Can juicing improve kidney function?

Kidney disease is a growing health concern affecting millions of people worldwide. As kidney function declines, waste builds up in the blood and causes symptoms like fatigue, poor appetite, and edema. Lifestyle changes like diet can help support kidney health, which has many people wondering if juicing fruits and vegetables could be beneficial.

How Juicing May Help Kidneys

Freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices provide concentrated amounts of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. These nutrients help counter inflammation and oxidative damage, which are contributing factors to chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Specific nutrients and plant compounds found in produce may also directly protect the kidneys. For example:

• Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that reduces free radical damage. Low vitamin C levels are linked to faster kidney function decline.
• Vitamin E may help prevent oxidative damage to kidney tissues.
• Magnesium helps maintain kidney blood flow and function.
• Quercetin is a flavonoid antioxidant with anti-inflammatory effects that may protect the kidneys.
• Curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that benefit kidney health.

Juicing allows you to easily consume larger quantities of these nutrients than you could typically eat whole. Getting an array of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds from juice may help reduce kidney stress and damage.

Best Fruits and Vegetables for Kidney Health

All fruits and vegetables provide beneficial vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds. However, some stand out for their ability to support kidney function.

The best produce choices for juicing for kidney health include:

• Cranberries – Help prevent urinary tract infections, which can protect the kidneys.
• Grapes – Contain the antioxidant resveratrol, which may protect against kidney injury.
• Blueberries – High in antioxidants that reduce inflammation and oxidative stress.
• Cherries – Their high antioxidant content fights inflammation and free radicals.
• Beets – Improve blood flow to the kidneys and lower oxidative stress.
• Cabbage – Has compounds that help prevent kidney damage.
• Apples – Provide fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants for kidney health.
• Cucumbers – Their water content and nutrients promote hydration and kidney function.
• Ginger – A powerful anti-inflammatory that protects the kidneys.
• Turmeric – The curcumin in turmeric is a kidney-protective antioxidant.

Aim to regularly include a mix of these fruits and vegetables in fresh juices to maximize their nutritional benefits for your kidneys.

Juicing Benefits for Kidney Disease

Research suggests juicing may offer specific advantages for people with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

In one study, giving CKD patients 8 ounces of red grape juice daily for 1 year slowed the progression of their disease compared to a control group. The grape juice group also had improvement in kidney function, blood pressure, and antioxidants.

Because produce is concentrated into juice, it’s much easier to consume large amounts of beneficial antioxidants from juicing than eating whole fruits and vegetables. This Flood of antioxidant intake from juice enhances antioxidant status in CKD patients, reducing oxidative stress that damages kidneys.

Juicing may also help CKD patients achieve adequate nutrition for kidney health. Poor appetite and limited protein intake are common issues in kidney disease that exacerbate nutritional deficits. The concentrated nutrition in vegetable and fruit juices can help patients meet their increased vitamin, mineral, and fluid needs.

Evidence suggests juice can play an important role in an overall kidney-friendly diet plan for people with chronic kidney disease.

Considerations for Juicing with Kidney Disease

Juicing can provide valuable nutrition for kidney health, but there are some important considerations for people with kidney disease.

• Use lower potassium fruits and vegetables since excess potassium builds up with kidney failure. Options include apples, grapes, blueberries, cranberries, and cucumbers.
• Monitor potassium levels with regular blood tests. Large amounts of juice may provide too much potassium and require medication adjustments.
• Avoid beet or spinach juice as they are very high in potassium and oxalates.
• Drink juices in moderation. Too much can cause fluid overload issues in kidney disease.
• Work with your healthcare provider to ensure juicing fits within your kidney diet and fluid restrictions.
• Clean produce thoroughly and drink fresh juice right away to reduce infection risks.

Juice should complement an overall low potassium, low sodium renal diet. It’s important to discuss juicing with your doctor to stay within your recommended dietary limits.

Can Juicing Harm Kidneys?

In most cases juicing provides powerful nutritional benefits that support kidney function. However, there are some potential downsides to consider.

Fruits and vegetables juiced into liquid provide less satiety than eating them whole with fiber. This means juice may add extra calories on top of your diet. Consuming excess calories from any source can contribute to obesity, a major risk factor for kidney disease.

The fruits and vegetables highest in antioxidants also tend to be higher in oxalates. For most people this isn’t an issue, but excess oxalates can increase kidney stone risk in prone individuals.

Juice cleanses or extreme juicing diets are sometimes followed for quick weight loss. However, long-term juice-only diets that provide inadequate protein and nutrients can negatively impact kidney health.

As long as juices are part of a healthy, balanced diet, they provide great nutritional benefits without putting excess strain on the kidneys. Moderation is key, even with healthy drinks.

Juicing for Kidney Health

Here is a 3-day juicing plan with kidney-friendly fruits and vegetables to optimize your nutrient intake:

Day 1	Apple Carrot Ginger Juice
Day 2	Grape and Blueberry Juice
Day 3	Cucumber Turmeric Juice

Try making larger batches to last a few days. Juice can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Apple Carrot Ginger Juice

• 2 apples
• 5 carrots
• 1 inch ginger
• Dash of cinnamon

Wash and chop produce. Run through a juicer. Stir in cinnamon and enjoy!

Grape and Blueberry Juice

• 1 cup grapes
• 1 cup blueberries
• 1 cucumber
• 1 lemon, peeled
• Sprig of mint

Wash all produce. Juice grapes, blueberries, cucumber, and lemon. Pour into a glass over ice and garnish with mint.

Cucumber Turmeric Juice

• 1 cucumber
• 5 stalks celery
• 1 lemon, peeled
• 1 inch turmeric
• Dash of black pepper

Chop and juice cucumber, celery, lemon, and turmeric. Add black pepper. Serve chilled.

The Bottom Line

Incorporating nutritious, whole fruits and vegetables through juicing can benefit kidney health. The concentrated nutrition in juice helps increase intake of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory compounds that protect the kidneys.

Juicing may slow kidney disease progression, reduce kidney damage, and help patients meet their nutritional needs. However, it’s important to juice in moderation and stick to kidney-friendly produce.

Adding fresh juices to a healthy diet provides nutritional support for optimal kidney function. Just be sure to work with your doctor to determine how juicing fits into your individual kidney diet.