Kidney health: diet advice and regular check‑ups

A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes and low‑fat dairy and low in sodium and processed red meat – similar to the DASH eating pattern – is linked to a lower risk of chronic kidney disease. A long‑term Johns Hopkins University study of nearly 15,000 adults found that participants following this pattern had reduced incidence of renal problems, while high consumption of red and processed meats increased risk. The World Health Organization recommends no more than 5 g of salt per day to help protect kidney function.

Medical guidelines suggest that healthy adults should have their kidney (and liver) function evaluated at least once a year, using blood creatinine, glomerular filtration rate and urine tests. People with risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, a family history of kidney disease, existing renal impairment, or those taking nephrotoxic medications should be monitored more frequently, often every 3–6 months.