The Best and Worst Foods and Drinks for ADPKD

Whether you’ve just been diagnosed with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) or been living with the condition for some time, it’s vital to maintain a healthy diet and drink plenty of fluids to maintain overall health and maximize kidney function.
What you eat and drink — and how much — is critical to successfully managing chronic kidney disease, according to Richard Fatica, MD, a nephrologist at the Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. “Whether it’s ADPKD or another type of kidney disease, there’s more and more emerging evidence that diet can play an important role in the progression of your disease,” he says.
If you have ADPKD, knowing what foods to avoid and which to eat more of can change according to the severity of your disease and your level of kidney function. To maximize your success, make sure you’re checking in with your care team, including a renal dietitian, regularly.
Here’s a list of foods, drinks, and additives to include in your diet or avoid if you have ADPKD.
What to Avoid With ADPKD
No matter what stage of ADPKD you have, you should take steps to limit or avoid the following:
Sugary Drinks “Hydration plays a critical role regardless of ADPKD, so staying hydrated is important for overall health,” says Maruschak. But avoid beverages that could potentially lead to weight gain or difficulty maintaining weight — mainly those that are sweetened. If your sugary drink of choice is cola, be aware that it and many other dark-colored sodas contain phosphorus, a mineral that, in high amounts, can trigger changes that result in blood vessel, lung, eye, and heart problems. With chronic kidney disease (CKD), including ADPKD, the kidneys have difficulty removing extra phosphorus from the blood, so high levels of it can be dangerous and increase your risk of heart attack or stroke, according to the National Kidney Foundation. The lab work ordered by your doctor will indicate whether you should be limiting your phosphorus intake.
Coffee and Other Caffeinated Drinks Caffeine can have a mild diuretic effect, meaning it may cause the urge to urinate, but this doesn’t apply to moderate amounts of coffee (3 to 6 cups a day), according to one study. Caffeine hasn’t been shown to impact the course of CKD, according to the National Kidney Foundation. As long as you practice moderation, you can drink coffee if you have ADPKD, says Maruschak. One caveat: Coffee drinks often come with lots of sugar and added fat, and some can contain hundreds of calories, according to Mayo Clinic.
Processed Foods Limiting how much packaged or processed foods you eat is a good practice, says Maruschak. There are some types, such as cut vegetables or bagged produce, that are good for you, but many processed foods contain added sugars and sodium. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, processed foods to avoid include:
- Crackers
- Chips
- Deli meat
- Pre-made meals such as frozen pizza
Fast Foods You should also limit the amount of dining out that you do (takeout or in-person dining), which also tends to be high in sodium, says Maruschak. An “average” cheeseburger and French fries from a fast-food restaurant can contain much of your recommended sodium intake for the day, according to a study.
Alcohol A moderate amount of alcohol typically won’t negatively impact your kidneys, unless you’ve been ordered by your doctor to avoid it completely. But drinking too much alcohol can make kidney disease worse, according to the National Kidney Foundation. Excessive drinking can dehydrate your body, increase your risk of high blood pressure, and cause liver disease.
Foods High in Potassium Potassium can also be elevated in people who have ADPKD that progresses to kidney failure, according to Maruschak. When high levels of potassium build up in the blood, it’s known as hyperkalemia. Symptoms can include abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, chest pain, heart palpitations, and muscle weakness or numbness in limbs, according to Cleveland Clinic. “Hyperkalemia can be life threatening if not treated,” says Maruschak. Salt substitutes can contain high amounts of potassium, so they should also be avoided, she adds. Other foods that are high in potassium include:
- Melons (cantaloupe, honeydew)
- Bananas
- Oranges and orange juice
- Avocados
- Prune juice
- Tomatoes, tomato sauce, and tomato juice
- Dried beans
- Pumpkin and winter squash
- Cooked greens (spinach, kale, collards, Swiss chard, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts)
- Nuts and nut butters
However, potassium-rich foods tend to be good for you, so don’t eliminate them from your diet if you’re at mild risk of hyperkalemia. Talk to your doctor or a renal dietician first. In general, only those with advanced (stage IV or V) CKD will need to limit potassium-rich foods.
What to Add to Your Diet if You Have ADPKD
Certain foods can help you maintain overall health and improve kidney function with ADPKD, including:
Fresh Fruits and Vegetables If you’re not considered a risk for hyperkalemia, consider an eating plan high in fresh fruits and vegetables, such as the Mediterranean diet or DASH diet, according to Maruschak. Frozen fruits and vegetables that don’t contain added salt or sugar are a good option; canned vegetables often contain added sodium, while canned fruit may have added sugar, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
Water Everyone needs to stay hydrated, but there’s a good reason people who have ADPKD need to drink up. Drinking plenty of water can turn off a hormone called arginine vasopressin, which has been linked to cyst growth. But before you start upping your water intake, check with your nephrologist. “If you have a very low level of kidney functioning, high water intake can be dangerous,” says Dr. Fatica.
Chicken, Fish, and Lean Sources of Protein Protein helps your body build muscle and fight infections, but too much protein can build up as waste in your blood, and your kidneys may not be able to remove all of it, according to a study review. You should work with your doctor or dietitian to determine how much protein you need, which varies by factors such as body size and kidney disease stage, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Good lean protein sources for people with ADPKD include seafood, poultry, eggs, legumes, nuts, seeds, and soy products, says Maruschak.
Nutrition needs may vary according to the severity of your ADPKD and your kidney function. Check with your care team to get personalized recommendations.
The Takeaway
Maintaining a healthy diet is essential for managing autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) by helping protect your kidneys and overall well-being. It's important to avoid high-sodium and sugary processed foods while including plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins in your meals. Always stay hydrated, and make sure to coordinate with your healthcare provider for dietary advice specific to your condition.

Igor Kagan, MD
Medical Reviewer
Igor Kagan, MD, is an an assistant clinical professor at UCLA. He spends the majority of his time seeing patients in various settings, such as outpatient clinics, inpatient rounds, and dialysis units. He is also the associate program director for the General Nephrology Fellowship and teaches medical students, residents, and fellows. His clinical interests include general nephrology, chronic kidney disease, dialysis (home and in-center), hypertension, and glomerulonephritis, among others. He is also interested in electronic medical record optimization and services as a physician informaticist.
A native of Los Angeles, he graduated cum laude from the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) with a bachelor's in business and economics, and was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. He then went to the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California (USC) for his medical school education. He stayed at USC for his training and completed his internship and internal medicine residency at the historic Los Angeles County and USC General Hospital. Following his internal medicine residency, Kagan went across town to UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine for his fellowship in nephrology and training at the UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center. After his fellowship he stayed on as faculty at UCLA Health.

Becky Upham
Author
Becky Upham has worked throughout the health and wellness world for over 25 years. She's been a race director, a team recruiter for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, a salesperson for a major pharmaceutical company, a blogger for Moogfest, a communications manager for Mission Health, a fitness instructor, and a health coach.
Upham majored in English at the University of North Carolina and has a master's in English writing from Hollins University.
Upham enjoys teaching cycling classes, running, reading fiction, and making playlists.
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