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KIDNEY DIET5 diet traps in chronic kidneydisease1Salt substitutes and "low-sodium" soy sauce: sodium isoften replaced with potassium chloride, which canraise blood potassium when kidneys are weak.2Phosphate additives in processed food: watch for"phosphate" or "phosphoric acid" on the label —absorption is close to 100%, far higher than naturalfoods.3Star fruit: contains a neurotoxin; people with reducedkidney function may get intractable hiccups,confusion or seizures, which can be fatal.4High-sodium takeaway and pickled food: guidelinesadvise less than 2.3 g sodium a day (about 6 g salt).5Protein powder on your own: non-dialysis CKD stages3–5 are advised 0.55–0.6 g/kg/day; dialysis patientsactually need more — ask a dietitian first.Limits differ from person to person — follow the targets set by yourdoctor and renal dietitian. Try the free diet calculator on this site.BBeyond CKDbeyondckd.com/en/cards/five-diet-trapsSources: KDOQI Clinical Practice Guideline for Nutrition in CKD: 2020 Update · NKF…Compiled from public clinical guidelines · General education, not individual medical advice
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Kidney diet

5 diet traps in chronic kidney disease

Some "healthy" foods are traps for kidney patients — the first one is in many kitchens every day.

  1. 1Salt substitutes and "low-sodium" soy sauce: sodium is often replaced with potassium chloride, which can raise blood potassium when kidneys are weak.
  2. 2Phosphate additives in processed food: watch for "phosphate" or "phosphoric acid" on the label — absorption is close to 100%, far higher than natural foods.
  3. 3Star fruit: contains a neurotoxin; people with reduced kidney function may get intractable hiccups, confusion or seizures, which can be fatal.
  4. 4High-sodium takeaway and pickled food: guidelines advise less than 2.3 g sodium a day (about 6 g salt).
  5. 5Protein powder on your own: non-dialysis CKD stages 3–5 are advised 0.55–0.6 g/kg/day; dialysis patients actually need more — ask a dietitian first.

Limits differ from person to person — follow the targets set by your doctor and renal dietitian. Try the free diet calculator on this site.

Caption (ready to paste)

Some "healthy" foods are traps for kidney patients — the first one is in many kitchens every day.

1. Salt substitutes and "low-sodium" soy sauce: sodium is often replaced with potassium chloride, which can raise blood potassium when kidneys are weak.
2. Phosphate additives in processed food: watch for "phosphate" or "phosphoric acid" on the label — absorption is close to 100%, far higher than natural foods.
3. Star fruit: contains a neurotoxin; people with reduced kidney function may get intractable hiccups, confusion or seizures, which can be fatal.
4. High-sodium takeaway and pickled food: guidelines advise less than 2.3 g sodium a day (about 6 g salt).
5. Protein powder on your own: non-dialysis CKD stages 3–5 are advised 0.55–0.6 g/kg/day; dialysis patients actually need more — ask a dietitian first.

Limits differ from person to person — follow the targets set by your doctor and renal dietitian. Try the free diet calculator on this site.

Sources: KDOQI Clinical Practice Guideline for Nutrition in CKD: 2020 Update — AJKD 2020;76(3S1):S1–S107; NKF — Potassium and Your CKD Diet (salt substitutes); Calvo MS, Uribarri J. Phosphorus additives — Am J Kidney Dis 2013;62:1216; Neto MM et al. Star fruit intoxication in uraemic patients — Nephrol Dial Transplant 2003;18:120
Verified: 2026-10-16

Cards and scripts are general health education compiled from public clinical guidelines. They are not individual medical advice and do not replace assessment by your doctor, pharmacist or dietitian. Please keep the sources and this notice when sharing; this page holds the latest version.
https://beyondckd.com/en/cards/five-diet-traps
60-second short-video script

Shot list and voice-over. Vertical 9:16; put captions in the lower third. Every line maps to the sources on the left.

secScreenVoice-over
0–5Hand holding salt substitute, big text "TRAP?"Some foods that look healthy are actually traps for people with kidney disease.
5–16Zoom on label: "potassium chloride"One: salt substitutes and low-sodium soy sauce. They often swap sodium for potassium chloride. When kidneys are weak, potassium builds up.
16–27Snack / ham label with "phosphate" circledTwo: phosphate additives in processed food. If you see "phosphate" on the label, be careful — nearly all of it is absorbed.
27–36Star fruit photo + warning signThree: star fruit. It contains a neurotoxin. With reduced kidney function it can cause endless hiccups, confusion, even death.
36–46Noodle soup, pickles, "<2.3 g sodium/day"Four: high-sodium takeaway and pickles. Guidelines say less than 2.3 grams of sodium a day — about six grams of salt.
46–55Protein powder tub + "ask a dietitian"Five: buying protein powder on your own. Before dialysis protein should be lower; on dialysis it should be higher. Big difference — ask a dietitian.
55–60Site logo + URL + QRWant to check today's potassium, phosphorus and protein? The Beyond CKD diet calculator is free.

Sources (every point on the card maps to one)

Verified: 2026-10-16