Red meat is a common food staple for many Americans with bacon, burgers and steak enjoying wide-spread popularity. The fact of the matter is, however, red meat has been shown to be one of the unhealthiest kinds of foods to eat if you have chronic kidney disease, as well as many other health conditions like high blood pressure, cardiovascular issues, diabetes, certain cancers and more.

A lot of what makes red meat such a danger for chronic kidney disease sufferers involves its high protein content, but a recent study in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology established the direct link between the accelerated progression of kidney disease and consuming red meat regularly. In the study, which monitored kidney function in 63,257 adults from Singapore, red meat consumption was directly connected with an astounding 40% increased risk of developing end-stage renal disease. The study also uncovered the protective effect offered by legumes and soy on kidneys along with the positive effect of protein substitution, with those substituting red meat with a kidney-friendly protein, such as tofu, decreasing their end-stage renal disease risk by as much as 62%.

In conclusion, this study just backs up previous research into the overall negative effects of red meat consumption on kidney health and encourages those carnivorous kidney disease sufferers out there to really try their hardest to find a protein substitute that they will be able to enjoy instead, even poultry and fish options would be better than red meat. Bearing this in mind when dining out or when making your grocery shopping list for meal planning can make a big difference in your kidney health over time.