative to potatoes)
Onions and garlic
Radishes
Green beans

Cooking methods to reduce potassium in some vegetables:

Leaching: Peel and cut high-potassium vegetables like potatoes, beets, or carrots into small pieces. Soak them in a large pot of warm water for at least two hours, then boil them in fresh, unsalted water. This process removes a significant amount of potassium from the food.

Managing Phosphorus Intake

Healthy kidneys remove excess phosphorus, but in CKD, high levels can weaken bones and damage blood vessels. High-phosphorus foods include dairy products, many nuts, and whole grains. However, the phosphorus from plant-based sources (like beans and nuts) is less absorbed than from animal sources. The most bioavailable form is inorganic phosphorus, which is added to many processed foods.

Tips to manage phosphorus:

Avoid food additives: Look for ingredients with “phos” (e.g., phosphoric acid, sodium phosphate) in the ingredient list and choose fresh foods instead.
Limit high-phosphorus foods: Restrict intake of dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt) and dark-colored sodas, which are high in phosphorus.
Choose plant-based alternatives: Consider using rice, oat, or almond milk (without additives) as a lower-phosphorus alternative to cow's milk.

Understanding Protein Needs

Protein creates waste products that are filtered by the kidneys. With CKD, excess protein can cause the kidneys to work harder. The required amount of protein varies based on the stage of kidney disease and whether you are on dialysis. Generally, protein intake may need to be restricted in the early stages. However, patients on dialysis may require more protein because the treatment removes it from the blood. Consulting with a dietitian is essential to determine the right amount and type of protein for you.

Kidney-friendly protein options:

Skinless chicken breast: A lean protein with lower sodium and potassium than chicken with the skin.
Egg whites: An excellent high-quality protein source that is low in phosphorus.
Fish (omega-3 rich): Salmon and sea bass offer healthy omega-3 fats, which can help reduce inflammation.
Tofu: A versatile, plant-based protein with lower phosphorus than many animal proteins.

Comparison of Kidney-Friendly Foods vs. Those to Avoid


Food Category	Kidney-Friendly Choices	Foods to Limit or Avoid	Key Reason
Protein	Skinless chicken, egg whites, fatty fish (salmon), tofu	Processed meats (bacon, sausage), large portions of red meat	Reduces the workload on the kidneys, especially before dialysis
Fruits	Apples, berries, grapes, pineapple	Oranges, bananas, dried fruits, avocados, melon	Controls potassium levels to avoid hyperkalemia
Vegetables	Cabbage, cauliflower, onions, red bell peppers, green beans	Potatoes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, spinach, winter squash	Manages potassium and phosphorus content; some vegetables can be leached
Grains	White rice, white bread, corn cereals	Brown rice, whole-wheat bread, bran cereals	Whole grains are higher in potassium and phosphorus than refined grains
Fats/Oils	Olive oil, healthy fats in fish	Solid fats, butter, lard	Supports heart health, which is linked to kidney disease
Beverages	Water, unsweetened cranberry juice, clear sodas	Dark-colored sodas (cola), processed juices, excessive alcohol	Avoids high phosphorus additives and controls fluid intake

Conclusion

The best thing to eat when you have kidney disease is not a single food but a balanced, mindful diet rich in fresh, unprocessed items and carefully controlled for sodium, potassium, and phosphorus. For many, this means favoring lean proteins, low-potassium fruits and vegetables, and refined grains over their whole-grain counterparts, which are higher in minerals. Avoiding high-sodium processed foods and beverages with phosphate additives is also critical. Ultimately, effective dietary management hinges on personalization and professional guidance, underscoring the importance of working with a renal dietitian to create a sustainable and enjoyable eating plan. This proactive approach can significantly help in managing symptoms and potentially slowing the progression of kidney disease.

For more information on kidney-friendly diets, visit the National Kidney Foundation's Superfoods page.

Frequently Asked Questions

When kidneys are damaged, they can't effectively filter waste, excess fluid, sodium, potassium, and phosphorus from the blood. Controlling these nutrients through diet helps to manage blood pressure, prevent dangerous mineral imbalances, and reduce the workload on the kidneys.

Fruits high in potassium should be limited, including bananas, oranges, dried fruits, avocados, and melon. Instead, opt for lower-potassium options like apples, berries, grapes, and pineapple.

Leaching can significantly reduce the potassium content in high-potassium vegetables like potatoes. This involves peeling and chopping the vegetable, soaking it in warm water for at least two hours, and then boiling it in fresh, unsalted water.

Many dairy products, including milk and cheese, are high in phosphorus and should be limited. Some lower-phosphorus alternatives exist, such as rice milk or almond milk without additives, or low-phosphorus cheeses like brie or swiss in moderation.

To avoid high-phosphorus food additives, check ingredient lists for words containing “phos,” such as phosphoric acid or sodium phosphate. These are often found in processed foods, packaged meats, and dark-colored sodas, so cooking with fresh ingredients is the best approach.

It depends on the stage of kidney disease and treatment. For early-stage CKD, moderate protein restriction is often advised to reduce kidney workload. However, patients on dialysis typically need more protein to replace what is removed during treatment.

You can add flavor to dishes without salt by using herbs and spices like garlic, onion powder, paprika, dill, oregano, and lemon juice. Avoid salt substitutes, as they often contain potassium chloride, which can be dangerous.