5 Kidney-Friendly Protein Foods You Should Know
Read the 5 Kidney-Friendly Protein Foods You Should Know below
Meat analogs
There are many meat analog products (aka faux meats) available. Veggie crumbles (ground meat-like crumbles made from soy), veggie burgers and even veggie sausage are easy to find. Just be sure to watch out for higher sodium, potassium or phosphorus, and check with your dietitian to learn about the best choices.
Protein bars
Grab-and-go bars are a great solution for eating on the run or when you don’t feel like preparing a meal. Pure Protein®, Premier Nutrition®, Balance Bars®, Zone Perfect®, EAS Myoplex®, ProMax®, PowerBar®, and Atkins Advantage® offer several kidney-friendly bars. Look for bars that contain more than 15 grams of protein, below 150 mg phosphorus and less than 200 mg potassium and sodium.
Fish
Fish is a great protein source. Fatty fish, such as salmon, mackerel and rainbow trout, are high in omega-3 fatty acids that help reduce inflammation. A 3-ounce portion of cooked fish has approximately 15-21 grams of protein. Shrimp is also a great seafood protein choice.
Egg whites
Egg whites are 100 percent albumin, the best quality protein you can eat. Egg whites are also low in phosphorus. Two egg whites provide 7.2 grams of pure protein.
Chicken
Chicken is versatile as a hot or cold entrée and lunch or dinner favorite. Protein varies from 14 to 28 grams depending on the size.
It’s recommended to use fresh meat products and avoid pre-made roasted chicken and other processed meats, which often contain large amounts of sodium and phosphorus. This excess sodium and phosphorus isn’t good for patients with chronic kidney disease.