Diet, details and direction

Nutritional Facts and information for you in a “bite-sized” portion.

Suggestions for a kidney-friendly diet

Adopting a kidney-friendly diet can help you during your treatment journey.
Refer to the suggestions below to find ways to make your kidney friendly-diet delicious!

Cut back on salt (sodium)

Eating less salt can help control your blood pressure, protect your kidneys and better manage thirst.

Here are some tips to help you control your sodium intake.

  • Choose fresh, unprocessed foods
  • Don’t add salt to your food when cooking
  • Use lemon, salt-free seasonings, herbs and spices
  • Make your own stock or use store-bought stock with no added salt
  • Limit consumption of deli, smoked, pickled meats or smoked fish
  • Rinse canned foods before use or choose canned products with no added salt

Eat the right kind and right amount of protein

Protein is an essential nutrient for the body. Eating the right amount and type of protein can help protect your kidneys. Protein can be found in animals and plants.

Here are some tips to help you control your protein intake.

  • Eat smaller servings of meat, poultry and fish, ideally no more than 3-4 ounces (90-120 g) daily
  • Consume other sources of protein like vegetables, legumes, nuts, nut butters, soya products (tofu, edamame and tempeh)
  • Be mindful of dairy products (also a source of protein). Consider plant-based, low-protein options when available

Drink more water

Drinking an adequate amount of water is essential for everyone. Drinking at least 3-4 L of fluids daily is recommended. It is important to stay hydrated in times of extreme heat or even during exercise.

Here are some tips to help keep you hydrated.

  • Keep a bottle of water with you
  • Dink water often throughout the day and even with your meals
  • Drink water before going to bed and every time you wake up during the night
  • Make water your go-to drink. Sugar-free, caffeine-free and low-sodium beverages are also acceptable
Remember to talk to a nutritionist or doctor to find the diet that is right for you!

Digest the details

Knowing how to read nutrition labels can help you make healthy choices and help you get an idea of what you’re eating.

Nutrition facts are provided for the serving size identified on the label. The larger the serving size, the larger the intake of the listed content and vice versa.
The higher the value, the higher the content. 5% or less means that each serving has a little of the content (i.e sodium) in question, whereas 15% or more means that each serving has a lot of the content in question.
It’s important to control the amount of fat you ingest as it can build up in your blood vessels, heart and kidneys.
Eating the right amount and type of protein can help protect your kidneys. Protein can be found in animals and plants. It would be a good idea to talk to a renal nutritionist. They can help you determine the appropriate amount of protein to consume and how to space out your protein intake over the day.
Your sodium intake should be less than 2,300 mg each day. If the value of sodium is 20% or more of your daily intake, it means that the food is high in sodium.

Need some direction?

Here are a few low-sodium recipe ideas to help you adopt healthy eating habits for your kidneys.

Featured Apps

Please note that some fees may apply with the use of these apps.

Food choices

Fooducate Nutrition Tracker

Sodium Tracker

Low Sodium Foods

Poll: What do you do to reduce sodium in your diet?

Loading ... Loading ...
If you’re looking for more kidney-friendly recipes, check out following websites.

Test Your Knowledge!

Nutrition

I’m ready

Consult your doctor with any questions about your disease and your treatment, or to find out if the advice on this website is right for you. For more information on Pr JINARC® (tolvaptan), call toll free:

1-844-2JINARC

(1-844-254-6272)

Over time, cysts (sacs filled with fluid) develop on your kidneys and may get bigger. As cysts continue to grow in number and size, your kidneys get larger. Over time, you may experience symptoms of disease progression.