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DiscussionConfused About Diet for Stage 3 or 4 Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
Kidney & Bladder | Last Active: Jun 5, 2022 | Replies (156)Comment receiving replies
Replies to "I am encouraged that diet had moved you back up (down) to stage 2. I am..."
@csage1010 Welcome!
Many if not most kidney disease experts say to avoid or limit tomatoes, potatoes, bananas, avocados, oranges, red meats, etc., primarily because of high potassium and/or high phosphorus content, both of which weakening kidneys filter less effectively.
Based ONLY on my own PERSONAL experience, I can safely eat even most of the "No-Nos" in HALF or FOURTH servings (just for taste) and most of those only OCCASIONALLY.
Individuals are different! Stage 4 or no Stage 4, with a high dose of Lasix my kidneys filter out a lot of potassium and my lab work usually shows my potassium levels below normal so I can get away with consuming certain higher-potassium foods in small portions on a very limited basis. There's one exception and so far my labs are stable, especially in regard to potassium: I even eat potassium-leached, phosphorus-leached potatoes nearly every day.
I am NOT - I repeat, NOT - telling anyone else to do this.
I will tell you that I put myself on a renal diet before my primary even referred me to a Neph and when I finally did see Neph, she suggested a vegetarian diet which I began that same day.
Medical science now admits that a plant-based diet is healthier for more than just the kidneys so you might consider starting to limit or eliminate red meat from your diet and substitute certain kidney-friendly veggies. You can find lists of the latter on many kidney sites, including Davita.
Good luck and let us know how you're doing! We care!