​If you have a kidney condition, it’s important to have a kidney-friendly diet. Since your kidneys can’t remove waste products from your body like they should, watching what you eat and drink will help you stay healthier. A kidney-friendly diet will not only protect your kidneys from further damage but also ​ provide the right balance of protein, calories, vitamins, and minerals.

If you’re in the early stages of CKD, there may be few, if any, limits on what you can eat. But as your kidneys get worse, you’ll have to be more careful about what you put into your body.

The information in this section is for people who have kidney disease but are not on dialysis. This information should be used as a basic guide. Everybody is different and everybody has different nutrition needs. Talk to a ​Renal Dietitian (someone who is an expert in diet and nutrition for people with kidney disease) to find a meal plan that works specifically for you.