Whenever my patients have to make changes in their diet due to their kidney disease, they are apprehensive about which fruits to include in their diet and they often ask me “Are apple, pineapple, apple cider vinegar good or bad for kidney disease?”.
In this article, I will explain the benefits and risks of including apple, pineapple, and apple cider vinegar for different kidney diseases.
How apple is good for kidney patients?
Apple is good for kidney patients because of its various health benefits that play a protective role for the kidneys.
Apple is rich in antioxidants
The benefits of apple include its rich antioxidant content. Antioxidants are responsible to protect the cells of the body from oxidative damage.
Therefore, eating an apple might help the cells of the kidneys in playing a protective role against certain kidney diseases.
Apple is low in potassium and sodium
A person with severe CKD will need to manage his/her diet carefully by including foods that aren’t high in minerals like potassium and sodium to avoid putting extra load on the kidneys.
Apple is naturally low in potassium and sodium which makes it an excellent option for kidney patients with CKD or dialysis and are looking to avoid any imbalances in their mineral levels.
Apple is rich in fiber
Apple contains a good amount of soluble and insoluble fiber which are needed by the body to avoid any big spike in blood glucose and also to feed the good bacteria present in the gut, therefore making it a good option for kidney patients with type 2 diabetes.
How pineapple can be good for kidney patients?
Pineapple can be beneficial for kidney patients because of certain nutrients which help the kidney patients in particular diseases such as CKD or kidney stones.
Pineapple juice might be helpful for kidney stones patients.
While pineapple juice alone won’t be able to get rid of kidney stones, one study indicates that an enzyme known as bromelain can be helpful in dissolving kidney stones and pineapple is rich in bromelain.
That being said, further studies are needed to definitively conclude the beneficial effects of bromelain for kidney stones.
Pineapple can be a part of a CKD diet
For a person suffering from kidney diseases such as CKD or a complete kidney failure, they would be recommended by their doctor to manage their potassium levels.
Similar to apple, pineapple is low in potassium as well. Pineapple is also low in phosphorus and sodium. Therefore, making it a good choice for CKD and kidney failure patients.
Pineapple aids in managing high blood pressure
Many kidney disease patients often suffer from high blood pressure as well. And when the high blood pressure is not treated by making changes in diet and lifestyle it could lead to complications such as putting your heart health at risk.
The low potassium and sodium content from the pineapple is helpful in lowering chronic blood pressure. Therefore, avoiding aggravating further damage to the kidneys. Pineapple is also a good source of vitamin A which supports optimal heart health as well.
Apple cider vinegar is good or bad for kidney disease?
Apple cider vinegar might not be a good inclusion in the diet of kidney patients.
Apple cider vinegar is produced with the fermentation of alcohol with yeast. The yeast make the final conversion of alcohol into vinegar.
Apple cider vinegar is commonly used while making salad dressings. Although it has also been used for various purposes and has been associated with numerous health benefits.
It might be helpful for kidney stone patients.
Many kidney stones are developed in the urine. Because of the acidic content of apple cider vinegar, it helps in dissolving the size of the kidney stones to the point where they can pass from the urine.
Studies also show that including apple cider vinegar might also aid in the prevention of the development of kidney stones because of the high acetic and citric content in it.
It might not be a good choice for CKD patients
Apple cider vinegar is low in its sodium content. However, it has a considerably high amount of potassium. The vinegar is made up of a diluted version of acetic acid, which could cause accumulation of acid in the body.
For a person with CKD or someone undergoing dialysis, this would not be an ideal choice.
Hence, it is advisable to speak with your nephrologist or your renal dietitian before including apple cider vinegar in your diet or adding any new supplements while you are suffering from kidney disease and have specific medications for them.
Summary
Including apples in the diet for kidney patients comes with various health benefits.
Apple is rich in antioxidants which protect the cells of the kidney from oxidative damage. Apple is also low in potassium which is what certain patients suffering from CKD and kidney failure need to have in their diet.
The juice from pineapple could be helpful for a kidney stone patient. Just like apple, pineapple is also low in potassium, hence it can be included in the diet of a CKD patient as well.
Lastly, apple cider vinegar can be beneficial in flushing out kidney stones. However, it may not be very helpful for other kidney diseases such as CKD or kidney failure as it is high in its potassium and it is acidic in nature.
Therefore for CKD patients, it is advisable to consult a medical professional to assess your situation and determine whether apple cider vinegar can be part of your diet or not.
