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Did you know that bananas, avocados, and tomatoes — 3 foods that show up on practically every list of healthy foods — can cause problems for people with kidney disease? Your kidneys do a lot of behind-the-scenes work filtering things like potassium and phosphorus, and if they’re not functioning at full capacity, even “healthy” foods can tip the balance.
Below, Lindsay Mahar, a registered dietitian at Healthline, shares a few general tips for healthy eating during each stage of CKD. |
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Slurp, slurp,
Tim Snaith
Newsletter Editor, Healthline |
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Written by Tim Snaith
May 26, 2026 • 2 min read |
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| Q: |
What foods should I eat and avoid during each stage of kidney disease? |
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| A: |
For stages 1 and 2, the kidneys are still functioning pretty well and able to filter out waste. It’s recommended to eat a standard, balanced diet. Following the Dietary Guidelines (which are also compatible with other healthy eating plans like the Mediterranean diet and DASH diet) is a good place to start. These all focus on eating lots of vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, and whole grains, while minimizing overly processed foods, saturated fats, and sodium.
For stages 3 to 5 (not on dialysis), the kidneys may have trouble filtering out waste and fluid, which can begin to build up in the blood.
Nutrition recommendations become more individualized at this stage based on your lab results, and working with a dietitian is usually recommended.
⚠️ Some people may need to limit their intake of protein, and some mineral. If that‘s the case, here’s where to start:
Phosphorus: Limit processed foods with added phosphorus (look for ingredients with “phos-”), such as dark colas and packaged foods; large portions of meat may also need to be limited.
Potassium: Limit potassium from processed foods (such as salt substitutes, processed meats, and frozen meals); high-potassium fruits and vegetables may need to be limited, but this isn’t always necessary.
Sodium: Limit ultra-processed foods like chips and pretzels, processed meats, and canned or packaged foods.
Protein: limit meat; plant-based proteins like legumes are often good alternatives.
✅ Prioritize foods that are:
Lower in sodium: This includes fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, whole grains, unsalted nuts, and minimally processed meats.
Lower in added phosphorus: Fresh, minimally processed foods like poultry, fish, eggs, beans, and lentils; plant-based options tend to have less absorbable phosphorus.
Moderate in protein: Include smaller portions of protein-rich foods, with an emphasis on plant-based sources such as beans, lentils, nuts, and seeds.
Rich in fruits and vegetables: These are generally encouraged for overall health; if you need to limit potassium, focus on portion sizes and guidance from your healthcare team. |
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| Lindsay Mahar, Registered Dietitian |
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| Want to learn more about food, diets, cooking, or some other nutrition subject? Let us know at nutritionedition@healthline.com and we’ll look into it for you! (Heads up, we may use your response in an upcoming newsletter.) |
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| Well managed |
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| Join Our Chronic Kidney Disease Newsletter |
| For help with managing chronic kidney disease and living well, sign up for our Chronic Kidney Disease newsletter. You’ll get expert advice, tips to manage your symptoms, and the latest on condition breakthroughs delivered straight to your inbox. |
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| Every product we recommend has gone through either Healthline’s or Optum Now’s vetting processes. If you buy through links on this page, we may receive a small commission or other tangible benefit. Healthline has sole editorial control over this newsletter. Potential uses for the products listed here are not health claims made by the manufacturers. Healthline and Optum Now are owned by RVO Health. |
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| What we’re digesting |
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| Until next time, |
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Take care of yourself, and we’ll see
you again soon! |
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