Proper Diet for Kidney Health

If your doctor has told you that you need to be concerned about the health of your kidneys, you may need to follow a specific diet. Chronic kidney disease, in which your kidneys fail to function properly to filter the wastes from your blood, can progress to kidney failure if you don't take steps to improve kidney health. A low-protein kidney diet can help you keep your kidney function as high as possible.

Chronic kidney disease afflicts at least 13 percent of all United States residents, according to the National Institutes of Health. Because the disease causes no symptoms, many of these people don't even know they have it. High blood pressure and diabetes represent two major causes of kidney disease, and being obese also can cause kidney damage.

A low protein diet helps the kidneys because the body, as it breaks down protein, creates waste products such as urea, according to the Medical College of Wisconsin. If you have kidney damage, your kidneys can't cope with as much waste, so you need to focus on creating less of it. If you eat less protein, you'll create less urea, which means your kidneys don't have to work so hard.

If your physician places you on a low-protein diet, you'll receive instructions on how much protein you can consume, according to Ohio State University Medical Center. You'll still need to eat some protein, and potential sources include low-fat meats such as turkey and very lean beef, nuts and eggs. Don't consume heavily processed meats such as salami or bacon, and stay away from salted meats such as ham.

On a proper diet for kidney health, you'll also need to watch your potassium intake, since your kidneys can't filter excess potassium as readily, according to the Medical College of Wisconsin. Bananas, potatoes and chocolate contain too much potassium. And, avoid foods high in phosphorus, which also can cause problems for kidney patients. High-phosphorus foods include nuts, cola and cheese.

Reducing the amount of salt you consume also can help your kidney health, because too much salt can raise your blood pressure--a risk factor for reduced kidney function--and also cause you to retain water, according to Drexel University College of Medicine. Choose foods marked "low sodium," "sodium-reduced" or "sodium free," and take your salt shaker off the table.