Low-Protein Diets

A low-protein diet is any diet in which the protein intake is reduced. Anyone diagnosed with kidney or liver disease may be prescribed a low-protein diet. In any case, a diet which is especially low in protein should only be undertaken under medical direction.

Why is a low protein diet necessary?


Protein is needed, but can cause problems for diseased organs

low-protein-diet

Protein is necessary for a healthy body. When protein is metabolized by the liver and digested, urea is produced as a waste product. If the liver is diseased, then food metabolism is compromised. If the kidneys, which are responsible for excretion of urea, are not functioning properly (renal failure), or if high levels of protein are continually present in the diet, urea builds up in the bloodstream causing loss of appetite and fatigue. A low-protein diet will reduce the workload on these organs.

It is usually the case that serious liver and kidney disease are accompanied by the need to limit salt or sodium intake due to high blood pressure or fluid retention. Table salt (the primary source of sodium in the diet) should therefore be limited, along with other foods with a high sodium content, as an additional feature of the low-protein diet.

Too much protein can worsen your health

It is generally accepted that a healthy person needs 40-60 grams of protein each day to remain in good health. However, it has been reported that the amount of protein typically consumed by people in affluent societies (American diet typically comprises 12-15% protein) may overtax the kidneys – to the extent that up to 30% of kidney function may be lost by the time someone is in their eighties. High-protein diets for weight loss often recommend 30% or more protein in the daily diet, and in prolonged use can cause serious metabolic changes leading to bone loss and kidney stones!

Reduced protein intake can improve your health

Low protein diets (4-8% protein) are used routinely to treat patients with liver disease, kidney (renal) failure, and disorders involving the urea cycle, the metabolism, and amino acids.

How is a low-protein diet achieved?

Reduce amount of protein

Some of each type of protein should still be consumed each day from the two main sources:

  • Animal products (fish, poultry, eggs, meat, dairy products) – considered high quality or complete protein.
  • Vegetable products (breads, cereals, rice, pasta, dried beans) – considered low quality or incomplete protein.

Click Here for over 100 very low protein recipes.

To reduce the amount of protein consumed, protein foods in recipes can be ‘stretched’ (to consume less) or reduced as against more of the low- or non-protein foods (less in proportion), making a smaller amount seem just as satisfying.

Sandwiches
  • Use thinly sliced meats.
  • Fill with salad items like lettuce, alfalfa sprouts, cucumber, chopped celery, apple, parsley or water chestnuts.
Soups
  • Use lower protein foods (milk substitutes for cream soups, or rice or pasta) to make soups as filling but with less protein.
Main Dishes
  • Make the main dish of vegetables and grains, and treat meat as the side dish to your meal.
  • Use small pieces of meat and more vegetables in kebabs.
  • Make fried rice with vegetables and use less meat or shrimp.
  • For salads use crisp, fresh vegetables and only a few small strips of meat and egg.
  • For casseroles, reduce the amount of meat and increase the starch, pasta or rice. In recipes using soup, use a low sodium mix.
  • Use low-protein pastas and breads in the diet.
  • For cheeses, use smaller amounts of stronger-tasting cheeses (sharp cheddar, parmesan or romano) for plenty of flavor.

Boost calories to compensate

Decreasing protein in the diet may also mean a reduction in calories. To compensate so as to maintain a healthy weight, increase calories by substituting or adding certain ingredients with minimal protein content, such as:

  • Increase heart-healthy fats like polyunsaturated vegetable oils (corn, cottonseed oil, safflower oil, soybean or sunflower oils), olive oil, mayonnaise-type salad dressings.
  • Use candy and sweeteners (hard candy, gum drops, jelly beans, marshmallows, honey, jam and jelly – even sugar (diabetics need medical advice).
  • Use canned fruits in heavy syrup.

Sample low protein menu

Breakfast
  • Cheerios cereal or equivalent ¾ cup
  • non-dairy creamer ½ cup
  • ½ medium banana
  • orange juice ½ cup
Snack
  • 1 cherry fruit roll up
Lunch
  • 2 slices white bread
  • turkey breast 1 oz/28 g
  • lettuce
  • tomato ½ cup
  • green beans ½ cup
  • mayonnaise 3 tsp
  • 1 medium apple
  • fruit punch 4 fl oz/118 ml
Snack
  • 1 popsicle
Dinner
  • lean hamburger 2 oz/56 g
  • white rice ½ cup
  • broccoli ¼ cup
  • cauliflower ¼ cup
  • tossed salad with 2 Tbsp ranch dressing
  • pineapple ½ cup
Snack
  • gum drops 1 oz/28 g

Sample low protein menu contains

  • Protein: 39 gm
  • Calories: 1476
  • Fat: 48 gm
  • Carbohydrates: 237 gm
  • Sodium: 1270 mg
  • Potassium: 2282 mg

See Also

The Kidney Diet - Reveals how Kidney disease can be treated using dietary measures. Includes over a 100 kidney disease fighting recipes.

Look for  low protein meal ideas here.

Low-Protein Diets
Click Here to try

200 Comments

  • ghada Feb 15th 2013

    Ineed a diet, low protein because l have stones in my kidneys

    Reply
  • José Jan 20th 2013

    Very informative article. Eventhough, I don’t have kidney disease due to my high blood pressure, my doctor prescribed a low protein diet. I have an appointment with a dietician. In the mean time I got very valuable information here. Thanks a lot! I’m looking forward to your newsletter.

    Reply
  • Aamna Jan 13th 2013

    Hi, i need help my mom is having kidney transplant for last 23 years. Everything was going fine but now she has high urea (85) and cretinine level ( 1.69). Her urine is having protien and her albumin and hemoglobin is low. She is not taking any protein diet still reports are not well.
    What should she has to do??
    Help?

    Thanks.

    Reply
  • pam rogovin Nov 7th 2012

    Hi everyone

    i read all your comments as I am new to this page. Please – anyonencan respond to me. I will answer all. I need friends and support
    thanks
    pam

    Reply
    • Youlia Dec 1st 2012

      Pam
      What do you need to know

      Reply
  • Roxanne Olsen Oct 21st 2012

    I found your information very helpful .. thank you …My protein in my urine is over 2000 and I must go on a low protein diet, I was completely clueless on where to begin and you have helped me … Thank you so much … I would love more helpful hints …

    Reply
    • sabby Mar 23rd 2013

      i need a diet control chart for my husband
      he is suffering with a kidney disease
      plz help me out

      Reply
  • sagar mishra Oct 10th 2012

    hi..my dad is having high BP and Diabetes..Protein is 2.2 in urine..Creatinine is also high..pls suggest a suitable low protein INDIAN diet..
    Regards

    Reply
  • Samujjwal dasgupta Oct 4th 2012

    I have high uric acid and also fatty liver pls suggest me some low protein diet

    Reply
  • BIMI JOSHI Oct 4th 2012

    Please suggest non protein and low protein diet, as the doctors have suggested my father to take less protein food.

    his uric acid, cholesterol, BP is very high….he is having kidney problem too..

    Reply
  • jannine Sep 30th 2012

    hello just want to clarify, is white bread better than wheat bread? is white bread is low in protein than the wheat bread? im so confuseddddddddd.

    Reply
    • Jeannette Mar 31st 2013

      I should have said more. Yes, there are higher levels of protein in whole grain foods. That includes wheat bread. That’s why when a person is told to have a low protein diet, they need to start consuming white bread.

      Reply
    • Jeannette Mar 31st 2013

      White bread is recommended for renal diets.

      Reply
  • arun kumar lall Aug 25th 2012

    I am suffering from diabetese and protein in urine to the extent of 850 gram .Please suggest me diet chart as per foods. pulses and vegetables available in India.

    Reply
    • pam rogovin Nov 7th 2012

      Hi arun
      I also have diabetes and now kidney problems. I need a low protein,low card,low fat diet. I don’t know where to turn to. Can you help me
      Thanks
      Pam

      Reply
  • karam Aug 17th 2012

    creatinine level 4.9 diabeties suggest low protein diet

    Reply
  • Avik Aug 12th 2012

    I have high uric acid.Can you please suggest some vegetables and fruits having low proteins and are available in the Indian Market. I searched a lot but BLACKBERRIES are not available in the Indian Market.

    Reply
  • shakeel Aug 4th 2012

    Hi
    I have gouts and my uric acid level is high than normal range.pls suggest me how i can reduce it to normal range

    Reply
  • Angelina Jul 22nd 2012

    hi iam angelina , my father have asthama promblem so plz suggest a diet . which type of diet is best for my dad

    Reply
  • Denise Jun 28th 2012

    Hi just diagnosed with rare form of colitis which means I have an allergy to protein, need to change my diet to eliminate as much protein as possible. Would welcome advice please.

    Reply
  • aashish bariyar May 7th 2012

    this information has been very effective as i recently have been facing some of these probs related to high protein.hope this newly acquired information would help me in my resolution to go strict on myself regarding my dietary practises.

    Reply
  • Melissa May 2nd 2012

    I took a blood test which i am assuming is a protein level in my body ,I have been so sick,getting out of bed is a chore..He took what was labeled CRPH and it came out to be13.90 H…I am scared to death..any feedback here?

    Reply
  • ashok May 2nd 2012

    I am 48 year old,I am overweight 96 kg.and height is 5.10.
    I want to know what is low protein diet,which is useful in high uric acid.sometime I hv swelling at my foot and hand also.

    Reply
  • Danielle Apr 28th 2012

    to 2.2

    Reply
  • Danielle Apr 28th 2012

    very scared…im only 34 and was diagnosed w/ ckd waiting on final results of biopsy..all i know is that i have high levels of protein in urine and that kidney
    function was at 3.1 but has now stable

    Reply
  • divyanshi Apr 23rd 2012

    hiii.my brother is having kidney problem with increased level of urea-51mg/dl, creatinine-3.4md/dl, uric acid-7.9mg/dl, potassium-6.0mmol/L. he has been recommended to take low protein & potassium diet. pls help me in setting his diet.what he can eat n drink???? n what should be avoided???..thanks

    Reply
  • KAPIL GIRI Apr 16th 2012

    PLEASE SUGGEST ME THE BEST FOOD TO REDUCE THE URIC ACID LEVEL. MY URIC ACID LEVEL IS 8.0 IN MY BODY. PLEASE SUGGEST ME THE PERFECT DIET & PERFECT LOW PROTEIN DIET. MY AGE IS 46TH YEAR IN PROGRESS. I AM COMPUTER PROFESSIONAL.

    KAPIL GIRI

    Reply
  • amanveer Apr 13th 2012

    Hello,
    My name is Amanveer Singh. I am from canada. I am going to join gym in the summer. So I want to know if it is very important to take protein supplements to work out?
    Please give me some information about this. I will be thankful to you.

    Reply
  • Sunil Rohra Apr 1st 2012

    Hello My Name is Sunil Rohra and Recently i have am going with problems in lipid and kft in whhich my GGTP is 56.00,Bilirubin(direct) 0.20,Total Bilirubin is 1.10,Sodium in Blood 146.00,Total Cholestrol is 223.00,Triglgycrides is 139.00,ldl Cholestrol is (calculated) 143.20,My urine Sg is 1.030,Protien in Urine 1+(30.0mg/dl,R.B.C in Urine is 2-3hpf,Suggest me for a good diet & medicine.

    Reply
  • Evelyn Walters Mar 29th 2012

    Hello
    I had one kidney removed 20 months ago due to a cancerous mass in the kidney. Now my creatinine is l.9 and have been told to reduc protein and potassium.
    I am somewhat confused as to what I should eat. Please help. by eveywalters 3-29-12

    Reply
    • ted Mar 30th 2012

      Hi Evelyn, See the diet plan that’s referenced above at the end of the article. :-)

      Reply
  • mursaleen Mar 28th 2012

    Sir
    I want to know that rice or boil rice are allow to eat for uric acid, which a man has 5.8.

    Reply
  • Aisha Mar 23rd 2012

    My name is aisha.Recently the doctors have suggestedmy father to take less protein food.creatinine is 2.9. I needed a less protein diet plan for him if possible.please help us a special diet. thanks

    Reply
  • kathy mcgee Mar 22nd 2012

    I am 59,obese,and just found out my kidneys are at 30%
    I’ve always been overweight,(300#’s) and tired but I thought being tired was from 40 hours on my feet in a factory. Thank God for my mother, I couldn’t do alone, everybody thought I was just “fat” even myself, I felt so quilty, which helped my depression, I’m sure

    Reply
  • Mahendra Jain Mar 20th 2012

    My Creatinine Level is 3 & protien in urine is +3
    Pls advise me the Low Protien Diet.

    Reply
  • Basma Mar 14th 2012

    Hello,
    my name is basma, and recently the doctors have suggested my father to take less protein food. I needed a less protein diet plan for him if possible.

    Reply
    • govin Apr 16th 2013

      i have kidneys disease,my protein and potassium are high.can you help me with a diet please. many thanks.

      Reply
Date Last Reviewed: February 15, 2013