How much sodium is okay for kidney disease?
Controlling your sodium intake is key for managing kidney disease. Nutrition can help you not only retain kidney function, but also make you feel better! There are four vital components to a kidney-friendly diet: 1) potassium, 2) phosphorus, 3) sodium, and 4) protein.
Too much sodium and CKD?
Now, let’s jump right in! You have probably heard about sodium at this point, with hypertension and chronic kidney disease we know that too much sodium can worsen our condition. High levels of sodium can result in increased thirst, elevated blood pressure, and headaches.
Water tends to follow sodium in the body, so when there is a lot of sodium, the body will hold onto a lot of water – this can cause a condition called edema where your hands, feet, and ankles may feel swollen or puffy. Diets high in sodium can also cause an increased risk of heart disease and stroke.
Where is sodium in food?
Processed or snack foods, such as chips, pretzels, microwave dinners, canned foods, cheeses, and meats are common sources of foods high in sodium.
Check out this chart below to see some common sources and alternatives that we could use instead.
Low Sodium Foods
Best low sodium foods for CKD include:
- Fresh or frozen beef, lamb, pork, poultry and fish
- Eggs
- Unsalted nuts and low sodium nut butters
- Dried beans and peas
- Cream cheese, ricotta, mozzarella and Swiss cheese
- Milk, yogurt, ice cream and ice milk
- Muffins and many ready-to-eat cereals
- Low-sodium tortillas, noodles and crackers
- Unsalted popcorn, chips, and pretzels
For more blogs about kidney disease, take a look at these:
- What can I eat with Kidney Disease?
- Low protein diet and CKD
- What are kidney friendly beverages?
- Potassium and kidney disease: what you need to know
- Eating with Potassium restriction
If you have any specific questions relating to the sodium content of a food or other questions about sodium and CKD, reach out to Rebecca Bitzer & Associates so Kaitlin or Liz can help find a kidney-friendly plan for you!
An award winning recipe developer, Dietitian Kaitlin’s mission is to empower others to reach their health goals by encouraging them to get back into the kitchen. Co-author of Nourished: 10 Ingredients to Happy, Healthy Eating and Cooking with Diabetes.
I was just diagnosed with 3rd stage Kidney disease. I need help with my diet.
I already eat vegan, but need help with all the chemicals. Thank you.
Hi Linda! Thanks for reaching out. It can definitely seem overwhelming at first, and we have several dietitians that can help you with the renal diet. If you’re interested in meeting with someone, you can fill out the form here https://rbitzer.com/contact/
We are in network with several insurance companies, and offer virtual visits!