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Lifestyle and home remedies
By Mayo Clinic staffAs part of your treatment for chronic kidney disease, your doctor may recommend a special diet to help support your kidneys and limit the work they must do. Ask your doctor for a referral to a dietitian who can analyze your current diet and suggest ways to make your diet easier on your kidneys.
Depending on your situation, your kidney function and your overall health, your dietitian may recommend that you:
- Limit the amount of protein you eat. Your dietitian will determine the appropriate number of grams of protein you should eat each day. To lower the amount of protein you eat, limit high-protein foods such as meats, eggs, milk, cheese and beans. Instead, choose more low-protein foods, such as vegetables, fruits, breads and cereals.
- Choose lower potassium foods. Your dietitian may recommend that you choose lower potassium foods at each meal. High-potassium foods include bananas, oranges, potatoes, spinach and tomatoes. Low-potassium foods include apples, cabbage, carrots, green beans, grapes and strawberries.
- Avoid products with added salt. Lower the amount of sodium you eat each day by avoiding products with added salt, including many convenience foods, such as frozen dinners, canned soups and fast foods. Other foods with added salt include salty snack foods, canned vegetables, and processed meats and cheeses.
- Mitch WE. Chronic kidney disease. In: Goldman L, et al. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/192064788-4/0/1492/0.html. Accessed March 30, 2010.
- Ferri FF. Renal failure, chronic. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2010. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/192064788-4/0/2088/0.html. Accessed March 30, 2010.
- Wolfson AB. Renal failure. In: Marx JA, et al. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=aboutPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05472-0..X0001-1--TOP&isbn=978-0-323-05472-0&uniq=193452254. Accessed March 30, 2010.
- Kraut JA. Chronic renal failure. In: Bope ET, et al. Conn's Current Therapy 2010. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=aboutPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-6642-2..C2009-0-38983-7--TOP&isbn=978-1-4160-6642-2&uniq=192064788. Accessed March 30, 2010.
- About chronic kidney disease: A guide for patients and their families. National Kidney Foundation. http://www.kidney.org/atoz/atozcopy.cfm?pdflink=11-50-0160_JAI_PatBro_AboutCKDv2lr.pdf. Accessed April 5, 2010.
- Coping effectively: A guide for patients and their families. National Kidney Foundation. http://www.kidney.org/atoz/atozcopy.cfm?pdflink=coping.pdf. Accessed April 5, 2010.
- Kidney failure: Choosing a treatment that's right for you. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/choosingtreatment/index.htm. Accessed March 30, 2010.
- Chronic kidney disease stage 5 nutrition therapy for people not on dialysis. ADA Nutrition Care Manual. http://nutritioncaremanual.org/vault/editor/Docs/ChronicKidneyDiseaseNutritionTherapyNo%20Dialysis_FINAL.pdf. Accessed April 6, 2010.
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