PKD Life - Fall 2022 - 6

LEFT TO RIGHT: TATIANA BRALNINA/ALAMY, EVGENIY LEE/SHUTTERSTOCK.
EATING WELL
Choosing
PKD-Friendly
Milk
Cow's milk may be off-limits,
so here's where the nondairy
alternatives stand.
By Jessica Brown
W hether you add it to a bowl of cereal or a cup of
coffee, or use it to make smoothies, milk may be
an indispensable part of your daily diet. If you're in the
early stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD) or polycystic
kidney disease (PKD) and your blood potassium
or phosphorus levels are within normal range, you can
still use cow's milk. But if you're at stage 4 or 5 of CKD
with abnormal levels of phosphorus or potassium,
cow's milk can be problematic because it's high in protein,
calcium, phosphorus, and potassium. Plant-based
milks are usually lower in these nutrients, but finding
the best one for you can be tricky.
" It's easy to get confused because there are so many
different kinds available, such as almond, rice, oat,
soy, and coconut milk, " says Haewook Han, Ph.D., R.D.,
a kidney nutrition specialist and the director of the
Master's and Dietetic Internship Combined Program at
Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science
and Policy in Boston. " In addition, some manufacturers
fortify their milks with calcium and add other
ingredients, so you need to read the nutrition label very
carefully before you buy any types of milk. "
Here, Dr. Han gives the lowdown on some of the
most popular nondairy milks and how to determine if
they're appropriate for you.
COCONUT MILK
Coconut milk has become very
popular due to its low carbohydrate
content, and it's promoted
by many healthcare professionals,
but it used to be off-limits
due to its high potassium content.
Dr. Han notes that there
are now more manufacturers
selling coconut milk with lower
potassium content that may be
appropriate for people with PKD
or CKD. Check the nutrition label
to make sure that it is acceptable
for your diet modification.
SOY MILK
Like oat milk, soy milk tends to
have a creamier texture that
many people prefer. But soy
milk may not be on the menu
if you need to limit potassium
or phosphorus because
it's naturally higher in these
minerals compared with
other nondairy milks. Another
fact is that the protein content of
soy milk and cow's milk is similar.
Although PKD or CKD patients with
diabetes need a little more protein
than nondiabetic patients and it is
a good source of protein for vegetarians,
you should talk with a kidney
nutrition specialist to see if it's
acceptable for you.
RICE MILK
One of the first plant-based milks
on the market, rice milk has long
been recommended for people
with CKD because it's naturally low
in potassium, phosphorus, and
protein. It's also ideal for patients
who are allergic to nuts or soy.
However, Dr. Han says you should
read nutrition labels because
manufacturers sometimes add
ingredients that may not be good
for you, such as disodium dihydrogen
pyrophosphate.
6 PKD LIFE * FALL 2022
PKD Life - Fall 2022

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