Best Foods for People with Kidney Disease
Due to an extremely fast-paced lifestyle which encourages bad habits, more than 10% of the world’s population is facing severe kidney problems. In order to keep your kidneys safe and healthy, you need to keep a check on your diet at all times. There are the certain foods that can help your kidney to function well that you must be aware of. Let’s take a look at some those foods that help you to adopt healthy kidney diet plans.
Olive oil
Olive oil is an excellent source of fat, and as it is free from phosphorous, it becomes a wonderful option for those people who have kidney issues. Generally, patients diagnosed with kidney problems experience a rapid loss in weight. Including a high-calorie food element makes for healthy kidney diet plans and this helps you maintain a suitable body weight Most of the fats in olive oil are monounsaturated which bear anti-inflammatory properties. One ounce or 28 grams of olive oil will provide you with:
- Potassium: 0.3 mg
- Sodium: 0.6 mg
- Phosphorus: 0 mg
Buckwheat
Most of the whole grains that are available in the market tend to be very high on the phosphorous content. However, buckwheat is a wonderful and healthy alternative to these grains. It is a food item rich in nutrition that provides the body with the required amount of iron, fiber, magnesium, and B vitamins. It is also free from gluten which makes buckwheat a great choice for those who suffer from celiac disease. One cup or 84 grams of buckwheat will provide you with:
- Potassium: 74 mg
- Sodium: 3.5 mg
- Phosphorus: 59 mg
Garlic
Generally, patients with kidney problems are asked to lower their sodium intake which includes the use of added salt. Garlic is a great alternative to that. It gives your dish a wonderful added taste and flavor. Garlic is also a good source of Vitamin C, Manganese, and Vitamin B6. It also has sulfur compounds which work as anti-inflammatory elements. Therefore, garlic can be both a wonderful and useful additive which makes for healthy kidney diet plans. Using three cloves or 9 grams of garlic will give you:
- Potassium: 36 mg
- Sodium: 1.5 mg
- Phosphorus: 14 mg
Egg Whites
Eggs are an extremely nutritious food item. But, when you are following healthy kidney diet plans, you should avoid egg yolks as they are a rich source of phosphorous. In order to ensure good kidney health, it is better to stick to consuming egg whites only. Egg whites are a wonderful source of protein that contain very less phosphorous. Therefore, it is a wonderful choice for those who are undergoing dialysis treatment. 66 grams or two large egg whites contain:
- Potassium: 108 mg
- Sodium: 110 mg
- Phosphorus: 10 mg
Red grapes
Red grapes are those juicy fruits that not only give your taste buds a treat but will also help to keep your kidney healthy. It has Vitamin C which also contains antioxidants known as flavonoids. These are known to have a great effect in reducing inflammation. Moreover, red grapes have resveratrol which is great for keeping your heart healthy and helps protect you from diabetes. 75 grams of red grapes will give you:
- Potassium: 144 mg
- Sodium: 1.5 mg
- Phosphorus: 15 mg
Sea Bass
Seabass is a great source of high-quality protein and has healthy fats known as omega-3. Generally, seafood is high in phosphorous. However, sea bass is one such seafood that has a low amount of phosphorous. Despite this, you need to keep in check the amount of sea bass you include on your diet since anything in excess can be unhealthy. Three ounces or 85 grams of sea bass will provide you with:
- Potassium: 279 mg
- Sodium: 74 mg
- Phosphorus: 211 mg
Blueberry
Blueberries are one of the best foods that you can include to adopt and follow healthy kidney diet plans. It is a great source of anti-oxidants. Sweet berries have an antioxidant known as anthocyanin which protects one from heart problems and certain cancers. It is quite low in sodium, potassium, and phosphorous which makes it a wonderful inclusion if your diet plans pertain to kidney health. 148 grams of blueberries will provide you with:
- Potassium: 114 mg
- Sodium: 1.5 mg
- Phosphorus: 18 mg
Cauliflower
Cauliflower can be a great inclusion as a side dish which is low in potassium. It is also high in Vitamin A, C, K, and B folate. It has anti-inflammatory compounds like indoles which are additionally a great source of fiber. 124 grams of cooked cauliflower will give you:
- Potassium: 176 mg
- Sodium: 19 mg
- Phosphorus: 40 mg
The above mentioned are some of the foods which can help you to keep your kidney healthy. It is recommended to create a diet plan using them in adequate and suitable quantities to ensure better kidney functioning.