10 Food Items You Should Avoid To Promote Renal Health

Kidneys are the filter system of your body. They flush out all the toxins from your body.From maintaining the renal function to regulating the blood pressure, kidneys play a key role in maintaining the overall health of your body. It is thus crucial to keep them healthy and your diet can make a whole lot of difference.

Manisha Chopra, Nutritionist, Dietitian, and Fitness Expertspoke about foods for healthy kidneys with us in detail. She said, “Our body absorbs nutrients from food and liquids to function properly. Most of the vitamins and minerals that are not required by our body are transported to the kidneys via blood. The kidneys produce urine while filtering those extra nutrients. Yet, certain nutrients get accumulated in the kidneys and harm them in the long run. If one already has kidney disease, this can lead to additional kidney ailments like kidney failure." She further shared that some foods should be avoided for healthy kidneys.

“Foods which are high in sodium and potassium should be prohibited because if your kidneys aren’t functioning properly, it gets difficult to remove extra potassium or salt from the food you consume,” she added.

Foods To Avoid For Healthy Kidneys

Canned foods

Extra salt is added to the canned goods as a preservative to extend their shelf life, which results in high sodium content in most canned foods. People suffering with kidney ailments are advised to avoid consuming canned foods or if required, consume in moderate quantities due to the high salt content present in them.

Whole wheat bread

The high fibre content of whole wheat bread makes it a nutritious option for breakfast. However, for those suffering with kidney issues, white bread should be preferred over whole wheat bread because of the high potassium and phosphorus content of brown bread.

Whole wheat bread has an increased phosphorus and potassium content because of the high quantity of bran present in them.

Brown rice

Just like whole wheat bread, brown rice should also be avoided by people with kidney disease, as it contains a higher amount of potassium and phosphorus as compared to white rice.

Banana

Bananas are a rich source of potassium. Despite having naturally low sodium content, one medium banana contains 422 mg of potassium which is unhealthy for those with kidney-related issues.

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Dairy products

Our expert said, “Dairy products are a good source of protein and a natural supplier of phosphate and potassium. When combined with other phosphorus-rich foods, a high dairy intake can be harmful to bone health in those with kidney disease.”

Processed meats

Due to the added preservatives, processed meats are typically regarded as unhealthy and are often considered to cause chronic diseases. The high amount of salt is used in processed meats, mostly for flavour, preservation and taste enhancement.

A lot of salt is added during the pickling or curing process. Pickles should be avoided tomaintain kidney health.

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Tomatoes

Tomatoes are high in potassium which doesn’t make them a good fit for those on a renal diet.

Potatoes

If you have renal problems, you should stay away from potatoes because they too are a potassium-rich food.