Which Bread is Good for Kidney Patients?

I get this question all the time: what bread is best for kidney disease? There are several options out there for kidney disease patients but it depends on what you like to eat and a few key nutritional factors.

My name is Candace Mooney. I’m a registered dietitian and board certified specialist in renal nutrition. I’m here to guide you as you choose the best bread for your kidney disease! 

We’re going to talk about how to choose the best bread options that help with your personal kidney nutrition goals!! 

Let’s slice into the details!!

Key Nutritional Factors to Consider for Chronic Kidney Disease

Let’s first talk about the nutrients you need to consider when choosing your best bread for kidney disease.

These nutrients are what you’ll consider on the nutrition label when grocery shopping for bread. We’ll give you some target ranges for each nutrient and then summarize it in a picture below for you!

Sodium (<200 mg per slice)

Sodium is definitely something we need to be on the lookout for! What is too much for when it comes to bread? I’ll usually recommend trying to stay under 100-200 mg per slice. 

Potassium (avoid additives)

Potassium is super important for our bodies, but it is something that needs to be considered with chronic kidney disease (CKD). When it comes to looking for potassium in bread, I’ll recommend looking for one without potassium additives!

Here is a link to learn more about potassium and how to adjust your levels if you need it!

Phosphorus (avoid additives)

Phosphorus is something else that we have to look out for with kidney disease. 

Many bread options have phosphate additives in them! Ahh! It’s best to look for bread options that don’t have these additives by making sure no words in the ingredient list have “P-H-O-S”.

I typically don’t worry about natural phosphorus in bread for people with CKD.

Carbohydrates (~15 grams per slice)

Carbohydrates are something else you should be aware of when choosing breads for CKD. I recommend choosing bread that has around 15 grams of carbohydrate or less per slice.

You could have more or less grams of carbohydrate in your bread choice but this will help you by knowing how many slices you can have with your meals to meet your own carbohydrate goals. (1)

Fiber (>2 grams per slice)

Fiber plays a huge role in CKD! It helps maintain a healthy digestion, reduces uremic toxins, improves gut health, and improves blood glucose and blood pressure control! (2)

Try to aim for choosing bread that has at least 2 grams of fiber per slice but more is even better! If you aren’t used to a high fiber diet, you may want to start slow in incorporating higher fiber breads below. Sometimes it can cause painful gas!

Learn more about gut health in our probiotics blog.

Added Sugar (<4 grams per slice)

Sugar is also something to look for on the nutrition label for CKD! It’s best to look for bread options that say no added sugar or 3 grams or less.

Protein (<6 grams per slice)

Protein intake can also be limited with kidney disease depending on your stage and other medical history. I’ll typically recommend 5 grams or less of protein per slice but this depends on your specific nutrition prescription.

Here is a link to our PRAL blog that can help you learn more about protein recommendations!

Best Bread for Kidney Disease 

Let’s talk briefly about the different types of bread in the grocery store aisle and then we’ll give you specific brands that we like at our grocery stores!

Whole Grain/Whole Wheat

Whole grain breads are typically high in fiber and low in processed sugars. Yay!

A whole grain bread is going to have whole grain whole wheat flour, whole rye, whole oat or oatmeal, whole corn, or whole barley on the ingredient list when looking at the nutrition label. 

Whole wheat and whole grains are basically the same thing. Both are nutritious because they include all parts of the grain. 

The main difference is that whole wheat is specifically from the wheat kernel, while whole grain refers to all types of whole grains. 

For the best health benefits, choose products labeled “100% whole grain” or “100% whole wheat” that don’t contain refined grains.

White Bread

White bread is the bread that has been recommended for years to people with CKD because it’s lower in natural phosphorus and potassium. 

This recommendation has changed over the last 10 years or so because it doesn’t really offer any other health benefits like whole grains. And in many instances, it’s not necessary to avoid natural phosphorus and potassium.

With that said, if white bread is your favorite by taste, it could definitely fit into your CKD goals! Just be careful with the sodium amount and added sugar amount.

Gluten-Free Bread

Some people may have gluten intolerance… have no fear, there are gluten-free options for bread that can fit into your kidney disease goals. Gluten-free grains that are kidney-friendly are rice, corn, quinoa, buckwheat, and amaranth. 

These options may be higher in sodium, phosphorus, and potassium so be sure to look at the recommended amount above when looking at the nutrition label!

Homemade Bread

Homemade bread has gotten to be a big deal recently! Especially in my house!

This can be a great option since you have control over your ingredients! If you are interested in this, a bread machine may be beneficial for you!

If you’re looking for a bread machine, prioritize models that allow control over ingredients and sodium levels. Some popular brands are Zojirushi, Cuisinart, and Breville. I have the Zojirushi brand and love it! 

Best Bread Brands for Kidney Disease

These are some of the best breads and brands that are good choices for kidney disease, in no particular order:

1. Food for Life Organic Ezekiel 4:9 low sodium whole-grain bread
2. Food for Life Original Flourless Sprouted Bread
3. Dave’s Killer Organic White Bread (thin sliced)
4. Dave’s Killer Whole Grains and Seeds Bread (thin sliced)
5. Dave’s Killer Whole Wheat Bread (thin sliced)
6. Pepperidge Farm Whole Grain
7. Bettergoods White Bread
8. Sara Lee Delightful Whole Wheat Bread
9. Oroweat Whole Wheat Bread
10. Lewis Keto White Bread

I included a variety of types and flavors so you can choose which one you like best. They all fit within the nutrition recommendations discussed above!

Please save this post to view later on your desk top if you’d like to see a detailed table with nutrient contents of each of these options. It won’t fit on the mobile version!

Best Bread for Kidney Disease and Diabetes

All of these breads listed above are all safe for both kidney disease and diabetes! In the table above, you can clearly see how many carbs are in each option to fit your needs specifically! 

Your Take Away

There are several best breads for kidney disease patients. It just depends on what your taste preferences are and your nutrition goals.

This guide to choosing your best breads for kidney disease can help you find the best options for you!

Now let’s go to the grocery store and get some yummy bread!! 

This article was co-written by dietetic intern Reagan Baker & reviewed, edited, and co-written by Candace Mooney, MS RDN CSR.