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What foods prevent kidney failure?

A kidney-friendly diet should limit sodium, cholesterol, and fat and instead focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, and lean meats (seafood, poultry, eggs, legumes, nuts, seeds, and soy products), says Maruschak.

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Diet Tips for Kidney Health

A kidney-friendly diet should limit sodium, cholesterol, and fat and instead focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, and lean meats (seafood, poultry, eggs, legumes, nuts, seeds, and soy products), says Maruschak. People who have already been diagnosed with CKD may also need to limit certain other nutrients, she adds. Here are a few ways to tweak your diet to maintain kidney health.

1. Portion your plate

As a general rule of thumb, Maruschak suggests following the MyPlate method at every meal: Fill roughly half of your plate with vegetables and fruits, one quarter with lean protein, and one quarter with whole grains.

2. Limit your salt intake

Sodium sneaks its way into all sorts of places you wouldn’t imagine, especially packaged foods such as soups and breads. Limiting your sodium intake helps keep your blood pressure under control. Aim for 2,300 mg per day, according to the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration — that’s about 1 teaspoon of table salt. If you’re at risk of or already have high blood pressure, Maruschak suggests following a low-sodium diet — specifically the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan. Also try these tips to keep your sodium in check: Limit ordering takeout and eating at restaurants. “Salt is often added to your food, and items used in restaurant kitchens may have added sodium,” says Maruschak. When you do eat out, do your research. You can sometimes find the sodium content of dishes on the restaurant’s website, she adds. “Salt is often added to your food, and items used in restaurant kitchens may have added sodium,” says Maruschak. When you do eat out, do your research. You can sometimes find the sodium content of dishes on the restaurant’s website, she adds. Cook at home with whole, unprocessed foods. When you prepare meals at home using fresh ingredients, you control exactly how much sodium (and fat) goes into each bite. When you prepare meals at home using fresh ingredients, you control exactly how much sodium (and fat) goes into each bite. Get creative with seasonings. Maruschak suggests avoiding salt when cooking or at the table. Instead, use spices, herbs, lemon, and other sodium-free seasonings. Maruschak suggests avoiding salt when cooking or at the table. Instead, use spices, herbs, lemon, and other sodium-free seasonings. Check the package. Any prepared food with 20 percent or more of your daily value of sodium is considered high-sodium. Choose soups, frozen meals, and other packaged foods labeled as reduced or low-sodium or salt-free whenever you can. Any prepared food with 20 percent or more of your daily value of sodium is considered high-sodium. Choose soups, frozen meals, and other packaged foods labeled as reduced or low-sodium or salt-free whenever you can. Rinse canned foods before eating. This helps remove excess sodium.

3. Be mindful of protein

When you eat protein, your body produces waste that’s filtered through your kidneys. While protein is an important part of a healthy diet, eating more protein than you need to may cause your kidneys to work harder. Although there needs to be more research on the effects of a high-protein diet on overall kidney health, your doctor will likely recommend a lower-protein diet if you already have CKD. “Having too much protein can cause waste to build up in your blood, and your kidneys may not be able to remove it,” Maruschak says.

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People with any stage of CKD who aren’t on dialysis should limit their protein intake to 0.6 to 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight to reduce kidney disease progression, Maruschak says. For example, a person who weighs 150 pounds (68kg) would need 40 to 54 grams of protein per day, which is about 4 to 6 ounces of protein from animal or plant sources, according to the National Kidney Foundation. Be sure to speak with an RD to determine the right amount of protein for you. Whether or not you’ve been diagnosed with CKD, it can help to opt for healthier protein sources and watch your portion sizes. Good sources of protein include: Lean meat, fish, or skinless poultry (one portion size is 2 to 3 ounces, or about the size of a deck of cards)

Eggs

Dairy (one portion size of yogurt and milk is ½ cup, while one portion of cheese is 1 ounce — about the size of your two thumbs together)

Beans, chickpeas, lentils, peas (one portion is ½ cup)

Nuts (one portion is ¼ cup)

4. Choose complex carbs over simple carbs

Carbohydrates are your body’s main source of energy, and those that occur naturally in fresh foods are filled with fiber to support heart and gut health and keep your blood sugar levels steady. However, simple carbs — such as added sugars in desserts, sweetened beverages, and many packaged foods — can spike blood sugar and increase the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. As part of an overall healthy diet, you should limit sweets and foods with added sugars (check the label — they’re found in many surprising places, like fruit yogurt), says Maruschak. Healthier carbohydrate choices include whole grains, fruits, vegetables, beans, and lentils. If you have diabetes and are on insulin, you may need to be even more careful about your carbohydrate intake. “It is likely that people will need to count carbohydrates at meal times so they can dose their insulin correctly,” says Maruschak.

5. Limit saturated fats and avoid trans fat

Diets that are high in saturated and trans fats increase the risk of heart disease — and what’s bad for your heart is bad for your kidneys. “Heart health and kidney health are interconnected, as the heart constantly pumps blood throughout the body and the kidneys continuously filter the blood in order to remove waste products and excess fluid from the body,” Maruschak says. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend limiting saturated fats to less than 10 percent of your total daily calories. Main sources include meats, full-fat dairy products, butter, lard, coconut oil, and palm oil, says Maruschak. And try to avoid trans fats, found in baked goods and fried foods. Instead, fill up on heart-healthy unsaturated fats, found in fatty fish, avocados, olives, walnuts, and many types of vegetable oils.

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6. Watch your alcohol intake

Alcohol harms your kidneys in several ways, explains Maruschak. It’s a waste product that your kidneys have to filter out of your blood — and it makes your kidneys less efficient. It’s dehydrating, which can affect the kidneys’ ability to regulate your body’s water levels. It can affect your liver function, which in turn can impact blood flow to the kidneys and lead to CKD over time. And a high alcohol intake has been liked to an increased risk of high blood pressure, which can lead to kidney disease. Maruschak says both men and women should drink no more than one alcoholic beverage per day. That’s 12 ounces of regular beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces (one shot glass) of distilled spirits, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. “It’s always best to speak with your physician about your alcohol intake, as some people should not be consuming any alcohol at all,” she says. 7. Talk to your doctor about whether you need to limit phosphorus and potassium Phosphorus and potassium are minerals that your body needs for certain processes. Phosphorous helps build strong bones, while potassium helps regulate your heartbeat and keeps your muscles working properly. If you have CKD, however, these minerals they can build up in your blood, causing problems throughout your body. High levels of phosphorus can pull calcium from your bones, making bones weak and more likely to break, and may cause itchy skin and bone and joint pain. You may need to limit foods high in phosphorous, such as animal protein, dairy, and dark-colored sodas. High levels of potassium (found in certain fruits and vegetables, as well as dairy) can cause heart problems. Your doctor will run blood tests to check your potassium and phosphorus levels. Be sure to ask if you’re not sure whether you need to keep tabs on your intake of these minerals.

8. Work with a dietitian

Making changes to your diet can be hard. If you’re struggling to stick to a healthy diet, a registered dietitian (RD) can help you to develop a meal plan that’s tailored to your individual needs. “It can seem overwhelming to manage your diet,” says Maruschak. “An RD can help you to find foods that fit into your specific dietary requirements.”

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