10 types of fruit that cannot be eaten by kidney patients

Fruits that should not be eaten by kidney patients are important things that must be known about this health problem.

Although fruits are known as a source of vitamins and fiber, not all fruits are suitable for kidney patients because they contain high potassium, phosphorus or oxalate content.

Inappropriate fruit intake can negatively affect kidney function and invite other complications such as fatigue, cardiac arrhythmias or muscle weakness.

Therefore, the right choice of fruit is very important in their daily diet.

This article will explore 10 types of fruit that cannot be eaten by kidney patients, along with an explanation of why these fruits should be avoided.

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Types of fruit that cannot be eaten by kidney patients

The right choice of fruit is very important to ensure that the patient’s condition does not worsen.

Some fruits that cannot be eaten by kidney patients are as follows:

1. Avocado

Although avocados are known as fruits that are rich in healthy fats and various vitamins, containing very high potassium content.

Avocado seeds contain about 690 mg of potassium, almost half of the recommended daily limits for kidney patients.

According to the National Kidney Foundation, food with more than 200 mg of potassium per serving is considered high.

Therefore, kidney patients must avoid avocados in their diet.

2. Banana

Bananas are rich potassium fruit, where medium sized bananas contain around 422 mg of potassium.

This makes it less suitable for individuals who need to limit potassium intake below 2,000 to 2,500 mg every day.

Continuous consumption of bananas can cause excess potassium in the blood, which endangers heart and kidney function.

3. Oren

Orange juice and oranges are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, but the potassium content is also high. Large orange seeds contain 333 mg of potassium, while a cup of orange juice contains about 458 mg.

As a result, kidney patients are advised to limit or prevent orange and orange juice.

Or, they can choose wine, apples, or more secure cranberries.

4. Apricot

Apricot contains vitamin A, vitamin C and high fiber, but also very rich in potassium.

One cup of fresh apricot contains 427 mg of potassium, while the dry version contains more than 1,500 mg of potassium per cup.

This is equivalent to 75% of the daily potassium limit for kidney patients. Therefore, dry apricots must be avoided altogether.

5. Dry fruit

Dry fruits such as dates, raisins, premiums and dry apricots are very high in sugar and potassium levels.

Half a cup of dried apricot contains about 755 mg of potassium. Dry fruits are also high in sugar quickly absorbed, which can worsen the problem if the patient also suffers from diabetes.

Kidney patients must prevent dry fruit due to dense mineral content and sugar.

6. Kiwi

Kiwi is a fruit that is rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, but it is also high with oxalate and potassium.

Oxalate can trigger coral formation, while one kiwi seed contains around 215 mg of potassium.

This makes Kiwi not suitable for those who have coral problems or chronic kidney disease.

7. Betik

Betics contains a variety of important nutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin A, and beta-carotene, but they are also loaded with potassium.

One papaya seed can contain up to 781 mg of potassium. This exceeds 15% of daily needs and can interfere with electrolyte balance in the body of kidney patients.

Therefore, papaya must be avoided despite the amount of nutrition.

8. Milk watermelon

Melon milk is a tropical fruit that contains high amounts of potassium, such as cantaloupe.

It also contains a lot of water, but for patients who need to limit fluid and potassium intake, milk melon is not the best choice.

This can cause the accumulation of potassium in the blood (hypercalemia).

9. Cantaloupe

Cantaloupe contains about 10% of daily potassium requirements for adults.

Especially for patients who use drugs such as beta-blockers, which can increase potassium levels in the blood.

If consumed excessively, cantaloupe can increase the risk of kidney damage due to excess potassium.

10. Mango

Mango is a delicious tropical fruit and rich vitamins, but also contains relatively high potassium.

This fruit is also high in natural sugar, which can be an additional problem for kidney patients who also suffer from diabetes.

Therefore, patients are advised to avoid or limit the intake of mangoes in their diet.

Examples of fruit that are suitable to be eaten

Or, patients can choose low potassium fruit such as:

• Apple
• Wine
• Berry (strawberry, blueberries, raspberry)
• Pineapple
• Cran

Potassium intake syllabus suitable for kidney patients

According to my kidney journey, for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), potassium can accumulate to a dangerous level, which is at risk of causing heartbeat to become irregular or stop suddenly.

In general, the treatment of peritoneal dialysis (PD) is more effective in eliminating excess potassium from the body than hemodialysis (HD).

Therefore, patients who undergo PD can usually take between 3 and 4 grams of potassium a day.

On the other hand, for patients undergoing HD, consuming potassium must be limited to about 2 grams a day to maintain electrolyte balance.

For those who have hemodialysis at HD home, it is recommended to discuss with a health care team or diet expert to determine the amount of potassium that suits individual needs.

Source: Healthline, Nutritional Book for Kidney Patients