The 5 Best Drinks for Better Kidney Health - GoodRx (2024)

The kidneys are constantly filtering the fluids in your body to get rid of toxins and waste. So what you drink can affect the health of your kidneys. And if you have bad kidneys — whether it’s from a chronic condition or a temporary illness — paying attention to your fluid intake is particularly important.

Here are five drinks that can help your kidneys function at their best.

1. Water

About 60% to 70% of your body is water. And your kidneys rely on water to make urine, which is how they remove waste from your body. Water also helps to keep your blood vessels open so that blood can reach your organs, including your kidneys.

You help protect your kidneys when you drink enough water each day. One study showed that people who drank almost 2 liters of water daily were less likely to develop kidney problems. This was especially true for older adults and men.

But, if you have later-stage kidney disease — especially if you’re on dialysis — you may have to limit your total fluid intake. Your provider can help you figure out the right amount of fluid you need depending on your kidney function.

2. Low-fat milk

One long-term study found that people with chronic kidney disease who drank low-fat milk had a slower decline of their kidney disease. In other words, their kidneys worked better for longer.

Scientists think that certain nutrients in dairy — like calcium, potassium, vitamin D, and magnesium — may help lower blood pressure and protect the kidneys. Of note, the researchers did not see that same benefit in people who drank high-fat milk. So it's possible that too much fat content may decrease the potential benefits of milk, or they may even be harmful.

3. Coffee

Experts believe that coffee protects the kidneys because it improves blood sugar and lowers inflammation in the kidneys. Research shows that coffee consumption is associated with a lower risk of developing kidney disease. But it’s not clear if it can slow how quickly kidney disease worsens.

In one study, participants who drank 1 or more cups of coffee daily had lower risk of death from kidney disease compared to people who never drank coffee. Another study found that people who drank 3 cups of coffee a day had an even lower risk of disease.

But these studies did not find a similar benefit in people who already had poor kidney function. So it’s still unclear if coffee has the same protective effects for people with kidney disease.

So if you have kidney disease and like drinking coffee, keep these things in mind:

• Drink coffee in moderation. Aim for fewer than 3 cups a day. That’s because large amounts of coffee can be high in potassium, which can lead to high potassium levels in someone with bad kidneys.

• Drink plain, black coffee. Added ingredients can be harmful. For example, syrups can be high in potassium and phosphorus. They may also contain a lot of sugar.

• Consider drinking decaf if regular coffee increases your blood pressure. More research is needed to know whether caffeine adds to the health benefits of coffee. But experts do know that a spike in blood pressure is hard on the kidneys.

4. Green tea

Green tea contains catechins, which are antioxidants. This means they help decrease inflammation in the body, which can be helpful for your kidneys. Green tea has also been shown to decrease the risk of kidney stones.

Green tea contains a catechin — EGCG (epigallocatechin-3-gallate) — that may be particularly helpful for people with kidney disease. Several studies have shown that it can slow the decline of chronic kidney disease. But it’s important to note that these studies were done in the lab in “disease models,” not in actual humans.

So, just like coffee, it’s best to drink green tea in moderation if you have kidney disease.

5. Unsweetened cranberry juice

Cranberries are rich in flavonoids, another type of antioxidant. You may have heard that cranberry juice can help prevent UTIs (urinary tract infections). That's because cranberry juice may help prevent bacteria from sticking to the urinary tract. And people with kidney disease need to be extra careful about preventing UTIs.

Some UTIs can lead to pyelonephritis — an infection in the kidneys. Scientists think that cranberries also interfere with bacteria sticking to the kidneys, just like they prevent it from sticking to the urinary tract.

Look for low-sugar or unsweetened options. Extra sugar can increase both blood sugar and blood pressure, which are both harmful to the kidneys.

What drinks should people with kidney disease avoid?

A person with kidney disease should avoid drinking:

• Cola beverages: Studies show that drinking 2 or more cola drinks a day may be harmful for people with kidney disease. Experts believe the phosphoric acid in cola drinks can strip calcium from bones, increasing the risk of kidney stones and kidney failure.

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• Alcohol: Drinking alcohol makes the kidneys less able to filter the blood and increases blood pressure, which can lead to kidney damage.

• Sugary beverages: Sweetened drinks can harm the kidneys in different ways. They increase blood sugar, blood pressure, and inflammation in the body. Sugary drinks can also contribute to weight gain, which further increases the risk for these harms for the kidneys.

There’s some evidence that drinking 2 or more diet colas a day may also worsen kidney function. But the study was done only in white females, so more research is needed to be certain.

Why is hydration important for people with low kidney function?

If you have low kidney function, staying hydrated can help keep your kidneys working better. Severe dehydration can actually lead to kidney damage, making kidney disease worse. And even mild dehydration, if it happens too often, can cause kidney damage. Dehydration ultimately leads to the buildup of waste in the body, making your kidneys work harder to remove it.

Some people with chronic kidney disease may need to monitor their fluid intake more than others. If you have late-stage kidney failure or require dialysis, too much fluid can overwhelm the kidneys and cause other health issues. Your provider can help figure out the right amount of fluid for you based on your kidney function and overall health.