Sponsored by: Renadyl™
Kellsey Reed RDN, LDN
Smoothies can be a great part of a kidney-friendly diet. Bananas, mixed berries, pineapple, and mango, the list goes on and on! Making a kidney-friendly and gut-friendly smoothie can be difficult. Let’s break it down together so that making smoothies are a breeze for you!
Things to be mindful of:
- Potassium
- Smoothies are often filled with tons of fruits and veggies. Many fruits and veggies can be high in potassium. If you need a potassium restriction for your kidney-friendly diet, then this is something to keep in mind. Try choosing lower-potassium fruits and veggies to fit your smoothie into your lower-potassium diet.
- Try choosing lower-potassium fruits and veggies like apples, grapes, pineapple, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, arugula, kale, celery, and/or cucumbers.
- Protein
- Many smoothie recipes and store-bought smoothies are filled with added sources of protein. When it comes to CKD, more protein is not always best. Instead of adding tons of protein powder to your smoothies, opt for lower protein, more plant-based protein sources like nuts, seeds, and nut butter. Many protein powders are made with animal-based sources of protein, added sodium, and phosphate additives, which are not helpful for those with CKD.
- Try choosing plant-based protein sources like peanut butter, almond butter, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, flax seeds, walnuts, cashews, and/or macadamia nuts.
- Phosphorus
- Limiting phosphorus-rich foods can be helpful for managing CKD. Be mindful of what you are adding to your smoothies (like protein powder) or milk. These can be sources of animal-based phosphorus and phosphate additives, which are considered high sources of phosphorus. These types of phosphorus are highly absorbed in the body, which can lead to high blood phosphorus levels. Instead, focus on making your smoothie more plant-based. Plant-based forms of phosphorus are not well absorbed in the body and therefore don’t contribute as much to your blood phosphorus levels. This helps to keep your blood phosphorus levels more controlled with CKD.
- Sodium
- Limiting sodium on a kidney-friendly diet is important. With that being said, most smoothies aren’t typically high in sodium. That is good news! Again, it’s important to be mindful of what you’re adding to your smoothies. Always check the ingredients list and nutrition label first.
- Fluid
- Sometimes limiting fluid intake on a kidney-friendly diet is recommended. Be mindful that smoothies will still count as fluids, even if you are on a fluid-restricted diet for your CKD. Be sure to check with your healthcare team and dietitian to make sure you are getting adequate amounts of fluid for your body and CKD. If you need a fluid restriction, try swapping a smoothie for a glass of water to make sure you are adhering to your fluid restriction.
- If you are adding cow’s milk to your smoothies, remember that cow’s milk is often a higher source of protein, potassium, and phosphorus than non-dairy milk like almond milk.
A renal dietitian’s favorite method for making kidney-friendly smoothies
Now that we have talked about what to be mindful of when it comes to smoothies on a kidney-friendly diet, it’s important to talk about how to make a kidney- and gut-friendly smoothie! The best method to follow is liquid, fruit, veggie, fat, and protein. By adding fruits and veggies, you are adding tons of fiber and prebiotics to your smoothie to aid in good gut health.
- Start with 1 cup of liquid of choice. I like to suggest water, almond milk, cashew milk, or another non-dairy milk of choice.
- Next, add ½ cup-1 cup of your fruit of choice. You can add frozen fruit for a creamier smoothie or fresh fruit for a more liquid smoothie.
- Then, add ½ cup-1 cup of veggies of choice. I like to suggest frozen zucchini or cauliflower, arugula, spinach, or kale.
- Finally, add some protein/fat to balance out your smoothie. This could be ¼ cup of nuts, 2 tbsp of nut butter, 1-2 tbsp of chia, flax, or hemp seeds, or ½ cup of non-dairy yogurt.
A kidney- and gut-friendly smoothie recipe for CKD
Ingredients:
- ½ banana
- 1 cup frozen blueberries
- 1 ounce walnuts
- ½ cup cashew yogurt (I like forager project yogurt because it has probiotics in it)
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients together in a blender and blend until smooth. Add more water/ice depending on the consistency you desire. Enjoy!
Nutrition:
- 525 calories
- 14 gm protein
- 615 mg potassium
- 10 mg sodium
- 11 gm fiber
The Bottom Line
Yes, you can still enjoy smoothies when you have CKD, but it can be helpful to keep a few things in mind. To make your smoothie both kidney- and gut-friendly, be sure to add tons of fruits and veggies for tons of fiber! Remember that if you need a potassium restriction, it can be helpful to use lower-potassium fruits and veggies in your smoothie.
About the Author
Kellsey Reed is a kidney dietitian. She helps people with CKD learn to eat the foods they love so they can improve their kidney health and live their best life with CKD. As a registered dietitian who specializes in chronic kidney disease, she has been through extensive training to give you the best support and guidance possible. In her career, she’s seen the lack of support given to those with CKD and is on a mission to change that.
“I don’t believe in just giving you a one-page handout that says “eat this” and “don’t eat that”. I don’t believe in telling you to stop going out to eat! I don’t believe in having you cut out all the foods you love in order to manage your CKD! I believe in giving you all of the tools, resources, and support that you need to eat for your CKD with 100% confidence! I believe in helping you learn how to travel, go out to eat at your favorite restaurants, have a date night with your spouse, and celebrate holidays and birthdays with your family without stress, anxiety, or confusion!”
If you’re interested in learning more about Kellsey’s coaching program or the free resources she offers, go to her website: ckdnutrition.com. You can also follow along on Instagram or TikTok at: @ckd.nutrition.coach!
