Good Diets for Bad Kidneys

The kidneys are a major portion of the waste disposal system of the body, being responsible for processing certain types of nutrients and regulating fluid balance in the body, among other tasks. When disease or chronic infection compromises the efficacy of the kidneys, steps should be taken to improve their longevity by decreasing the overall volume of their workload. This is done by reducing consumption of nutrients that overly stress the kidneys, including protein, sodium, phosphorous and potassium.

Protein Reduction

Reduce your overall protein consumption to the equivalent of no more than five to seven ounces of meat per day, according to the health website Peacehealth.org. This works out to roughly 40 to 60 grams of protein. While the body's primary source of protein is meat and dairy products, keep in mind that many foods contain trace (lower) amounts of protein as well, which can add up over time. Therefore, you must be diligent in examining the food labels of all foods to stay under this limit. Furthermore, do not think that "less is more," because the body requires some level of protein to build and repair tissue, so aim to hit your protein limit and do not intentionally shoot under it.

Sodium Reduction

Aim to limit your overall sodium consumption to less than 2,000 mg per day. In addition to taking stress off of the kidneys, this can help solve problems with hypertension (high blood pressure) as well. To reduce the amount of sodium in your diet naturally, avoid foods that are pre-prepared (processed), canned items, salt-added items like chips and pretzels and salted meats like ham, bacon and lunchmeat.

Potassium and Phosphorous Reduction

Perform simple food substitutions to limit your overall intake of both potassium and phosphorous. Avoid consumption of dairy, nuts, nut butters, lentils, seeds, cola, beer, bananas, tomatoes, raisins, oranges, chocolate and broccoli. In lieu of the aforementioned items, consume milk substitutes, zucchini, apples, pears, rice, beans, lettuce, watermelon, cherries and cranberries. These foods will help provide your body with vitamins and minerals while avoiding high levels of either potassium or phosphorous.