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🫘 Eating with chronic kidney disease — official guidance

⚕️ Talk to your care team

Potassium, phosphorus and protein needs in kidney disease must be set by your doctor or renal dietitian. Our general plans are NOT designed for CKD.

What to do — the quick answer

Tap any line for the reason, the evidence level and the source. The full step-by-step explanation follows below.

🥗 Eat more of

    🏃 Do

    • Active 30 min most daysOfficial
      Be active for 30 minutes or more on most days, aim for a healthy weight and 7 to 8 hours of sleep. NIH NIDDK
      Step 1
    • Control sugar & pressureOfficial
      Managing diabetes and high blood pressure may help prevent CKD or slow it down. NIH NIDDK
      Step 2
    • Work with a dietitianOfficial
      A dietitian can find the right amounts of sodium, protein, phosphorus, potassium and fluid for you. NIH NIDDK
      Step 3

    🚫 Cut down on

    • SaltOfficial
      Aim for less than 2,300 mg of sodium a day. NIH NIDDK
      Step 1
    • Regular NSAID painkillersOfficial
      Regular use of NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and naproxen can damage your kidneys. NIH NIDDK
      Step 1
    • TobaccoOfficial
      If you smoke or use other tobacco products, stop. NIH NIDDK
      Step 1
    • Packaged & fast foodOfficial
      Limit prepared, packaged and fast foods (sodium) and drinks and foods with added phosphorus; avoid salt substitutes (potassium chloride). NIH NIDDK
      Step 3

    Evidence: EU claim EU-authorised claim · Official Official guidance · Trials Clinical trials · Study Population study · Review Scientific review

    Build a general healthy-eating plan → How it works, step by step ↓

    How your kidneys work — and what changes in CKD

    Healthy kidneys filter about half a cup of blood every minute. NIH NIDDK

    1. 1Kidneys filter the blood
    2. 2In CKD, waste builds up
    3. 3Food choices change with CKD

    1. Kidneys filter the blood

      Root cause: Diabetes and high blood pressure damage the filters.

      🏃 Do
      • Active 30 min most daysOfficial
        Be active for 30 minutes or more on most days, aim for a healthy weight and 7 to 8 hours of sleep. NIH NIDDK
      🚫 Cut down on
      • SaltOfficial
        Aim for less than 2,300 mg of sodium a day. NIH NIDDK
      • Regular NSAID painkillersOfficial
        Regular use of NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and naproxen can damage your kidneys. NIH NIDDK
      • TobaccoOfficial
        If you smoke or use other tobacco products, stop. NIH NIDDK
      How this step works · what slows it down · sources

      Each kidney has about a million nephrons. The glomerulus filters the blood and the tubule returns needed substances and removes wastes, making urine. Kidneys also balance water, salts and minerals and make hormones for blood pressure, red blood cells and bones. NIH NIDDK

      The advice for this step comes from official health agencies and published research — the badge on each line shows which.

    2. In CKD, waste builds up

      Root cause: Diabetes and high blood pressure are the main causes.

      🏃 Do
      • Control sugar & pressureOfficial
        Managing diabetes and high blood pressure may help prevent CKD or slow it down. NIH NIDDK
      How this step works · what slows it down · sources

      In chronic kidney disease the kidneys are damaged and cannot filter blood properly, so waste and extra fluid build up. Diabetes and high blood pressure are the main causes. NIH NIDDK

      🔻 What can slow this down
      • Diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, family history and older age. NIH NIDDK

      The advice for this step comes from official health agencies and published research — the badge on each line shows which.

    3. Food choices change with CKD

      Root cause: Damaged kidneys cannot clear sodium, phosphorus, potassium and protein waste.

      🏃 Do
      • Work with a dietitianOfficial
        A dietitian can find the right amounts of sodium, protein, phosphorus, potassium and fluid for you. NIH NIDDK
      🚫 Cut down on
      • Packaged & fast foodOfficial
        Limit prepared, packaged and fast foods (sodium) and drinks and foods with added phosphorus; avoid salt substitutes (potassium chloride). NIH NIDDK
      How this step works · what slows it down · sources

      Limit sodium; get the right amount of protein (not too much, not too little); choose unsaturated fats; limit added phosphorus; and you may need to limit potassium. Needs change as CKD progresses. NIH NIDDK

      The advice for this step comes from official health agencies and published research — the badge on each line shows which.

    ⚕️ Important

    Our general plans favour potassium-rich foods, which may not suit people with kidney disease. Follow your kidney team's advice. NIH NIDDK

    Authorised claims say a nutrient contributes to a normal body function. They do not mean that eating more than you need improves that function, or that a food treats any condition. Population studies show associations, not proof of cause.

    Meal options built from this flow

    Pick any option per meal. Ranked by how well one portion covers this goal's targets and how many steps above its foods support (reference adult, everything diet). The planner adapts portions, diet type and allergies.

    Breakfast — pick one of 3

    Boiled eggs on wholemeal toast with spinach & tomato
    Eggs, boiled 120 g (2 eggs) · Wholemeal bread 60 g · Spinach 50 g · Tomatoes 100 g · Olive oil 5 g
    375 kcal · 23.2 g protein · 8.2 g fibre
    Skyr with raspberries, oat bran & linseed
    Skyr 150 g · Raspberries 100 g · Oat bran flakes 20 g · Linseed (flaxseed), ground 10 g
    260 kcal · 21.9 g protein · 9.7 g fibre
    Rye bread with quark, cucumber & tomato
    Wholemeal rye bread 80 g · Low-fat quark 80 g · Cucumber 80 g · Tomatoes 80 g
    238 kcal · 15.9 g protein · 9.5 g fibre

    Lunch — pick one of 3

    Lentil salad with tomato, cucumber, pepper & feta
    Lentils, boiled 150 g · Tomatoes 100 g · Cucumber 80 g · Red sweet pepper 60 g · Feta 30 g · Olive oil 10 g · Rocket (arugula) 20 g
    414 kcal · 21.5 g protein · 14.5 g fibre
    Salmon, quinoa & broccoli bowl
    Salmon 125 g · Quinoa, boiled 150 g · Broccoli 120 g · Olive oil 5 g
    468 kcal · 34.5 g protein · 8.2 g fibre
    Tofu & edamame stir-fry with brown rice
    Tofu 120 g · Edamame (immature soya beans) 80 g · Broccoli 80 g · Red sweet pepper 60 g · Brown rice, boiled 150 g · Rapeseed (canola) oil 5 g
    541 kcal · 37 g protein · 10.7 g fibre

    Dinner — pick one of 3

    Chicken with quinoa, kale & peppers
    Chicken breast, skinless 130 g · Quinoa, boiled 150 g · Kale 60 g · Red sweet pepper 80 g · Olive oil 5 g
    403 kcal · 36.9 g protein · 11.4 g fibre
    Lean beef & bean chilli with brown rice
    Beef mince, lean 100 g · Kidney beans, canned, drained 100 g · Tomatoes 150 g · Onion 40 g · Red sweet pepper 60 g · Brown rice, boiled 120 g
    465 kcal · 36.6 g protein · 16.7 g fibre
    Tofu & cauliflower curry with brown rice
    Tofu 150 g · Cauliflower 120 g · Spinach 50 g · Green peas, frozen 60 g · Brown rice, boiled 150 g · Rapeseed (canola) oil 5 g
    507 kcal · 34.7 g protein · 11.6 g fibre

    Snack — pick one of 3

    Soya yogurt with walnuts & raspberries
    Soya yogurt alternative, fortified 150 g · Walnuts 20 g · Raspberries 60 g
    236 kcal · 10.1 g protein · 3.7 g fibre
    Pumpkin & sunflower seeds with grapes
    Pumpkin seeds 15 g · Sunflower seeds 10 g · Grapes 100 g
    206 kcal · 8.7 g protein · 3.5 g fibre
    Rye crispbread with peanut butter & banana
    Wholemeal rye crispbread 20 g · Peanut butter (100% peanuts) 15 g · Banana 100 g
    237 kcal · 7.6 g protein · 7.2 g fibre

    In short

    With chronic kidney disease you may need to limit sodium, and, depending on the stage, protein, phosphorus and potassium. NIH stresses that the right amounts depend on your blood tests and should be set with a renal dietitian — generic "healthy" advice (like eating more potassium-rich foods) can be harmful in CKD.

    What official sources say

    Many people with CKD need to limit their sodium even more than the general advice, and may need to adjust the amount of protein in their diet. NIH NIDDK
    Damaged kidneys can't remove phosphorus well, and too little or too much potassium can cause heart and muscle problems — work with a dietitian or health care professional to find the right amounts for you. NIH NIDDK

    Sources

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