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Mashed, roasted, or baked, sweet potatoes are a tasty alternative to white potatoes. They contain beneficial vitamins and minerals, making them a powerhouse of nutrition. But are you able to enjoy them when you have chronic kidney disease? Let’s find out.
Sweet Potato Nutrition Information for Chronic Kidney Disease
Sweet potatoes are root vegetables that provide a significant amount of vitamins and minerals. They are considered starchy vegetables because they contain carbohydrates in them. Sweet potatoes are also considered complex carbohydrates, which contain helpful nutrients and can help keep you fuller for longer while also controlling blood sugars. Check out the nutrition information for sweet potatoes below.
Nutrition information for 1 medium sweet potato:
- 112 calories
- 2 gm protein
- 4 gm fiber
- 26 gm carbohydrates
- 438 mg potassium
- 72 mg sodium
- 3 mg vitamin C
- 18500 IU vitamin A
Are Sweet Potatoes Off-Limits for Chronic Kidney Disease Patients?
Many outdated sources will say that sweet potatoes are off-limits when you have CKD. This is absolutely not true! However, when it comes to enjoying sweet potatoes on a kidney-friendly diet, there are a few things to keep in mind. Sweet potatoes are high in potassium, so if you need to follow a potassium-restricted diet, this is important to consider. Try double boiling your sweet potatoes to reduce the potassium content by 50-75%.
These starchy vegetables also contain beneficial nutrients that can help manage CKD, like fiber, complex carbohydrates, plant-based protein, vitamin C, and vitamin A. Fiber, plant-based protein and complex carbohydrates can help to manage blood sugars better, which is key for those with chronic kidney disease.
Sometimes when you have CKD, you might also need more vitamins and minerals. It’s important to check with your healthcare team to make sure you are getting the right amount of vitamins and minerals for your body.
Ways to Eat Sweet Potatoes When You Have Chronic Kidney Disease
It can be helpful to think of sweet potatoes as one of your carbohydrate sources for your meals. For example, a balanced CKD friendly meal may look like some grilled tofu, half roasted sweet potatoes and half brown rice, and sauteed broccoli.
Be thoughtful about how you cook your sweet potatoes and try to avoid deep frying them as this can lead to a high saturated fat intake. Instead, try roasting, boiling, sauteing, baking, or air frying them.
Recipes with Sweet Potatoes for Chronic Kidney Disease
- Sweet potato shoestring fries
- Roasted sweet potatoes
- Sweet potato soup (try using lower sodium broth here)
- Vegan sweet potato soup
- Sweet potato pie (great for the holidays!)
The Bottom Line
Overall, sweet potatoes can fit into a kidney-friendly diet for CKD. They are a great source of complex carbohydrates and fiber, which makes them an ideal vegetable for your CKD-friendly meals. If you need to follow a potassium-restricted diet for your CKD, be mindful of your portion size of sweet potatoes or try double boiling them. How are you going to enjoy sweet potatoes next?
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