Nutrition and chronic kidney disease (1996)

Nutrition is always important. When you have kidney disease what you eat can also impact your health and treatment plan. Your medical team will talk with you about diet when needed. 

What do kidneys do?

The kidney’s main job is to clear waste from your blood. This waste leaves your body in your urine (pee). When you eat, your body uses what it needs and gets rid of what it doesn’t.   Kidneys are a filter: they keep the good stuff your body needs and get rid of the waste. 

Kidneys also help with other things, like:

• Bone Health: Kidneys help keep the right balance of calcium and phosphorus in your body. These are minerals which help bones grow and get strong. 
• Making Blood: Kidneys make a hormone that helps your body form red blood cells. If they don’t make enough of this hormone, you can become anemic (low in red blood cells). 
• Growth: Kidney problems can sometimes cause poor appetite. This can slow down your growth. Kidney’s also make growth hormone. In chronic kidney disease they may not make enough causing you to not grow as tall as you could.

How does chronic kidney disease impact nutrition?

In the early stages of kidney disease, your kidneys can still get rid of enough waste to keep you healthy. As kidney function gets worse, they can't do their job as well. Some foods make lots of waste that your kidneys may not be able to handle. Your providers will check lab results and help you make changes to your diet if needed.

Here are some important points:

• You can eat all foods, but you might need to eat some foods less often.
• Your dietitian can tell you which foods to eat less of. They can also help you find foods you like.
• You may need to limit some nutrients in your diet. Your dietitian will teach which ones to limit and how to do so. These may include potassium, phosphorus, sodium, and fluids.
  

What can I do now?

Here are some habits to start now to help your kidneys:

• Avoid sports drinks like Gatorade ®, Powerade ® and coconut water.
• Cook and eat most meals at home. Eat less fast food.
• Use more fresh foods in your cooking. 
• Use spices and herbs to add flavor to foods. Do not add salt. For example, use garlic powder instead of garlic salt.
• Know your fruits and vegetables: Learn which ones are high in potassium and eat them less often. Your dietitian will help you with this.