Protein in CKD
Adequate protein intake helps maintain good nutritional status while avoiding the accumulation of harmful substances.
Quantity
Protein is found in all types of foods, including meat, seafood, dairy, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and whole grains. Proteins are made up of combinations of amino acids, all of which are critical for various bodily functions. Your body can produce many of these amino acids on its own. However, there are some amino acids, called essential amino acids, which you must consume through diet. The amino acid content of a protein varies depending on the source.
Proteins that contain all of the amino acids are called complete proteins, while those that do not contain all of the amino acids are called incomplete proteins. Animal-based foods are complete sources of protein. For this reason, animal proteins are also called high biological value or high quality proteins. On the other hand, plant-based protein sources have an incomplete amino acid profile, and are therefore considered lower biological value or low quality proteins.
Quality
When following a kidney-friendly diet, it is important to consume high biological value proteins in reduced quantities instead of avoiding them completely. Plant-based foods that typically contain lower biological value proteins may also be replaced with kidney-friendly foods, such as FLAVIS bread, bread substitutes, pasta, and snacks.
The diagram outlines the protein content of various foods:
