3 Breakfast Types to Be Careful With for Kidney Health
The headline “these breakfasts damage your kidneys” is too strong. For people with healthy kidneys, an occasional less-healthy breakfast isn’t likely to damage the kidneys. The bigger concern is a long-term diet high in sodium, added sugar, and heavily processed foods, particularly if you already have kidney disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure.
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Three breakfast patterns worth limiting are:
Processed-meat breakfasts — bacon, sausage, ham, hot dogs, and deli meats can contain a lot of sodium and, in some products, added phosphorus. High sodium can contribute to high blood pressure and fluid retention, which puts additional stress on the kidneys.
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Highly processed, salty breakfasts — instant noodles, packaged breakfast sandwiches, salty frozen meals, and heavily salted cereals or breads can contribute substantial sodium.
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Very sugary breakfasts — sugary cereals, pastries, sweetened drinks, and desserts aren’t direct “kidney toxins,” but regularly consuming lots of added sugar can contribute to obesity, diabetes, and other conditions that increase kidney-disease risk.
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Better choices
Try oatmeal with berries and unsalted nuts, fresh fruit with plain yogurt (if appropriate for you), or eggs with vegetables and whole-grain toast. If you already have chronic kidney disease, however, your ideal breakfast may need specific limits on sodium, potassium, phosphorus, protein, or fluids depending on your blood tests and stage of disease.
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Don’t unnecessarily eliminate healthy foods such as bananas, potatoes, tomatoes, dairy, or whole grains just because you saw a “kidney diet” video. Potassium and phosphorus restrictions are individualized for people with kidney disease.
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