The Top SUPERFOODS for the Kidneys—Explained by Dr. Berg

Summary

This video script discusses dietary recommendations for individuals with chronic kidney disease. It emphasizes the importance of avoiding refined and processed foods, high sugar, and foods high in phosphorus and oxalates. The speaker suggests consuming lower phosphorus proteins like cod and seabass, and recommends vegetables low in oxalates and lectins. Additionally, the script highlights the benefits of spirulina, fermented foods, and certain oils for kidney health, while cautioning against excessive sodium intake and the use of CAT scans. The advice is to work closely with a doctor and focus on whole, nutrient-dense foods to potentially extend life.

Takeaways

• 🍽️ **Diet Modification**: For those with chronic kidney disease, it's crucial to adjust your diet to manage phosphorus, potassium, and sodium levels, and avoid deficiencies in other nutrients.
• 🚫 **Avoid Refined Foods**: Refrain from consuming refined foods and anything processed, including foods from boxes, cans, or junk food, to reduce kidney damage.
• 🍬 **Cut Sugar Intake**: High sugar intake, often a result of diabetes, is a major cause of kidney damage, so reducing sugar is essential.
• 🐟 **Choose Protein Wisely**: Opt for moderate amounts of protein, particularly lower phosphorus proteins like cod and seabass, and avoid high phosphorus foods like liver and nuts.
• 🚫 **Avoid High Mercury Fish**: Some fish, while high in mercury, can cause kidney and autoimmune issues, so choose fish like sardine and salmon in moderation.
• 🌱 **Limit Oxalate Intake**: Foods high in oxalates, like almonds, spinach, and chocolate, can increase kidney inflammation and should be avoided.
• 🥬 **Select Kidney-Friendly Vegetables**: Asparagus, celery, lettuce, avocado, cucumber, garlic, cabbage, cauliflower, and mushrooms are safe choices for those with kidney disease.
• 🌿 **Avoid High Lectin Foods**: Foods with high lectin content, like eggplant, potatoes, beans, and grains, can be problematic for kidney health.
• 🌱 **Consider Spirulina**: Spirulina, a type of algae, can be beneficial for advanced kidney problems, reducing kidney toxicity and helping with anemia and fluid retention.
• 🧂 **Choose Better Salt Alternatives**: For those with kidney issues, consider using Baja gold salt, which has a lower sodium content compared to regular salt.
• 💊 **Minimize Medication and Radiation Exposure**: Certain medications, alcohol, and radiation from CAT scans can damage the kidneys, so opt for safer alternatives like ultrasounds or MRIs when possible.

Q & A

What are the primary functions of nephrons in the kidneys?

Nephrons are the tiny filters in the kidneys that not only filter waste but also regulate a lot of things in the blood, including recycling electrolytes, hormones, minerals, vitamins, and proteins.

Why should someone with chronic kidney disease change their diet?

Diet changes are necessary for someone with chronic kidney disease because damaged nephrons can lead to a buildup of phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and deficiencies of other nutrients, requiring a shift in dietary intake to manage these imbalances.

What is the recommended approach to food consumption for kidney patients?

It is highly recommended for kidney patients to avoid eating out and instead make their own foods, focusing on whole foods, and avoiding refined and processed foods to manage nutrient intake effectively.

Why is sugar intake a concern for kidney patients?

Sugar intake is a concern for kidney patients because the number one cause of kidney damage is diabetes, which is a high sugar situation, and high sugar intake can exacerbate kidney problems.

What types of proteins are suggested for kidney patients?

Kidney patients should consume moderate to slightly lower amounts of protein, focusing on lower phosphorus proteins like cod and seabass, while avoiding high phosphorus sources like liver and nuts.

Why should kidney patients avoid high-phosphorus foods?

High-phosphorus foods should be avoided by kidney patients because the damaged nephrons can't filter out excess phosphorus effectively, leading to a buildup that can further damage the kidneys.

What are some low-oxalate vegetables recommended for kidney patients?

Asparagus, celery, lettuce, avocado, cucumber, garlic, cabbage, cauliflower, and mushrooms are recommended as they are low in oxalates, which can increase inflammation of the kidneys.

How can spirulina benefit kidney patients?

Spirulina, a type of algae, can benefit kidney patients by decreasing the kidney burden of toxins, helping to reduce the toxicity of urine, aiding with anemia, and balancing fluid retention associated with kidney problems.

Why should kidney patients be cautious about certain types of fats and oils?

Kidney patients should avoid seed oils like corn oil, soy oil, cotton seed oil, and canola oil due to their potential inflammatory effects and contribution to kidney damage.

What are some dietary recommendations for managing sodium intake in kidney patients?

Kidney patients should be cautious about sodium intake and consider using alternative salts like Baja gold, which contains less sodium chloride compared to regular sea salt.

How important is vitamin D for kidney patients, and what should they do about it?

Vitamin D is crucial for kidney patients as the kidneys help convert inactive to active vitamin D. Since damaged kidneys can lead to low vitamin D levels, supplementation might be necessary, but it should be done under a doctor's guidance.

What are some potential non-dietary factors that can damage the kidneys?

Non-dietary factors that can damage the kidneys include drugs, medications, alcohol, especially pain medication, smoking, and exposure to radiation from certain medical scans like CAT scans.

What types of foods are considered high in lectins and should be avoided by kidney patients?

Foods high in lectins, which should be avoided by kidney patients, include eggplant, potatoes, beans, grains, and nuts. These can potentially irritate the kidneys and block the absorption of essential minerals.

Why is it recommended to choose ultrasound or MRI over a CAT scan for kidney patients?

Ultrasound or MRI are recommended over CAT scans for kidney patients because CAT scans expose the kidneys to a significant amount of radiation, which can potentially cause further damage.

Outlines

00:00

🥗 Diet Recommendations for Chronic Kidney Disease

This paragraph discusses the dietary changes necessary for individuals with chronic kidney disease. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the kidney's role in filtering waste and recycling nutrients. The speaker advises against consuming refined foods and sugars, as well as high-phosphorus proteins like certain fish and liver. Instead, they recommend whole foods and suggests that lower phosphorus proteins like cod and seabass are preferable. The paragraph also cautions against foods high in oxalates, which can exacerbate kidney inflammation, and mentions the need to work closely with a doctor to monitor nutrient levels.

05:00

🥦 Safe Vegetables and Foods for Kidney Health

The second paragraph focuses on safe food options for those with kidney disease, including vegetables that are low in oxalates and other potentially harmful nutrients. It highlights asparagus, celery, lettuce, avocado, cucumber, garlic, cabbage, cauliflower, and mushrooms as beneficial choices. The speaker also advises against high-lectin foods like eggplant, potatoes, beans, grains, and nuts. Additionally, spirulina is introduced as a beneficial algae for advanced kidney problems, and fermented foods like sauerkraut and kimchi are recommended for their kidney-friendly properties. The paragraph concludes with a warning about the potential harm of CAT scans to the kidneys and a note on the importance of choosing healthier fats like those found in avocados and extra virgin olive oil.

Keywords

💡Nephrons

Nephrons are the functional units of the kidney, responsible for filtering waste and regulating electrolytes, hormones, and minerals in the blood. In the video, the importance of nephrons is highlighted as they are the structures that can be damaged in chronic kidney disease, leading to a buildup of certain substances in the body. The script mentions nephrons to emphasize the complexity of the kidney's role in filtering and recycling nutrients.

💡Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

Chronic Kidney Disease is a progressive condition where the kidneys lose their ability to function properly over time. The video discusses dietary changes for individuals with CKD, focusing on the need to avoid certain foods that can exacerbate the condition, such as high phosphorus proteins and refined sugars. The theme of the video revolves around managing diet to mitigate the effects of kidney damage.

💡Phosphorus

Phosphorus is a mineral that can accumulate in the body when kidney function is impaired, as the kidneys are less able to filter it out. The video script advises moderation in protein intake, especially proteins high in phosphorus, to prevent overloading the kidneys and to manage the condition effectively.

💡Diabetes

Diabetes is identified in the script as a leading cause of kidney damage due to its high sugar content, which can lead to high blood sugar levels and subsequent kidney complications. The video emphasizes the importance of cutting sugar and refined starches from the diet to prevent further kidney damage.

💡Refined Foods

Refined foods, as mentioned in the script, are those that have been processed to remove the bran and germ, often resulting in a higher sugar and starch content. The video advises against consuming refined foods, such as those found in boxed or canned products, due to their potential to contribute to kidney damage.

💡Oxalates

Oxalates are naturally occurring substances found in some foods that can contribute to kidney problems, particularly in individuals with kidney damage. The video script warns against consuming foods high in oxalates, such as almonds, spinach, and chocolate, as they can increase inflammation and damage the kidneys.

💡Lectins

Lectins are proteins found in certain plant foods that can cause issues for individuals with compromised gut, liver, or kidney function. The video mentions that those with kidney damage may want to avoid or limit foods high in lectins, such as eggplant, potatoes, beans, and grains, to reduce potential irritation and support overall kidney health.

💡Spirulina

Spirulina is a type of algae that the video script suggests can be beneficial for individuals with advanced kidney problems. It is noted for its high content of vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, and chlorophyll, which can help reduce kidney toxicity and support anemia and fluid retention issues associated with kidney disease.

💡Fermented Foods

Fermented foods, such as sauerkraut, kimchi, and pickles, are recommended in the video for their potential kidney health benefits. These foods are believed to be beneficial due to their probiotic content, which can support overall gut and kidney health by promoting good bacteria and reducing toxicity.

💡Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Extra virgin olive oil is highlighted in the script as a beneficial oil for kidney health due to its anti-inflammatory properties and high content of phytonutrients and vitamin E. The video suggests using this oil as part of a kidney-friendly diet, noting its low phosphorus content.

💡Vitamin D

Vitamin D is essential for kidney health, as the kidneys play a significant role in converting inactive vitamin D to its active form. The video script points out that individuals with kidney damage may have lower levels of vitamin D and should consider supplementation, as it can be difficult to obtain sufficient amounts through food alone.

💡Sodium

Sodium is a mineral that can be problematic for individuals with kidney disease, as the kidneys have a reduced ability to regulate its levels. The video mentions the need to monitor sodium intake and suggests alternatives like Baja gold, a type of salt with a lower sodium content, suitable for those with kidney problems.

Highlights

Focus on foods beneficial for kidneys with existing damage, specifically chronic kidney disease.

Kidneys are composed of nephrons, which filter and regulate substances in blood.

Kidney damage can lead to phosphorus, potassium, and sodium buildup, and nutrient deficiencies.

Homemade, whole foods are recommended over refined and processed options.

Diabetes is a leading cause of kidney damage due to high sugar intake.

Avoid refined sugars, starches, and ultra-refined products for kidney health.

Protein intake should be moderate to slightly lower, with attention to phosphorus content.

Cod and seabass are suggested as lower phosphorus protein sources.

Avoid high phosphorus foods like liver and nuts, which can also contain irritants for the kidneys.

Oxalates in certain foods can increase kidney inflammation and should be avoided.

Lectins in some vegetables may be problematic for those with kidney damage.

Safe vegetables for kidney disease include asparagus, celery, lettuce, and avocado.

Spirulina, a type of algae, can be beneficial for advanced kidney problems.

Fermented foods and avocados provide unique benefits for kidney health.

Extra virgin olive oil is anti-inflammatory and beneficial for the kidneys.

Organic cottage cheese and goat cheese are recommended dairy options for kidney health.

Vitamin D is crucial for kidney health, and supplementation may be necessary.

Baja gold salt is a better alternative to regular salt for those with kidney problems.

High-quality, organic, and grass-fed ingredients are preferred for kidney health.

Dr. Berg's basic healthy Keto Plan and intermittent fasting guide offers preventative kidney foods.

Transcripts

let's talk about the superfoods that are

the best foods for the kidneys now I'm

not talking about preventing a kidney

problem I'm talking about if you already

have kidney damage so let's say you have

this chronic kidney disease what do you

eat that's what I want to talk about now

the kidney is composed of these tiny

little things called nephrons okay not

neurons nephrons and a nephron is a a

super sophisticated complex little

filter that doesn't just filter it

regulates a lot of things in your blood

so it does filter waste but it recycles

a lot of electrolytes and hormones and

minerals and vitamins and protein so

when you end up damaging these filters

um you're going to have to really shift

what you eat because now you're going to

have a buildup of phosphorus

potassium sodium with deficiencies of

other nutrients as well so you can't

just just eat the same thing you've been

eating I highly recommend you don't go

out to dinner you actually make your own

foods and try to make these Foods as

whole as possible I would not consume

anything refined and also you need to

understand the number one cause of

kidney damage comes from having diabetes

which is a high sugar situation so

you're going to have to cut the sugar

right out and also those things that

create more damage than sugar that act

like sugar like the starches I'm talking

about multi

talking about the modified food starch

and the modified corn starch things that

are really Ultra refined so no more

eating anything out of a box or a can or

any quick junk Foods you're gon to have

to really think through what you eat

because what I'm going to show you will

definitely extend your life there are

other things that can destroy the kidney

as well drugs medications alcohol

especially pain medication smoking junk

food Ultra processed foods and that's a

combination of like like the seed oils

the corn oil the soy oil the cotton seed

oil the canola you need to just get rid

of those so let's start with protein

okay what type of protein should you

consume because you don't want to do um

a lot of protein you want to do a

moderate to slightly lower amounts of

protein and you really want to think

with your protein because most proteins

have high amounts of phosphorus so we

don't want to overload the kidney with

too much of that and by the way when

you're doing this always work with your

doctor because they're going to be

monitoring your levels of these

nutrients to make sure that they're in

check but I want to give you some other

things to think with that you're not

going to find usually when doing the

searches on the internet so let's start

out with the lower phosphorus proteins

because that is the problem with a lot

of fish it's high in mercury and Mercury

also can cause an autoimmune disease

with the kidney and most mercury

exposure is probably from fish um but

fish also has selenium or at least

certain types of fish like sardin and

salmon but both of those are a bit

higher in phosphorus I would just

consume them not as often as the other

ones but definitely on a regular basis

and I think out of all the fish that are

the lowest in phosphorus it's the cod

fish as well as a seab bass but I would

avoid turkey liver like beef liver or

any type of liver because that's going

to be high phosphorus egg yolks okay and

nuts now nuts also are loaded with this

other thing called fuc Fates which also

can irritate the kidney and block

certain nutrients that the kidneys need

like zinc and other minerals so it's

going to make it more difficult to get

the nutrients that you need so when

we're talking about the kidneys we're

talking about consuming foods that have

the lowest amount of toxicity and I'm

not just talking about the chemicals in

the food which are the obvious things

and the GMOs and the conventional foods

but I'm also talking about the toxicity

of other things in food like like

oxalates especially if you have kidney

damage can really tear up the kidneys so

you want to avoid things like almonds

spinach and chocolate those are three

big ones loaded with oxalates and

oxalates can increase inflammation of

the kidneys and we also have other

things in certain foods like tannins

like I wouldn't consume black tea but

green tea is low in tannins so that

would be fine there's also um this thing

called lectins right now I believe that

lectins are not a problem unless you

have you know gut damage or liver damage

or kidney damage or especially

intestinal damage but when you have

kidney damage probably want to eat uh

certain things that are lower in lectins

now this relates to vegetables okay now

the other problem with vegetables is

that we have the oxalates and we also

have their level of potassium maybe

magnesium we don't want it to be super

high so what vegetables would be very

safe to consume for someone with kidney

disease well number one asparagus

asparagus will also decrease the load of

this waste like uric acid waste ammonia

celery is another one that can actually

decrease the uric acid and that's also

low in these other nutrients that I just

mentioned another one that's safe would

be lettuce I'm not talking about Swiss

chard or the beet greens those are high

in oxalates okay so you probably want to

avoid those so we have asparagus celery

lettuce avocado cucumber garlic

cabbage cauliflower and mushrooms even

though mushroom is not a vegetable and

they also create it like more of an

alkaline effect so if there's a bit more

acidity that builds up these will help

neutralize that the ones that you should

probably avoid because they're high in

lectin would be the egg plant the

potatoes the beans the grains and like I

said before the nuts so if you focus on

the list of vegetables that are on the

okay list you'll also get a lot of

antioxidants and that's going to prevent

a lot of the free radical damage that's

going on in the kidneys another really

good food to consume for advanced kidney

problems would be spirulina it's a type

of algae that seems to be very good for

advanced stage kidney problems it has a

lot of things it has vitamins and

minerals and phytonutrients and

chlorophyll and spirulina can actually

decrease the kidney burden of its toxins

so it helps to reduce the toxicity of

your urine at the same time helping you

with anemia which is one

side effect of having kidney problems as

well as help balance the fluid retention

that you see with kidney problems as

well and one additional thing I want to

mention um that damages the kidney is

CAT scans of the kidney itself very

unfortunately I had to have two cat

skins or maybe three of my kidneys uh

for various reasons but I had to have it

done but the problem is like but that's

a lot of radiation put into your kidneys

which potentially can damage the kidneys

themselves so if if you have a choice

between a CAT scan or an ultrasound or a

CAT scan and an MRI choose the

ultrasound or the MRI but not the cat

skan unless you absolutely need it now

another really good food for the kidney

to decrease the the toxicity uh is

fermented foods sauerkraut kimchi

pickles really good for the kidneys make

sure you get the sauerkraut the

kimchi in the refrigerated section of

the groc stor so it's raw also avocados

have a really interesting type of fat

that's really good for the kidneys and

the liver and also that fat can help

extract

phytonutrients that are more fat soble

in your salad with the next thing on the

list which is extra virgin olive oil

another really good oil for the kidney

it's anti-inflammatory it's loaded with

phytonutrients vitamin E virtually no

phosphorus now as far as hard cheeses uh

they're high in phosphorus but cottage

cheese make sure it's organic because

they add this modified food starch in

commercial cottage cheese so get the one

that's organic and also goats cheese is

another one that you can consume as well

that way you can get your calcium but it

comes from a food so we want these foods

that are good for the kidneys uh that

provide the right amount of nutrition

but not too much I would recommend

getting your nutrients from the food and

not from supplementation except for

vitamin D because it's going to be

really hard to get your vitamin d and

vitamin D is going to be very important

uh for your kidneys because also realize

that it's the kidneys that helps convert

the inactive to the active vitamin D and

the liver does some of that too but the

kidneys are very very important so if

those kidneys are damaged you're going

to have low vitamin D now another

mineral that you have to watch out for

is too much sodium and the problem with

even sea salt it it has all the minerals

but it's it's a bit high in sodium it's

like

98% sodium so there is another type of

salt that's really good for uh people

with kidney problems it's called Baja

gold which is a type of salt that is

like 70% sodium chloride and the rest

other minerals so that would be a a much

better salt for people with kidney

problems keep it simple follow this food

list I know it's boring but I think it's

going to extend your life try to make

sure those ingredients are the highest

quality like organic grass-fed

um nothing out of a box or a can these

are the foods not to prevent a kidney

problem they're foods that if you have a

kidney problem you should focus more on

if you want to know what foods that can

actually be more preventative i' would

go to drberg.com and download my basic

healthy Keto Plan and intermittent

fasting and you'll find the link Down

Below in the

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