Vegan Diet for Kidney Disease

Vegans, who eat only plant-based products, will want to increase consumption of vegetarian proteins. These actually slow down the progression of kidney disease and other associated complications such as high blood pressure and heart disease.

Goals

Joan Brookshyer is a registered dietitian, a vegetarian and author of the book "The Vegetarian Diet for Kidney Disease Treatment." According to Brookshyer, "Nutrition management focuses on decreasing waste product buildup from digested foods, which would normally leave the body as urine. The primary goals of planning a diet with plant-based foods are obtaining the appropriate amount of plant protein to meet protein needs while minimizing waste product buildup in the blood, maintaining sodium, potassium and phosphorus balance, and maintaining good nutrition."

Dr. Eric Castle, a urologist with the Mayo Clinic, says the best protein sources for a vegan renal diet include soy milk, soy yogurt, nut butters (up to two tablespoons, or around 28 grams), wheat protein (seitan), soy protein (like tofu and tempeh), and Quorn, the brand name for mycoprotein, a meat-free form of high-quality protein.

A vegan diet for kidney disease should include soy-based foods as a healthy alternative, but patients must still consult a registered dietitian, preferably one who specializes in kidney nutrition, for advice on an ideal balance.

Benefits

The quality of protein in any food is based upon the level of amino acids it contains. Most soy-foods possess amino acids comparable in benefit to that found in animal products. But the true advantage of soy is showcased in the overall advantages it offers specific to those with kidney problems. Soy contributes to a significant drop in cholesterol and other lipids in the blood. Soy also contains a natural compound called isoflavones, found primarily in beans, that is believed to contribute to kidney health.

The American Heart Association recommends consuming at least 25 grams of soy protein daily. This can easily be achieved with one soy burger (10-12 grams of protein,) an 8-ounce glass of soy milk (10 grams of protein) and four ounces of tofu (13 grams of protein).

Good and Bad

Unfortunately, highly processed alternative products such as veggie burgers, veggie chick-patties, veggie sausage and similar items should be limited in a kidney-healthy diet. Most contain excessive levels of sodium, potassium and phosphorus. Consumption of soy nuts, soybeans, edamame and miso should also be strictly moderated.

As plant-based diets are lower in calories than animal-based plans, those with kidney disease must be especially cognizant of the need not to lose weight. Brookshyer suggests a few healthy ways to add additional calories to a diet such as sweets. "Even though a high-sugar diet is not the best choice for food, on occasion these calories can be beneficial to avoid weight loss," she says. "Good choices are jellybeans, hard candy, sherbets or sorbet." Soy shakes with soy milk, tofu, rice milk and nondairy frozen dessert are also treats that will provide additional calories.