A Kidney-Friendly Diet: The Essentials

What you eat supports the medical treatment of kidney disease. The right diet depends on the stage of disease and whether dialysis has begun. The four things to manage are salt, potassium, phosphorus and protein. Salt raises blood pressure and fluid; potassium and phosphorus can build up when the kidneys fail; protein must be balanced rather than simply restricted. Practical steps include cooking at home with less salt, avoiding highly processed and packaged foods, and following the fluid limit your doctor sets. Dietary changes should be made on the basis of your own stage and lab values, under professional guidance — not from a general list.