7 Healthy Snacks for Chronic Kidney Disease

Did you know that chronic kidney disease which is a more advanced form of kidney disease has been estimated to affect about 789 million adults worldwide? In the us alone about 37 million adults have been estimated to have CKD. Which roughly makes up for about 15% of all the adults in the US. These over 800,000 people have kidney failure and require dialysis or a kidney transplant.

Some of the most common risk factors for kidney disease are high blood pressure or hypertension, diabetes, and obesity, and probably what’s contributing the most to these health conditions is unhealthy snacking between meals. Because we often rely on packaged snacks cold drinks sodas, and extra sugary foods and drinks.

Healthy Snacks Ideas for Chronic Kidney Disease

These things cannot just make you gain weight but can also cause other chronic diseases including heart disease type 2 diabetes and kidney disease. But don’t worry in this post let’s learn about some of the healthiest snacks that go easy on your kidneys and can also help to improve your overall health. let’s begin.

Berries

These colorful and versatile fruits are packed with many essential nutrients that can benefit your overall health including your kidneys. Berries particularly strawberries, raspberries and blueberries are relatively low in potassium and phosphorus which makes them a great snack option for people with kidney disease who need to watch out for their mineral intake.

Berries are also a rich source of anthocyanins which are powerful antioxidants that have also been shown to have anti-inflammatory and protective effects on the kidneys. These antioxidants can help reduce inflammation and oxidative stress which could contribute to kidney damage. In fact, according to a 2021 study regular consumption of berries has protective benefits against the progression of chronic kidney disease.

Some animal studies showed that regular consumption of berries reduced oxidative stress and inflammation and improved kidney function in rats with chronic kidney disease. Berries are also an excellent source of vitamin C, an antioxidant that plays a crucial role in immune function and collagen synthesis. Vitamin C can help protect your kidneys from damage and support overall Kidney Health

Carrot Sticks

Another healthy and kidney-friendly snack option for you is carrot sticks. First of all they are rich in beta carotene. The pigment that gives them their characteristic orange color our body converts this compound to vitamin A. Which is a powerful antioxidant and helps protect our body including our kidneys from harmful free radicals.

Vitamin A has also been shown to enhance podocin production. Which is a protein that our body needs to make and maintain glomus the basic filtering units of our kidneys. Vitamin A helps strengthen our immune system which helps prevent inflammation and infections that could harm our kidneys besides beta carotene.

Carrots are also rich in potassium and vitamin C. Well, many experts say that you don’t need to worry about potassium if you don’t have chronic kidney disease. In fact, most healthy adults need about 4,700 milligrams of potassium daily and studies show that many people don’t get enough of it already. So taking enough potassium from carrots or other potassium-rich foods can help you have balanced electrolyte levels in your body reducing your risk of developing kidney-related issues and other health problems

Papaya

First of all, papaya is a good source of potassium which can help cover up your potassium deficiency and when combined with Papaya’s water content it can help maintain your electrolyte levels. But probably the best thing about papaya is an enzyme present in it called panpain now panpain has a proteolytic nature meaning it helps your body break down proteins making them easier to digest.

This can help prevent the formation of protein aggregates in your blood which unhealthy kidneys may find hard to filter out, Papain can also help to reduce uric acid levels which can lower your risk of developing kidney stones. Besides papaya is also a good source of vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E which can help to protect your kidneys from inflammation and free radical damage and improve your overall health.

Apples

These kidney-friendly snacks can help you stay hydrated which as you may know is essential for Optimum kidney function. Apples also contain various antioxidants such as quercetin, catechin, and vitamin C. These antioxidants help neutralize harmful free radicals in your body protecting your kidneys and all other organs from damage. Some compounds in apples such as quercetin, catechin, and ursolic acid also have anti-inflammatory properties.

chronic inflammation can potentially damage your kidneys. So taking anti-inflammatory compounds from apples can help protect your kidneys from inflammation and may even speed up their recovery if they are already damaged. Apples are also low in sodium and provide a moderate amount of potassium. which can be helpful if you have kidney disease and are watching your mineral intake.

Eggplant

Eggplant is particularly rich in many antioxidants. Especially, vitamin C, chlorogenic acid, and Nasunin. chlorogenic acid and Nasunin in in eggplant also have anti-inflammatory properties helping to protect your kidneys from inflammation. They are low in sodium and contain moderate amounts of potassium so they won’t go too harsh on your kidneys.

What makes them an even better snack is their fiber content. Fiber In eggplants help suppress your hunger manage your blood sugar levels, promote healthy digestion, and even prevent extra minerals or toxic chemicals from entering your blood bloodstream via your gut. So if you are looking for the healthiest snacks that go easy on your kidneys eggplant seems like a pretty good option.

Macadamia Nuts

Most types of nuts are high in phosphorus potassium and particularly oxalates which may not be suitable if you already have chronic kidney disease. But macadamia nuts are lowest in phosphorus, potassium and oxalate levels as compared to almonds, walnuts, peanuts, and other common types of nuts which makes them a really good option as a kidney-friendly snack.

Another cool thing about macadamia nuts is the healthy fat content they are rich in monosaturated fats, particularly Oleic acid which is considered a healthy kind of fat. These fats have been shown to improve heart health which indirectly benefits Kidney Health as well. Healthy fats can help maintain blood pressure levels and reduce inflammation both of which are important factors in Kidney Health.

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They also contain vitamin E and flavon oid which being antioxidants can help protect your cells and tissues from free radical damage plus they are low in sodium and contain calcium, folate, magnesium copper, iron, and manganese all of which can be good for your overall health but they are in fact calorie dense so you should avoid eating them too much.

Cucumber

Dehydration can excessively strain your kidneys but luckily cucumbers contain about 95% water which can help to flush out excess fluids from your body. Plus they are low in oxalates, phosphorus, sodium and calcium making them a favorable snack option if you have chronic kidney disease and are watching your mineral intake.

They also contain Vitamin K Vitamin C and many antioxidants particularly flavonoids which help protect your body from oxidative stress and free radical damage. Their fiber content makes them even more desirable as a snack by helping to suppress your appetite and aiding in weight management. They also contain a moderate amount of citrate a compound that has been shown to prevent the formation of calcium oxalate Stones.