What to Eat & What Not To
A delicious bowl of food
Food is not just the fuel that makes your body run. What you eat forms the building blocks for your cells. You really are what you eat. So, your food can, and does, affect your health. When you have CKD, one way to feel better and protect your kidneys is to take a fresh look at what you eat. See if you might want to make some changes to your diet. Your care team may give you some tips as well.
Foods that are close to nature like fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, beans and peas, whole grains, and lean meats are best for your body. Food that comes in a can, box, jar, or bag has been processed in a factory. Most processed foods have lots of chemicals, preservatives, and fillers (like wood pulp!). Some, like natural peanut butter, canned beans, or frozen vegetables, are good choices. How do you know which are good? READ LABELS. When a food has more than a few ingredients — or a “fresh” food, like meat or fish, has an ingredient list at all — be wary. Look for foods that have no more than five or six ingredients. You may want to make a fresh choice.
Most food cans in the U.S. are lined with bisphenol A (BPA). BPA has been linked with high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity. Many canned foods tend to be very high in salt or sugar and highly processed, too. Glass jars or shelf safe cartons don’t have BPA.
Should you buy organic? Studies have found that organic foods may or may not be more nutritious than standard ones. But, organic foods don’t have the pesticides that standard foods may have. Also, genetically modified (GMO) grains are used in some processed foods. These have been shown to cause organ damage in rats. Organic foods do not have GMOs. If you can afford it, sure, buy organic.
Thin-skinned fruits and vegetables that tend to have the most pesticides.
Apples
Peaches
Nectarines
Strawberries
Grapes
Celery
Spinach
Sweet bell peppers
Cucumbers
Hot peppers
Cherry tomatoes
Kale/Collard greens
Snap peas (imported)
Potatoes
Fast food and junk food are cheap and tasty. But… they may be made with poor ingredients or deep fried. Or, just one menu item may have enough calories and salt for a full day. Not used to cooking? Ask a friend to teach you, take a class, or watch cooking shows on TV or YouTube.com. (Put “How to cook ____” in the YouTube search bar to get quick tips.) There are lots of easy, quick recipes online. Or, many grocery stores have salad bars and other healthy choices.
