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Low-Protein Diet

What Is a Low-Protein Diet?

A low-protein diet limits the amount of protein that you can eat each day.

Why Should I Follow a Low-Protein Diet?

This diet may be recommended if you have liver or kidney disease. The liver helps in protein digestion, and the kidneys are responsible for removing the waste products of protein digestion. If your liver or kidneys are not fully functioning, they will have to work extra hard to handle the protein that you eat. If you eat more protein than your liver or kidneys can handle, waste products will build up in your blood stream, causing fatigue and a decreased appetite.
If you have chronic kidney failure , adhering to a low-protein diet can delay your need for dialysis for up to a year. With kidney failure, you may also need to make other dietary changes, such as limiting the amount of salt, potassium, phosphorous, and fluid. Work with a registered dietitian to come up with an eating plan that meets your nutritional and medical needs.

Low-Protein Diet Basics

Dietary protein comes from two sources: animals and plants. Animal products are higher in protein and provide us with complete proteins. Complete proteins contain all of the essential amino acids that our bodies need to live and that we have to get from the food we eat. Plant products are lower in protein and provide us with incomplete proteins. Both types of protein should be a part of a healthful, low-protein diet.

Eating Guide for a Low-Protein Diet

The following chart categorizes food by group and lists the amount of protein per serving. Your doctor or dietitian will let you know how many grams of protein you can consume each day. On this diet, it is important that you work with a dietitian to make sure that you are within the recommended protein range and meeting all of your nutrient needs.
My daily protein limit is %5F%5F%5F%5F%5F%5F%5F grams.

Meat and Meat Substitutes

%5F%5F%5F%5F Servings per day
One serving = 7 grams protein
Type One Serving
Beef, poultry, fish, lamb, veal 1 ounce
Cheese 1 ounce or ¼ cup shredded
Eggs 1
Peanut butter 2 tablespoon
Dried peas or beans (cooked) ½ cup

Milk

%5F%5F%5F%5F Servings per day
One serving = 4 grams protein
Type One Serving
Milk, cream, and yogurt ½ cup
Ice cream ¾ cup

Starches

%5F%5F%5F%5F Servings per day
One serving = 3 grams protein
Type One Serving
Bagel (varies), 4-ounce ¼ of a bagel (1-ounce)
Bread (white, pumpernickel, whole wheat, rye) 1 slice
Broth-based soup 1 cup
Cooked beans, peas, or corn ½ cup
Cooked cereal ½ cup
Crackers 4-6
English muffin, hot dog bun, or hamburger bun ½
Pasta ½ cup
Rice 1/3 cup
Potato 1 small or ½ cup mashed
Sweet potato or yam ½ cup
Tortilla 1 small
Unsweetened, dry cereal ¾ cup

Vegetables

%5F%5F%5F%5F Servings per day
One serving = 2 grams protein
Type One Serving
Cooked vegetables ½ cup
Raw vegetables 1 cup
Tomato or vegetable juice ½ cup

Fruits

%5F%5F%5F%5F Servings per day
One serving = 0.5 grams protein
Type One Serving
Canned fruit ½ cup
Dried fruit ¼ cup
Fresh fruit 1 small or 1 cup (eg, cut up or berries)
Fresh juice ½ cup

Fats and Sugars

Pure fats and sugars contain no protein. But, foods made mostly of fat or sugar, such as cake, cookies, ice cream, snack chips, and fried foods tend to be high in calories and low in nutrition. There are some fats that are healthy in moderation, including olive oil, canola oil, avocados, and nuts. Ask your dietitian about how foods from this group can fit into your diet.

Suggestions

Here are some suggestions to help you with eating a low-protein diet:
  • When planning a meal or filling your plate with food, focus on the vegetables and grains, and then supplement with a small serving of meat, if desired.
  • When preparing meals at home, be sure to weigh (with a kitchen scale) and measure your foods to make sure you are getting the correct portion size.
  • Ask your dietitian about special low-protein products, including low-protein baking mixes, breads, cookies, and crackers.

RESOURCES

American Dietetic Association http://www.eatright.org/

National Kidney Foundation http://www.kidney.org/

CANADIAN RESOURCES

Dietitians of Canada http://www.dietitians.ca/

The Kidney Foundation of Canada http://www.kidney.ca/

References

Controlled protein and sodium diet for kidney disease. Ohio State University Medical Center website. Available at: http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/pdfs/PatientEd/Materials/PDFDocs/nut-diet/nut-kid/controlled-protein.pdf . Accessed April 25, 2007.

Diet for kidney disease. University of Utah Health Sciences Center website. Available at: http://uuhsc.utah.edu/pated/handouts/handout.cfm?id=858 . Accessed April 25, 2007.

Low-protein diet postpones dialysis. John Hopkins Medicine website. Available at: http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/press/1999/FEBRUARY/990215.HTM . Accessed April 25, 2007.

Low-protein recipes. National Kidney Foundation website. Available at: http://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/enjoy.cfm . Accessed April 24, 2007.

Nutrition care manual. American Dietetic Association website. Available at: http://nutritioncaremanual.org/auth.cfm?p=%2Findex.cfm%3F . Accessed January 3, 2009.

Powers M. American Dietetic Association Guide to Eating Right When You Have Diabetes. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc; 2003.

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

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