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Love Tomatoes? Follow This ONE Rule for a Renal-Friendly Diet
Avoid or limit potassium. That’s the mantra you hear when you’re diagnosed with renal disease. It usually requires making some changes to your diet.
And if you like tomatoes, you might think you have to give them up because they’re higher in potassium than other fruits and vegetables. Sound familiar?
Before you swear off tomatoes because of your kidney disease, here’s some good news:
“In the right amount and served with the right foods, tomatoes can still be enjoyed safely,” says renal dietitian Laura Kyte.
So what’s the ONE rule to follow to keep tomatoes in your diet when you have renal disease?
- Pay attention to the amount of potassium you’re consuming.
Here’s a few things to keep in mind when eating tomatoes with a kidney disease…
- One fresh tomato contains about 80g of potassium.
- Canned tomatoes used in a recipe contain about 100g of potassium in a serving.
- Tomato juice and puree are concentrated and often contain more potassium than fresh or canned tomatoes in smaller amounts.
If you like tomatoes, pay attention to the amount of potassium you’re consuming from other foods when you eat.
Eating tomatoes with low-potassium foods gives you a little wiggle room to enjoy tomatoes in foods like:
- Soup
- Salads
- Casserole
- Or have a slice of tomato on a sandwich
As a general rule, Kyte says no more than one small portion a day of tomatoes is compatible with a renal diet.
- Limiting tomatoes to just 1 to 3 times a week may be a better choice for some people with renal disease.
