The Renal Diet: Here's How To Eat For Your Kidneys

Many of you have probably heard the saying "All disease begins in the gut." But how true is that, really? You might be surprised to learn that the gut and kidneys are more connected than you think.

So how does this relate to the kidneys? A recent article reviewed the potential connection between gluten intake and IgA nephropathy (a disease that causes damage to the tiny filters inside the kidneys) and suggested there exists a strong gut-renal connection2. This is an interesting observation about how gluten ingestion could potentially be a driver of an immune-mediated disease that affects the kidneys. Even more interesting is that there's currently a trial, led by pioneer Alessio Fasano, M.D. (one of the world's leading experts on gluten), looking to see if a gluten-free and dairy-free diet can contribute to an improvement in clinical parameters in children with nephrotic syndrome3, a kidney condition where there is spillage of protein in the urine. The study is designed to evaluate what role diet could have in the function of the kidneys, the immune system, and the gut microbiome.

When we talk about a "renal diet," what we really mean is a diet that is healthy for your kidneys and your gut microbiome. We should be focusing on dietary interventions that are going to help us cultivate a healthy gut microbiome and also protect our kidneys at the same time. The best way to eat for your microbiome is to focus on a whole foods plant-based diet full of fiber and probiotic-rich foods. Beyond that, it's hard to give an exact dietary protocol for the general public because each person has a unique gut microbiome (in fact, we are only about 10 to 20 percent similar in our gut microbiome composition). Therefore, the best thing to do is to get your gut microbiome tested and follow those recommendations. Luckily, with the amazing advances we have made in science and technology4, we are now able to help you figure out what you should eat for your unique microbiome.

One of the most common kidney conditions that you might also know about is kidney stones, also known as bladder stones. A recent review outlined that phytochemicals such as catechin, epicatechin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, diosmin, rutin, quercetin, hyperoside, and curcumin were good sources of antioxidants and found to be good choices in preventing the development of bladder stones. These plant products have properties that include diuretic, antispasmodic, and antioxidant capabilities. Plus, they can inhibit the crystallization and clumping of crystals5. Another recent article suggested that people with recurrent kidney stones should keep their dietary calcium intake6 in normal ranges so that the potential for increased urinary oxalate excretion can be avoided. Some of the existing literature on dietary approaches to preventing kidney disease include suggestions such as increasing fluids, limiting sodium, consuming citrates, keeping protein consumption moderate, and increasing fruits and vegetables but limiting spinach (in those with hyperoxaluria), and including lemon, lime, melon, and oranges in your diet if you have hypocitraturia7.

If you're interested in getting some more details on food preparation and kidney-friendly recipes, I've collected a few websites you might find helpful:

One last point I would like to make is to never let your doctor or health care provider tell you that diet is not important when it comes to kidney health. Diet is important. It's one of the keys to health. Not only is diet important for your heart health and your brain health, but diet is important for your gut health and your microbiome. In turn, we have the opportunity to protect our kidneys and give them the nutrients and power they need to help us function as best as we can.