Renal diet: what it is and which numbers it tracks
"Renal diet" is a common name for eating with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in mind. In practice it comes down to a few numbers per food, such as potassium, phosphorus, sodium and protein, compared with limits that your care team sets for you. This guide explains those numbers and where they come from. It does not tell you what to eat.
The numbers a renal diet keeps track of
The KDOQI 2020 nutrition guideline has separate statements for each of these. We quote them and say where they come from, nothing more.
Potassium
KDOQI 6.4.1: potassium intake is adjusted to keep serum potassium in the normal range, with no fixed number. NKF: no daily target, needs are individualized. NKF's teaching line for a serving is 200 mg.
Phosphorus
KDOQI 6.3.1: adjust phosphorus to keep serum phosphate in the normal range; 6.3.2: consider the bioavailability of animal, vegetable and additive sources. NKF: additive phosphorus is completely absorbed; normal blood phosphorus is 2.5 to 4.5 mg/dL.
Sodium
KDOQI 6.5.1: sodium under 100 mmol/day (under 2.3 g/day) for CKD stages 3 to 5, 5D (dialysis) and kidney transplant.
Protein
KDOQI 3.0.1: for CKD stages 3 to 5, 0.55 to 0.60 g/kg/day is described only under close clinical supervision. 3.0.3: for people on dialysis, 1.0 to 1.2 g/kg/day is described.
Why the limits come from your care team
Notice what the statements above have in common: they depend on serum levels, on the stage of CKD, or on whether someone is on dialysis. That is why this site shows no personal targets. A limit that fits one person can be wrong for another, and it can change when labs or treatment change. Bring your own numbers to your nephrologist or dietitian and ask what yours are.
Questions you may want to ask your care team: what are my daily limits for sodium, potassium, phosphorus, protein and fluid? Should my limits change if my labs change? How should I handle packaged foods?
From a database value to a serving
Foods are measured per 100 g, but people eat servings. Every number on this site is value per 100 g x serving grams / 100 from USDA
FoodData Central (Foundation Foods 2026-04-30 and SR Legacy 2018-04), rounded for display. Three examples, with the USDA record for each:
| Food | Serving (USDA) | Potassium per 100 g (mg) | Potassium per serving (mg) | Phosphorus per serving (mg) | USDA FDC id |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White rice, cooked | 1/2 cup (79 g) | 35 | 28 | 34 | 168878 |
| Banana, raw | 1 medium (7" to 7-7/8" long) (118 g) | 358 | 422 | 26 | 173944 |
| Chicken breast, roasted | 3 oz (85.05 g) | 256 | 218 | 194 | 171477 |
Reference values versus the food in front of you
USDA values describe a generic food. Packaged and processed foods can differ, and phosphorus additives matter because NKF says additive phosphorus is completely absorbed and advises checking ingredient lists for additives with "phos" in the name. When a label and a database disagree, the label describes your product. That is why each value in the app carries its source, and values you type yourself are marked as entered by you.
Where to go next
- Renal diet food list: every food grouped, four nutrients side by side.
- Low potassium foods and low phosphorus foods.
- Kidney-friendly foods: a transparent ranking, not a safe list.
Read the sources
- National Kidney Foundation (NKF): Potassium in Your CKD Diet (updated May 5, 2023)
- National Kidney Foundation (NKF): Phosphorus and Your CKD Diet (updated July 16, 2024)
- KDOQI Clinical Practice Guideline for Nutrition in CKD: 2020 Update, Ikizler TA et al. Am J Kidney Dis 2020;76(3 Suppl 1):S1-S107. doi:10.1053/j.ajkd.2020.05.006
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK): Eating Right for Chronic Kidney Disease (general reading)
- The full list and exact statements used: sources.
Frequently asked questions
Who decides the limits in a renal diet?
Your nephrologist or dietitian. NKF says potassium needs are individualized and gives no daily potassium target. KDOQI 2020 adjusts potassium and phosphorus intake to keep serum levels in the normal range, so the right amount depends on your lab results.
Is there one renal diet for everyone?
The guideline statements differ by situation. For example, KDOQI 2020 describes sodium under 2.3 g/day for CKD stages 3 to 5, 5D and transplant, a low-protein diet of 0.55 to 0.60 g/kg/day only under close clinical supervision for CKD stages 3 to 5, and 1.0 to 1.2 g/kg/day for people on dialysis. Which applies to you is a question for your care team.
Which nutrients does a renal diet usually track?
The KDOQI 2020 nutrition guideline includes statements on protein, phosphorus, potassium and sodium. This site shows those four per serving, plus energy. Your care team may also give you a fluid limit.
Can a food list tell me what to eat?
No. A list shows reference values for a standard serving. What fits your plan depends on your own limits, labs and treatment, which only your care team can set.