Last Updated on February 23, 2020
Alternatively, you should buy canned foods with the “no salt added” label or rinsing canned foods before eating them.
2. Dairy products
Everybody knows that dairy products are an excellent source of calcium, indispensable for healthy bone growth and strengthening. They are also rich in vitamins, nutrients, and protein. So, how exactly can dairy be bad for the kidneys?
Besides being rich in protein, dairy also contains high amounts of potassium and phosphorus. If your diet includes other products with similarly high values, your kidneys will certainly have to work harder.
People with kidney disease should limit their dairy intake for two main reasons:
To avoid the buildup of protein waste in the blood;
To avoid the buildup of phosphorus in the blood that weakens the bone and increases the risk of fracture;
If you were diagnosed with a renal condition you should avoid dairy products, or replace them with dairy alternatives. Nowadays there are dozens of products available with lower levels of potassium, phosphorus, and protein such as almond milk or unenriched rice milk, for example.
3. Whole wheat bread
Whole wheat bread is regarded as a healthier and more nutritious alternative to refined, regular white flour bread. But it has the exact same problem as the aforementioned dairy products – the high levels of potassium and phosphorus.
One slice of whole-grain bread contains approximately 70 mg of potassium and 57 mg of phosphorus. In turn, a slice of white bread is only 25 mg of each. If you have a kidney problem, you already know why you should avoid eating whole wheat bread.
4. Orange juice
Orange juice is everybody’s favorite. It tastes good at any time of the day and gives you that extra dose of vitamin C that makes you feel reinvigorated.
The problem is once again the potassium levels. One orange has about 240 mg of potassium, which means that one cup of orange juice can contain over 500 mg of potassium. You should limit the amount of orange juice you drink, especially if your kidneys aren’t working as they should.
