Americans and many people across the world literally love cheese. It’s an all-time favorite food and consumption data published by USDA unfolded many surprises. From 1977 to 2017, Americans increased the amount of cheese every person ate each year from 16 lbs to 37 lbs. At a 21 lbs increase per person, cheese is undoubtedly one of the favorite foods in America.
It’s the endorphins released by the cheese which brings out the fattiness mimicking an umami effect. Cheese also triggers dopamine production so don’t ask yourself why you always want more cheese.
Now, for someone living with kidney disease, cheese must be avoided or limited. It’s the high sodium content and phosphorus content that you want to stay away from. Some cheeses even have high amounts of protein in them. For those following a vegan diet, you should avoid cheese at all times.
However, for those who just simply can’t resist not having cheese in their diet, even if it’s a renal diet, Robert has put together a list of safe cheeses one can eat with kidney disease. This list is usually lower in phosphorus and tends to be lower in sodium. Even if you include cheese in your renal diet, you must enjoy it in small portions.
Robert encourages those on a renal diet to think of cheese as a condiment. Something that you’d use in very small amounts for flavor. He even shares some tips on how to include cheese in your veggie burgers in order to reduce phosphorus and sodium intake. Commonly, a serving of under an ounce is suggested for those with kidney disease.
Here are the cheeses you can include in a renal diet:
- Brie cheese
- Cream cheese
- Feta cheese
- Fontina cheese
- Goat cheese
- Sharp cheddar
- Shredded parmesan
The list above is of cheeses you can incorporate in small amounts into a renal diet. Recommended serving is up to one ounce or two tablespoons for most of them. This will allow you to enjoy a little cheese in your diet without stressing the kidneys too much.
For those who just simply can’t resist cheese even with kidney disease, stick to the cheeses mentioned above if you’re going to include them in your renal diet. You will see positive results and it’s a phenomenal way to add some flavor to your dishes.
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