Nutrition

Top 9 Foods To Avoid For Kidney Disease Patients You Must Know

Welcome back to Linkingo! If you read our previous articles about renal disease, you probably have a broad view of the best diet to adopt. However, have you known about what foods to avoid for kidney disease? In this post, we will find out the answer!

Depending on the stage of kidney disease, diet restriction might vary for each person. Still, the goal is the same: You need to prevent the buildup of waste products in the blood. As your kidneys no longer function properly, they cannot fulfill their task of filtering chemicals, nutrients, and wastes as effectively as before. Hence, it is essential to keep track of what you eat to preserve kidney functions and avoid overworking them.

Though being very careful about their diet, most patients are still shocked at how fast their kidney functions decline. I have bad news for you here: Some foods that are considered healthy may turn out to be harmful once you get the renal disease. At any point, you might accidentally consume ingredients that worsen your condition. Once you realize, though, it will be too late.

If you are confident that your diet is 100% safe, you can click back right away. There is no point in reading this post. Otherwise, we will reveal the list of 9 foods kidney disease patients must avoid. I’m sure some of them will surprise you.

1. Foods To Avoid For Kidney Disease – Processed Meat.

Processed meats are meat that underwent a procedure to enhance their flavor, texture, and shelf life. The processing may include drying, salting, curing, or smoking. Some examples of processed meats are bacon, sausage, or jerky.

This type of food is bad for health in general. It is undeniable that processed meats contain more chemicals and preservatives that are not present in fresh meats. Numerous studies have proven the link between them and other diseases, such as cancer, blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes. Little did we know that it is harmful to kidney disease patients as well.

So, why is that? This type of meat contains a large amount of salt to improve its taste and preserve flavor. Hence, it possesses a high sodium content. In reality, a standard 3-ounce (85 grams) serving of bacon can contain up to 1430 mg of sodium. It is equal to 62% of the sodium allowance for kidney disease patients.

High sodium intake is extremely bad for the kidneys. That’s because excess sodium requires your kidneys to work harder, though strain them. It puts you at risk of high blood pressure and leads to fluid retention in places like your ankles, around your heart, or lungs.

Furthermore, processed meat is high in protein as well, which makes your body produce more wastes. As your kidneys can no longer function properly, they cannot eliminate excess wastes out of your blood.

The best thing is to replace processed meat with fresh, skinless meats like chicken breast fillets. However, when it comes to foods with protein, discuss with your doctor to find out the best amount to consume each day.

2. Foods To Avoid For Kidney Disease – Dark-Colored Soda.

Kidney disease and diabetes patients should avoid all types of soda in general. However, dark-colored sodas can be highly adverse for people with renal problems.

It is due to the phosphorus in sodas. Most dark-colored sodas contain phosphorus to prevent discoloration, prolong shelf life, and enhance flavor. Research has shown that 12 ounces (355 mL) serving can hold 90 – 180 mg of phosphorus on average. Patients often underestimate the risk because it seems much lower than the daily limit. However, phosphorus in sodas is different from phosphorus in your blood. It isn’t bound to protein but instead appears in salt form, meaning your blood can absorb it quickly.

Removing excess phosphorus is the task of healthy kidneys. As you have kidney disease, though, they can no longer fulfill this task. A high level of blood phosphorus will increase the risk of heart disease, damage your bones, and in many cases, lead to an early death.

Furthermore, sodas are also high in sugar. As it raises your blood sugar levels, it can further harm your kidneys and damage your nerves.

Instead of soda, it is best to choose a beverage that’s low in sugar and phosphorus. Some options are water, unsweetened tea, or sparkling water infused with a slice of fruit or vegetable.

3. Fruits High In Potassium.

It is one of the fatal mistakes kidney disease patients and their caretakers often make. Generally, fruits are considered healthy and harmless. Yes, they are rich sources of vitamins and minerals, which greatly benefit kidney functions. However, those with kidney problems must be very careful with certain fruits, especially those high in sugar and potassium.

If you have kidney disease, your body can’t filter potassium properly. It leads to hyperkalemia, which causes fatigue, muscle weakness, heart problems, and even early death. Fruits high in potassium include bananas, avocados, apricots, kiwi, and oranges.

For instance, 201 grams of avocado might contain up to 975 mg of potassium. It is half the daily potassium limit for a stage 2 kidney disease patient and twice the amount of potassium in a banana.

You can still consume these fruits, but it is best to reduce the portion size. Instead of a whole avocado or banana, one-fourth of each would be safer for kidney disease patients. Still, each person has different potassium limits, so talk with your doctor or dietitian to determine yours.

Furthermore, it doesn’t mean you don’t have any fruit choices. There are plenty of low potassium fruits you can add to your diet, such as grapes, berries, pineapple, mango, apples, and so on.

4. What Foods To Avoid With Kidney Disease? – Dried Fruits.

Through various processes, water is removed from fruits to create dried fruits. It makes a small and dense snack that is rich in energy and nutrients.

Though most people consider dried fruits a healthy alternative for other snacks such as fried potatoes, they are not ideal for kidney disease patients. That’s because dried fruits contain a large amount of sugar and potassium. Statistics show that one-half cup (around 65 grams) of dried apricot contains 755 mg of potassium.

Additionally, dried fruits are not beneficial for diabetes patients because they’re high in fast-digesting sugar.

5. Beans & Lentils.

In most cases, beans and lentils are not only healthy but also convenient. However, they pose potential risks for kidney disease patients.

Though being a rich fiber source, both canned and fresh beans or lentils are high in phosphorus. It is not ideal for both kidney disease patients and diabetes patients.

The canned version poses more risk as it is also high in sodium. A cup of canned lentils has 633 mg of potassium and 309 mg of sodium. It nearly exceeds the limit for kidney disease patients.

In unavoidable cases, if you have to choose canned beans or lentils, check the labels. Look for a “low sodium” or “no salt added” version. Research also implies reducing sodium contents in dried or canned foods by 33-80% if you drain and rinse them before consuming. Still, this depends on the procedure of each brand.

Please note that the amount of potassium your body absorbs varies for different food sources, though. If it is from animal sources, the body can absorb up to 70% of phosphorus. The rate reduces to 30 – 40% for plant-based sources. Therefore, doctors still allow kidney disease patients to consume a small portion of beans or lentils. However, we should not let it become a standard carb component of your meals.

6. Foods To Avoid For Kidney Disease – Packaged Foods.

Like processed meats, all kinds of packaged foods are high in sodium, harmful to kidney disease patients. The most common packaged foods are instant noodles, frozen pizza, frozen boxed meals, and microwave meals.

For instance, did you know that a slice of pizza can contain 568 mg of sodium? It is equal to one-quarter of the sodium intake limit if you have kidney disease. Aside from that, it doesn’t provide any beneficial nutrients.

Another reason packaged foods can wreck your kidney disease treatment is that they are high in refined carbs. As your body absorbs refined carbs quickly, they can spike your blood sugar levels, which affects your kidney functions.

7. Foods To Avoid For Kidney Disease – Potato & Sweet Potato.

Both potatoes and sweet potatoes are rich in potassium. Therefore, kidney disease patients, especially those in the late stages, have to be very aware of them.

A medium baked potato (156 grams) can contain up to 610 mg of potassium. In comparison, a standard baked sweet potato (114 grams) contains 541 mg of potassium.

We have a tip for you: It is best to soak potatoes or sweet potatoes before cooking. This way, you can reduce its potassium contents. A study shows that boiling small, thin pieces of potatoes for at least 10 minutes can reduce potassium content by 50%. Another research implies that soaking a potato before cooking can reduce its potassium content by 70%.

While it is possible to get rid of excess potassium in potatoes and sweet potatoes, they are still high in carbs. Therefore, if you have kidney disease and diabetes or are at risk of diabetes, it is best to eat them in moderation.

8. Whole Wheat Bread.

If you are living with kidney disease, choosing suitable types of bread can be troublesome.

For healthy individuals, whole wheat bread is a healthy alternative to refined, white bread. Yes, it is a nutritious choice, thanks to the rich fiber content. However, for kidney disease patients, white bread is more suitable. It is because aside from fiber, whole wheat bread is also high in phosphorus and potassium. The more bran and whole grains in the bread, the more potassium it contains.

For example, a 1-ounce (30 gram) serving of whole wheat bread contains about 57 mg of phosphorus and 69 mg of potassium. In comparison, white bread only has 28 mg of both phosphorus and potassium.

By cutting down the serving, though, you don’t have to give up on wheat bread completely. If you only consume one slice of each meal instead of two, you can keep phosphorus and potassium at the limit.

Please keep in mind that all bread and bread products are rich in sodium, whether white or whole wheat. Therefore, it is best to check the labels carefully and choose the lowest in sodium. Also, talk to your doctor to monitor the portion size.

9. Foods To Avoid For Kidney Disease – Fruit Juice.

Some people tend to drink fruit juice instead of plain water, thinking it will provide more nutrients. For kidney disease patients, though, this is a big mistake.

Several types of fruit juice are high in potassium, which strains your kidneys. For example, 240 mL of orange juice contains up to 443 mg of potassium.

Furthermore, if you choose canned juice, they are high in sugar. It leads to a rapid spike in blood sugar levels. If your kidney disease results from diabetes, this will worsen the condition as blood sugar clogs and narrow blood vessels in the kidneys. Additionally, prolonged high blood sugar levels can lead to various health complications.

As you have kidney disease, a small mistake in food choices can wreck the healing process and faster kidney failure. The condition can completely change your thoughts of foods because those you thought are beneficial might turn out to be harmful to you and vice versa.

If you choose the right healing path, though, you can still reverse the condition.

David Morgan, a kidney disease patient, had been suffering from kidney disease for three years. However, after reading about the 7 little-known lifestyle factors that directly damage kidneys yet are always overlooked by conventional treatments, he was able to see through every daily habit that is contributing to your condition and knew exactly what to adjust. Last week, his filtration level was 70%. Even his doctor was shocked to see the improvement.

Another one, James Rogers from Brisbane, used to have an eGFR of 28. For a long time, he has been consuming the wrong foods. Coincidentally, he discovered the Kidney Diet Essential Guide that quickly helped lower the load he placed on the kidneys. The last time he checked, his eGFR was 52. Back then, James was told that kidney disease only ever went one way: Down to being on dialysis and then death. Now, however, his kidney functions are gradually restored.

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As mentioned above, there are too many things a kidney disease patient has to keep in mind. Even a small mistake will further harm your already damaged kidneys, leading straight to kidney failure. However, as you have this guide in hand, you shall never have to worry about that.

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What Foods Not To Eat For Kidney Disease? – Conclusion.

In this post, we have listed 9 foods you must avoid consuming if you have kidney disease. All of them are high in sodium, phosphorus, and potassium, which can strain your damaged kidneys.

Still, it is crucial to consult your doctor or physician to determine a meal plan for you. Also, you can also proactively create your customized diet with home remedies to heal your kidneys holistically withThe Kidney Disease Solution program.

It comes to the end of our guide on foods to avoid for kidney disease patients. Your support is our encouragement, so if you find this article helpful, please like and share! Don’t hesitate to leave a comment below if you have other suggestions.

We look forward to seeing you soon.