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Drinks to Avoid with CKD

This guide pulls together what matters most for a CKD diet around drinks: 15 foods from the database are listed below with their ratings, plus the ones to treat with caution. Every value is USDA-verified and compared to the same daily limits used across the site.

Lower-risk options (15)

Kidney-friendlyBeverages, carbonated, tonic waterK 0 · P 0 · Na 12 mg Kidney-friendlyBeverages, Tropical Punch, ready-to-drinkK 0 · P 0 · Na 13 mg Kidney-friendlyBeverages, water, bottled, non-carbonated, EVIANK 0 · P 0 · Na 0 mg Kidney-friendlyWater, with corn syrup and/or sugar and low calorie sweetener, fruit flavoredK 0 · P 0 · Na 8 mg Kidney-friendlyBeverages, MONSTER energy drink, low carbK 0 · P 0 · Na 75 mg Kidney-friendlyAlcoholic beverage, creme de menthe, 72 proofK 0 · P 0 · Na 5 mg Kidney-friendlyBeverages, water, bottled, PERRIERK 0 · P 0 · Na 1 mg Kidney-friendlyBeverages, water, bottled, POLAND SPRINGK 0 · P 0 · Na 1 mg Kidney-friendlyBeverages, water, tap, drinkingK 0 · P 0 · Na 4 mg Kidney-friendlyBeverages, aloe vera juice drink, fortified with Vitamin CK 0 · P 0 · Na 8 mg Kidney-friendlyBeverages, tea, black, ready to drinkK 0 · P 0 · Na 2 mg Kidney-friendlyWater, bottled, genericK 0 · P 0 · Na 2 mg Kidney-friendlyBeverages, Water with added vitamins and minerals, bottles, sweetened, assorted fruit flavorsK 0 · P 0 · Na 0 mg Kidney-friendlyBeverages, Energy Drink, sugar freeK 0 · P 0 · Na 42 mg Kidney-friendlyBeverages, ZEVIA, colaK 0 · P 0 · Na 6 mg

Treat with caution (10)

Higher riskBeverages, tea, instant, unsweetened, powderK 6040 · P 239 · Na 72 mg Higher riskBeverages, tea, instant, decaffeinated, unsweetenedK 6040 · P 239 · Na 72 mg Higher riskBeverages, Cocoa mix, low calorie, powder, with added calcium, phosphorus, aspartame, without added sodium or vitamin AK 2702 · P 1630 · Na 653 mg Higher riskBeverages, coffee, instant, regular, powderK 3535 · P 303 · Na 37 mg Higher riskBeverages, coffee, instant, regular, half the caffeineK 3535 · P 303 · Na 37 mg Higher riskBeverages, coffee, instant, decaffeinated, powderK 3501 · P 286 · Na 23 mg Higher riskBeverages, Orange-flavor drink, breakfast type, low calorie, powderK 3132 · P 629 · Na 81 mg Higher riskBeverages, coffee, instant, with chicoryK 3395 · P 271 · Na 277 mg Higher riskBeverages, Cocoa mix, no sugar added, powderK 2702 · P 893 · Na 876 mg Higher riskBeverages, tea, instant, lemon, unsweetenedK 3453 · P 107 · Na 55 mg

Practical tips

Cooking methods matter for potassium — boiling and discarding the water lowers potassium in many vegetables; soaking and boiling does the same for some staples. Cooking methods matter for potassium — boiling and discarding the water lowers potassium in many vegetables; soaking and boiling does the same for some staples.

Browse all kidney-friendly foods →

Frequently asked questions

How much phosphorus can a CKD patient have per day?

For the rating basis used on this site, the daily limit is 1,000 mg of phosphorus at CKD stage 3-4. Individual targets depend on your labs and should be confirmed with your healthcare team.

What foods should I avoid on a drinks plan?

The caution list on this page shows the highest-load foods in the database. The top item on the caution list is Rice bran, crude at 1677 mg of phosphorus per 100 g — 168% of the daily limit. Each food page shows the exact percentage of the daily limit for all three minerals.

Are these recommendations right for everyone on a drinks plan?

No list can replace individual advice. This page covers 15 lower-risk foods and 10 caution items, rated per 100 g against the 1,000 mg phosphorus limit — your stage, blood results and medications all matter, so treat this as data, not a prescription.