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Renal-friendly foods

Also called: kidney-friendly foods

A renal-friendly diet is one in which protein, phosphorus, and sodium levels are controlled. While the body needs protein for muscle growth and tissue repair, people with kidney disease cannot rid their bodies of the waste created when the body uses protein. Therefore, in order to limit waste build up, a renal diet may control the amount of protein consumed.  In addition, phosphorus may need to be controlled to avoid losing calcium and weakening the bones, and sodium may need to be controlled to avoid high blood pressure.

A renal diet may also be higher in fats and carbohydrates than a normal diet to make up for not getting as many calories from protein. Renal-friendly, high calorie foods include unsaturated fats such as vegetable oils, sugar and sweets such as candy and jelly, and canned fruit in heavy syrup.

Articles

• Potassium, phosphorous and the dialysis diet
• Fluid control for kidney disease patients on dialysis
• All about diet and nutrition: The hemodialysis diet
• All about diet and nutrition: The peritoneal dialysis diet

Video

• Diet and nutrition: How phosphorous binders work
• Diet and nutrition: Non-dairy milk substitutes
• Diet and nutrition: Reading labels to find phosphorous
• Diet and nutrition: Reducing potassium in vegetables

Articles and portals

• Nutrition and Chronic Kidney Disease – National Kidney Foundation
• Diet for Kidney Disease – University of Utah Health Sciences Center

Journals

• Article: Blood Pressure Control, Proteinuria, and the Progression of Renal Disease, The Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study
• Article: Performance of the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease and Cockcroft-Gault Equations in the Estimation of GFR in Health and in Chronic Kidney Disease

Organizations

• American Association of Kidney Patients