Kidney Disease: Choosing the Right Protein for Your Body

Choosing the right amount of protein

If you have kidney disease but are not on dialysis, you may need to eat less protein. This can help slow down damage to your kidneys. Your doctor or dietitian will tell you how much protein you can eat. This depends on:

• Your body weight

• How bad your kidney disease is

• How much protein is in your urine

• How active you are each day

It is important to follow your doctor's plan.

How much protein can you eat?

The amount of protein you can eat may change over time. It depends on how well your kidneys are working. Your doctor will tell you how much protein to eat based on the stage of your kidney disease and your body weight. If you need to eat less protein, you may need more calories from other foods. Carbohydrates, like bread and pasta, are good choices. Write this down:

• I can eat _____ grams of protein each day.

• I should eat a total of _____ calories each day to maintain my body weight and muscle mass.

Choosing the right type of protein

When you have kidney failure, you need to eat less phosphorus. Many high-protein foods, like milk and cheese, have a lot of phosphorus.

Your protein choices may also depend on your culture, religion, or beliefs. For example, you may follow a vegetarian, vegan, kosher, or halal diet. Your dietitian and health care team can help you choose the right kind of protein and the right amount for you.