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Which Fruits Are Good For Kidney Disease?

When the question which fruits are good for kidney pops out, what will come to your head is that there are many fruits good for kidneys. The fruits that are good for kidneys depends on the status of the kidney and if you have any kidney disease.

The main function of the kidney is to filter the blood and remove the excess water and toxic products out of the body. The excess salts and minerals (potassium, sodium, calcium, phosphate) and fluids are washed out as urine from your body. When there is a disease in the kidney, it will not function properly and these waste products can remain in the body.

In this article, we will be mainly focusing on the fruits that you should eat when you have kidney stones, kidney failure and few other kidney diseases. It is important to know what fruits can be consumed in each of these diseases, since the salts and minerals in these fruits play a huge role in the body.

Fruits Which Are Good For People With Chronic Kidney Disease

In chronic kidney disease (CKD), there is permanent damage to the kidneys and the functions of the kidneys are affected. Therefore some salts and minerals (sodium, potassium, and phosphate) will accumulate in the body. These salts can affect the function of other organs and can cause diseases.

Sodium is mainly found in salt, starch and protein foods. Phosphate is seen mostly in meat and poultry and in some dairy products. Phosphate and sodium are found in small amounts in fruits. It is the potassium that we need to worry, because it’s commonly found in vegetables and fruits and some fruits have high potassium levels. These fruits need to be avoided.

Let’s See What Fruits You Can Eat If You Have Chronic Kidney Disease

Apples
Pineapple
Cranberries
Strawberries
Blueberries
Raspberries
Blackberries
Grapes
Plums
Canned peaches, pears and apricots
Tangerine

Fruits Which Are Good For People With Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are formed when the amount of fluid in urine is reduced so the salts like oxalate, phosphate, uric acid and cysteine tends to form crystals in the urine which are called stones. Even though calcium oxalate stones are the common stones, calcium is not the culprit. When the amount of sodium is increased in urine, it increases the calcium levels in the urine as well. This will form more stones. But by taking more calcium in the diet, calcium will combine with oxalate in the stomach and both will be excreted in urine.

Phosphate, uric acid, cysteine and sodium are not much found in fruits. But oxalates can be in many fruits.

It is shown that potassium reduces the stone formation. Citrate also can prevent stone formation by creating an alkaline medium in the urine, dissolving the stones that has been already formed and cleanse the kidney as well. So if you have stones then you need to have fruits with more potassium and citrate and avoid fruits with high oxalate.

Let Us See What Fruits You Can Eat If You Have Kidney Stones

Lemon, lime
Orange
Tangerine
Grapefruit
Berries – blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, cranberries
Red and black currents
Cherries
Peaches
Apricots
Watermelon
Bananas
Apples
Papaya

Fruits Beneficial in Other Diseases

Cranberries – prevents urinary tract infections, especially bladder infections.

Strawberries, Raspberries, Blueberries – anti-oxidants and reduce inflammation in the kidney.

Conclusion

Fruits that are good for people with chronic kidney disease are fruits with low potassium such as Apples, Pineapple, Cranberries, Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, Grapes, Plums, Canned Peaches, Pears, Apricots, and Tangerine. Fruits good for people with stone disease are fruits with high citrate, potassium and low in oxalate. Such as Lemon, lime, Orange, Berries – blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, cranberries, Red and black currents, Cherries, Peaches, Apricots, Watermelon, Bananas, Apples and Papaya. Cranberries prevent urinary tract infections. Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries are anti-oxidants and reduce inflammation.

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Which Fruits Are Good For Kidney Disease?