Healthy kidneys have a huge bearing on your overall health.
The healthier your kidneys are, the healthier your overall health is.
Kidneys filter blood, remove waste through urine, keeps a balancing act among minerals and they also maintain fluid balance in the body.
Therefore, it is only natural that you strive hard to keep your kidneys in prime condition.
For that, you need to stay away from foods that are harmful to kidneys.
If you have renal issues, you need to be particularly careful with foods that are high-on protein, potassium and phosphorous.
Some of the foods that are harmful to kidneys are:
Canned foods are usually high-on sodium, since manufacturers add dollops of salt to increase the shelf life of the product.
Kidneys have a limit as to what amount of sodium it can filter out.
An excessive salt-intake could disrupt the normal functioning of the kidneys.
Its no wonder that canned foods rate high on the list of foods that are harmful to kidneys.
It is also one of the foods that are harmful to kidneys.
Processed meats are usually salted, dried and canned.
Some of the examples of processed meat are hot dogs, bacon, and pepperoni.
With a higher salt content (used for preservation), processed meat is certainly a “no” for kidney patients.
1 slice of whole wheat bread has 90 mg of potassium and 76.3 mg of phosphorus.
A constant build-up of both potassium and phosphorus can cause kidney dysfunctions.
You can opt for white bread as it has 32.8 mg of potassium and 31.6 mg of phosphorous, since the higher concentration of potassium and phosphorus in the whole wheat bread paves the way for it to be included in the list of worst food for kidneys.
Dried fruits are fruits dried in the manufacturing plants.
Since they are a concentrated version of the fruit itself, dried fruits often have a high amount of proteins and minerals packed into a small space.
Dried fruits like apricots, dates, prunes, and raisins contain a reasonable amount of potassium.
So, they could be unfit for a lot of kidney patients, hence making them foods that are harmful to kidneys.
One of the super fruits, banana is richly nutritious and delicious as well.
However, this very high percentage of nutrients make them bad food for kidneys patients.
A large banana has approximately 487 mg of potassium, making it an unhealthy choice for kidney patients.
Kidney patients can opt for Pineapple, as its potassium content is on the lower side.
A single cup of tomato sauce usually contains about 728 mg of potassium.
If you are following a renal diet, refraining from tomatoes could be a good idea for the health of your kidneys.
Brown Rice is in the rage and for good reasons.
It is highly nutritious and comes with loads of fiber, lignans and magnesium that have beneficial effects on the heart health.
However, it is in the list of the foods that are harmful to kidneys because of a higher potassium and phosphorus content in it.
If you still intend to add rice to your diet, go for white one.
People with renal issues should limit their daily consumption of dairy products to provide the healthy boost to their kidneys.
One cup of whole milk has 205 mg of phosphorus and 322 mg of potassium.
Damaged kidneys can cause an excessive phosphorous build-up in the body known as Hyperphosphatemia and it results in body pulling out calcium from bones, resulting in bones getting weaker and thinner overtime.
Q - Is almond harmful for kidneys?
A - Almonds are high in oxalates, that is why they are generally considered to be one of the foods that are harmful to kidneys. So, if you had calcium oxalate stones in your kidneys in the past, considering avoiding almonds or consult your doctor before consuming them.
Q - Is baking soda harmful to kidneys?
A - It varies from person to person. Some patients show improvement in their kidney functions. Baking soda lowers the acidic content of the blood.
Q - Is banana harmful for kidneys?
A - Bananas are pretty high-on potassium, making them one of the foods that are harmful to kidneys, especially if your kidneys are already damaged.
Q - Is garlic harmful for kidneys?
A - Not really. Garlic is shown to be effective in staving off urinary tract infections (UTI) and other bacterial infections.
Q - Is milk harmful for kidney stones?
A - Milk is high-on phosphorous, but it does not have a direct link with kidney stones. In fact, Cow’s milk doesn’t contain oxalate, but is pretty high-on calcium that strengthens your bones.
Q - Is protein harmful for kidneys?
A - Yes, but only in high quantity. Kidneys have to work extra hard to filter out excessive proteins off your body, which leads to more wear and tear over time. Ask your doctor for the right amount of protein for you.
Q - Is rice harmful in kidney stone?
A - Brown rice generally is not recommend to patients with renal issues. Replace brown with white rice.
Q - Is tomato harmful for kidneys?
A - If you are on a renal diet, then try to limit the consumption of tomatoes as they are high-on potassium.
Summarizing the points discussed above, there are few foods that are harmful to kidneys.
However, a lot depends on the quantity of the food consumed and the condition of your kidneys.
It is always a prudent idea to consult your doctor beforehand.
Certificate no- AH-2023-0186
JAN 05,2023-JAN 04,2026
