When living with kidney disease, there may be a lot to avoid when it comes to certain things in your life. No matter what it is that now needs to be avoided when diagnosed with a serious medical condition such as this one, you have to take being cautious and aware of your health more seriously, especially when it comes to the type of foods you consume. The positive side to this is that even though awareness is important it doesn’t have to have an impact on your taste buds.
What Foods To Avoid When Living With Kidney Disease
Unfortunately, there are some foods you can no longer consume when living with kidney disease. This is due to them causing inflammation that will affect your kidneys and trigger uncomfortable and painful symptoms. Here are certain foods that you should avoid or try consuming less of while living with kidney disease:
- Bananas
- Dairy
- Processed Meats
- Soda (especially dark-colored sodas)
- Avocados
- Canned Foods
- Oranges (fruit or liquid)
Now, you’re probably wondering why you need to avoid most of these nutritious food options right? Well, most of these options are high in potassium and phosphorus. When living with kidneys that don’t work as well as they need to, they have a hard time breaking down the nutrients in your body, which will lead to future damage if all the nutrients aren’t broken down properly. High-level nutrients in people with kidney disease can actually be more damaging than it is helpful, so try avoiding what you can or lower the number of foods that are nutritious but will trigger inflammation if consumed too much.
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The Best Foods To Consume When Living With CKD
When living with CKD, though you need to have a healthy diet, it can be difficult when many healthy food options may impact you negatively if consumed in large portions. Here are some healthy food options to consider when living with kidney disease:
- Lean Cut Meats
- Fish
- Fruits Low in Potassium (Apples, Peaches, Grapes)
- Vegetables (Carrots, Green Beans, etc.)
- White Rice
- Cranberry, Apple or Grape Juice
- Grits or Wheat Cereals
The best options for you to consume are foods with low potassium, low phosphorus and fat-free dairy options. Try grilling, roasting or baking your foods and making sure your protein intake isn’t excessive.
3 Kidney-Friendly Dinner Recipes
Honey Spiced Rubbed Salmon
Ingredients:
3 tablespoons honey
¾ teaspoon lemon peel
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon hot water
16-ounce salmon filet
2 tablespoons olive oil
1-3 cups arugula
Prep:
- Put honey, ground pepper, garlic powder and grated lemon peel in a bowl with the hot water and mix together until blended well. Then pour or rub mixture over salmon fillets.
- In a skillet over medium heat, place in the olive oil. Add salmon fillets in the oil and cook for 4-6 minutes.
- Lower your heat (medium-low), turn fillets over and cook for another 4-6 minutes or until the fish is opaque and flakey
- Take 1 or ½ cup (whichever you prefer) arugula and spread it on a dish. Place cooked salmon on top and serve.
Sour Cream And Onion Turkey Burgers
Ingredients:
¼ medium onion
2 tablespoons of chives
½-1 pound ground turkey (low fat/lean)
1 large egg
1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon minced garlic
¼ teaspoon black pepper
4 tablespoons sour cream
2-4 cracked wheat hamburger buns
Prep:
- Dice onions and chives. Then mix onion, turkey, egg, Worcestershire sauce, garlic and pepper well then refrigerate for an hour.
- Form turkey mixture into patties (2-4)
- Grill turkey patties over medium heat for 5-6 minutes on each side until cooked fully through.
- Place each burger on the bottom bun and top with 1 tablespoon of sour cream and ½ tablespoon of chives(optional), then place the second bun on top and serve.
Slow Roasted Beef Pot Roast With Carrots And Turnips
Ingredients:
2.5 pound beef chuck pot roast
3 stalks celery
1 medium onion
3 medium turnips
3 large carrots
3 cloves garlic
1 cup of Cabernet wine
½ balsamic vinegar
½ tablespoon of Mrs. Dash Table Blend Seasoning (or seasoning of your choice)
½ tablespoon dried oregano
¼ tablespoon black pepper
Prep:
- Preheat oven to 250 Fahrenheit. Dice celery, onion and turnips. Cut carrots into coin-sized pieces and mince your garlic.
- Sear pot roast in a pan until brown on all sides for 2-3 minutes
- Place your seared roast in a larger roasting pan then add vegetables to the pan around the meat.
- Combine wine, vinegar and spices in a small bowl, mix then pour over the roast. Cover the pan with a lid or wrap well with foil.
- Roast for 3-4 hours until meat is cooked thoroughly (160 Fahrenheit temperature) and vegetables are tender.