Top 7 foods for people with kidney disease

Many of the foods that protect against oxidation are included in the kidney diet and make excellent choices for dialysis patients or people with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

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Eating healthy foods is important for people with kidney disease because they experience more inflammation and have a higher risk for cardiovascular disease.

1. Cabbage

Cabbage is packed full of phytochemicals, chemical compounds in fruit or vegetables that break up free radicals before they can do damage. Many phytochemicals are also known to protect against and fight cancer, as well as foster cardiovascular health.

High in vitamin K, vitamin C and fibre, cabbage is also a good source of vitamin B6 and folic acid. Low in potassium and low in cost, it’s an affordable addition to the kidney diet.

2. Apples

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Apples have been known to reduce cholesterol, prevent constipation, protect against heart disease and reduce the risk of cancer.

You can eat them raw, make baked apples, stew apples, make them into applesauce, or drink them as apple juice or apple cider.

3. Strawberries

Strawberries are rich in two types of phenols: anthocyanins and ellagitannins. Anthocyanins are what give strawberries their red colour and are powerful antioxidants that help protect body cell structures and prevent oxidative damage. Strawberries are an excellent source of vitamin C and manganese and a very good source of fibre. They are known to provide heart protection, as well as anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory components.

4. Egg whites

Egg whites are pure protein and provide the highest quality of protein with all the essential amino acids. For the kidney diet, egg whites provide protein with less phosphorus than other protein sources such as egg yolk or meats.

5. Fish

The role of good Fish cannot be overemphasized in your diet.

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Fish provides high-quality protein and contains anti-inflammatory fats called omega-3s. The healthy fats in fish can help fight diseases such as heart disease and cancer. Omega-3s also help lower low-density lipoprotein or LDL cholesterol, which is bad cholesterol, and raise high-density lipoprotein or HDL cholesterol, which is good cholesterol.

6. Cranberries

Cranberries are known to protect against bladder infections by preventing bacteria from sticking to the bladder wall. They also protect the stomach from ulcer-causing bacteria and protect the lining of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, promoting GI health. Cranberries have also been shown to protect against cancer and heart disease.

7. Onions

Onion contains sulfuric compounds which give it its pungent smell. But in addition to making people cry, onions are also rich in flavonoids, especially quercetin, a powerful antioxidant that works to reduce heart disease and protects against many cancers.

They are low in potassium and a good source of chromium, a mineral that helps with carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism.