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Low Sodium Diet Guide

This guide pulls together what matters most for a CKD diet around low sodium: 18 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 (18)

Kidney-friendlyPectin, liquidK 0 · P 0 · Na 0 mgKidney-friendlyOil, corn, peanut, and oliveK 0 · P 0 · Na 0 mgKidney-friendlySweeteners, tabletop, fructose, liquidK 0 · P 0 · Na 2 mgKidney-friendlyGums, seed gumsK 0 · P 0 · Na 125 mgKidney-friendlyCandies, gum drops, no sugar or low calorieK 0 · P 0 · Na 7 mgKidney-friendlySyrups, corn, high-fructoseK 0 · P 0 · Na 2 mgKidney-friendlyOil, corn and canolaK 0 · P 0 · Na 0 mgKidney-friendlySyrups, sugar freeK 0 · P 0 · Na 210 mgKidney-friendlyCandies, hard, dietetic or low calorieK 0 · P 0 · Na 0 mgKidney-friendlyChewing gum, sugarlessK 0 · P 0 · Na 7 mgKidney-friendlySweeteners, tabletop, fructose, dry, powderK 0 · P 0 · Na 12 mgKidney-friendlySweetener, herbal extract powder from Stevia leafK 0 · P 0 · Na 0 mgKidney-friendlyShortening, household, soybean-cottonseedK 0 · P 0 · Na 0 mgKidney-friendlyOil, soybean, salad or cookingK 0 · P 0 · Na 0 mgKidney-friendlyOil, rice branK 0 · P 0 · Na 0 mgKidney-friendlyOil, wheat germK 0 · P 0 · Na 0 mgKidney-friendlyOil, palmK 0 · P 0 · Na 0 mgKidney-friendlyOil, sesame, salad or cookingK 0 · P 0 · Na 0 mg

Treat with caution (12)

Higher riskLeavening agents, baking powder, double-acting, straight phosphateK 5 · P 9918 · Na 7893 mgHigher riskBeverages, Cocoa mix, low calorie, powder, with added calcium, phosphorus, aspartame, without added sodium or vitamin AK 2702 · P 1630 · Na 653 mgHigher riskWhey, acid, driedK 2289 · P 1349 · Na 968 mgHigher riskBeverages, Cocoa mix, no sugar added, powderK 2702 · P 893 · Na 876 mgHigher riskSeaweed, Canadian Cultivated EMI-TSUNOMATA, dryK 2944 · P 260 · Na 4331 mgHigher riskSoy sauce, reduced sodium, made from hydrolyzed vegetable proteinK 3098 · P 89 · Na 2890 mgHigher riskBeverages, Dairy drink mix, chocolate, reduced calorie, with low-calorie sweeteners, powderK 2240 · P 893 · Na 659 mgHigher riskWhey, sweet, driedK 2080 · P 932 · Na 1079 mgHigher riskPuddings, chocolate flavor, low calorie, instant, dry mixK 1279 · P 1660 · Na 2838 mgHigher riskMilk, dry, nonfat, regular, without added vitamin A and vitamin DK 1794 · P 968 · Na 535 mgHigher riskMilk, dry, nonfat, regular, with added vitamin A and vitamin DK 1794 · P 968 · Na 535 mgHigher riskMilk, dry, nonfat, instant, with added vitamin A and vitamin DK 1705 · P 985 · Na 549 mg

Practical tips

Portion size changes everything: the ratings are per 100 g, so half a serving halves the mineral load. 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 sodium can a CKD patient have per day?

For the rating basis used on this site, the daily limit is 2,000 mg of sodium 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 low sodium plan?

The caution list on this page shows the highest-load foods in the database. The top item on the caution list is Salt, table at 38758 mg of sodium per 100 g — 1938% 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 low sodium plan?

No list can replace individual advice. This page covers 18 lower-risk foods and 12 caution items, rated per 100 g against the 2,000 mg sodium limit — your stage, blood results and medications all matter, so treat this as data, not a prescription.