Other drinks may include a lot of sodium, phosphorus, potassium, or sugar — all of which can be important to watch with C3G. Here are the beverages most likely to need limiting and why.
Sports Drinks and Salty Vegetable Juices Can Pack in Sodium
Sports and electrolyte drinks may sound healthy, but many are designed to replace sodium lost through sweat. “That can work against the sodium limits commonly recommended for glomerular kidney diseases,” says Nakhoul.
“These beverages are specifically designed to deliver sodium and are counterproductive,” he says. Too much sodium can contribute to high blood pressure and swelling and may worsen protein loss in the urine. Unless your healthcare team has told you that you need an electrolyte drink, water is usually a better everyday choice.
V8, tomato juice, and other vegetable juices may have more sodium than you expect. Low-sodium versions of these juices can be better options.
High-Potassium Drinks Can Be a Problem for Some People
In people with advanced disease, the body has trouble getting rid of potassium, and levels can rise too high and become dangerous, says Nakhoul.
“However, potassium restriction should be individualized — in early CKD, high-potassium food intake from natural sources appears protective, and blanket restriction may be harmful,” he says.
If your potassium is high, drinks worth limiting may include orange juice and certain fruit juices, coconut water, banana-based smoothies, dairy milk, and chocolate milk. Ask your kidney care team whether your blood potassium level means you need to limit them.
Dark Colas and Drinks With Phosphate Additives Aren’t Great Choices
Dark colas commonly contain phosphoric acid, and other packaged beverages may contain phosphate additives. “Those additives are a concern in kidney disease because the body absorbs them readily,” Nakhoul says.
Check ingredient lists for phosphoric acid or other phosphate additives. Sparkling water can give you carbonation without the phosphorus additives and sugar found in many soft drinks.
Sugary Drinks Are Better Left as an Occasional Choice
Regular soda, sweet tea, lemonade, energy drinks, and other sugar-sweetened drinks aren’t good everyday choices for kidney health.
A daily sugary soda habit can contribute to other chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure — and it’s been shown to increase the risk of chronic kidney disease.
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