Should you eat oatmeal if you have kidney disease?

Kidney disease can occur when the kidneys aren’t removing waste and filtering blood as well as they should. A doctor will typically recommend medication to help treat the condition. However, nutrition can also play a key role in managing symptoms.

Eating certain foods and avoiding others can help reduce symptoms and prevent further damage to the kidneys. Oats and oatmeal are a good option for people with kidney disease when eaten in moderation.

What is the nutritional value of oatmeal?

Oats and oatmeal have a high fiber content and contain several nutrients, like vitamins, protein, and minerals.

One cup of raw oats has around 300 calories and no cholesterol.

It also has the following nutrient content:

• Carbohydrates: 54.8 grams (g)
• Protein: 10.7 g
• Fiber: 8.1 g
• Water: 8.7 g
• Fat: 5.3 g
• Sugar: 0.8 g

Oats contain a large amount of nutrients, including:

• vitamins A, B12, C, E, and K
• folic acid
• calcium
• iron
• magnesium
• phosphorus
• potassium
• zinc

Why is oatmeal a good breakfast choice if you have kidney disease?

Oatmeal is a good breakfast choice for some people with kidney disease because of its nutritional content. It is low in sodium, carbohydrates, and sugar and high in fiber. This means oatmeal is a good food choice for people who have conditions that lead to kidney damage, like heart failure, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

A small 2018 study on 50 people with chronic kidney disease found that eating oatmeal helps kidney function. A 2020 study found that oat beta-glucan, which is a type of soluble fiber found in oats and oatmeal, helped lower the level of toxins that the kidneys usually excrete.

However, people with kidney disease should consume oatmeal in moderation. The benefits of oatmeal may vary from person to person, as it contains certain minerals, like phosphorus and potassium, that people with kidney disease should avoid. 

How can people with kidney disease safely consume oatmeal?

How much oatmeal you can eat and how often can depend on several factors, such as the stage of your kidney disease, overall health, and other health conditions.

Experts usually advise people with kidney disease to eat foods low in phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and protein. Oatmeal contains all of these in varying quantities. However, people with kidney disease can safely eat oatmeal when recommended by a healthcare professional. A healthcare professional will consider the factors above and determine the benefits and risks based on your health.

Tips you can follow when preparing oatmeal include:

• choosing whole and unprocessed oats and oatmeal
• avoiding flavored oatmeal products
• cooking the oatmeal in water, almond milk, or rice milk
• avoiding or limiting sugary or processed toppings, and choosing foods like blueberries and peanut butter instead — the National Kidney Foundation has a recipe for peanut butter oatmeal that you could try for breakfast
• looking at the ingredient list and label of the oatmeal before you buy it to check the sodium, potassium, and sugar content

Treatment options for kidney disease

The treatment for kidney disease includes a combination of lifestyle strategies and medications to manage coexisting conditions and lower the damage to the kidneys.

Lifestyle strategies

Lifestyle measures are one of the best ways to manage kidney disease. Some lifestyle practices to consider include:

• eating a balanced diet, such as plant-based diets and the DASH diet, which can help manage health conditions that contribute to kidney damage 
• lowering how much salt and protein you eat
• exercising and practicing physical activity
• reducing stress
• avoiding alcohol, if you drink
• quitting smoking, if you smoke
• maintaining a moderate weight

Medications

There are no medications specific to treating kidney disease. Instead, a healthcare professional may prescribe medication to manage other health conditions associated with kidney disease, such as: 

• Diabetes: metformin (Riomet), acarbose (Precose) and miglitol (Glyset)
• High cholesterol: atorvastatin (Lipitor), rosuvastatin (Crestor), simvastatin (Zocor), and ezetimibe (Zetia)
• High blood pressure: benazepril (Lotensin), enalapril (Vasotec), and lisinopril (Zestril, Prinivil)
• Heart failure: captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), fosinopril (Monopril), and lisinopril (Zestril, Prinivil)

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Medical procedures

In cases where damage to the kidneys is more severe, people with chronic kidney disease may have to undergo procedures such as:

• Dialysis: This treatment involves using a dialysis machine, which replicates the function of the kidneys and helps your body get rid of extra fluid and waste in your blood.
• Kidney transplant: If the kidney damage is too extensive, a transplant may be necessary to replace the kidneys.

Summary

Diet and nutrition are vital in managing kidney disease. Eating specific foods, like oatmeal, can help manage kidney disease symptoms and prevent further kidney damage.

Oatmeal is a good option for people with kidney disease because it contains nutrients and fiber that can help improve kidney function and reduce levels of toxins.

However, oatmeal should be consumed in moderation, as it contains potassium, sodium, and phosphorus, which should be avoided or limited in people with kidney disease.

While there are no specific medications that treat kidney disease, there are several medications that can help with conditions that contribute to kidney damage, like high cholesterol, diabetes, and heart disease.

A healthcare professional, such as a nutritionist, can provide you with dietary recommendations to help manage kidney disease.

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