Last updated: April 24, 2026
Important: The information on KidneyFoods is for general education only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician, nephrologist, or registered dietitian before making dietary changes — especially if you have Chronic Kidney Disease, are on dialysis, or have any other medical condition.
1. No Physician–Patient Relationship
Using KidneyFoods does not create a doctor–patient, dietitian–client, or any professional healthcare relationship between you and us, our contributors, or anyone associated with the Service.
2. Not a Diagnostic Tool
The meal calculator, CKD ratings ("safe / moderate / limit / avoid"), and nutrient values on this site are designed for general awareness. They are not calibrated for your individual lab values, medications, stage of kidney disease, or co-existing conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, or dialysis regimen.
3. Nutrient Values Are Estimates
Our food database is sourced primarily from USDA FoodData Central and reputable public references. Real foods vary:
- Brand and processing differences can change sodium content dramatically.
- Potassium in produce varies with soil, season, and ripeness.
- Portion sizes at home or restaurants often differ from database servings.
- Cooking methods (boiling, leaching, draining) change nutrient content.
Always check nutrition labels when available and let your renal dietitian review your plan.
4. CKD Daily Limits Are General Guidelines
The default daily targets used in the calculator (e.g. 800–1000 mg phosphorus, 2000 mg potassium, 2000–2300 mg sodium) are general guidelines based on published nephrology literature. Your personal targets may be higher or lower depending on:
- Your CKD stage (1–5), GFR, and lab trends.
- Whether you are on dialysis (hemodialysis or peritoneal) — potassium and phosphorus targets differ.
- Medications (phosphate binders, diuretics, ACE inhibitors, potassium-sparing drugs).
- Comorbidities (diabetes, heart failure, hypertension).
- Body weight, age, and protein requirements.
5. Do Not Delay or Ignore Medical Advice
If you think you have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department immediately. Never disregard or delay seeking professional medical advice because of something you read on KidneyFoods.
6. Recipes & Meal Planning
Recipes published here are designed with kidney-friendly principles in mind but are not personalized meal plans. Portion size, ingredient substitutions, and frequency should be discussed with your renal dietitian.
7. External Links
We provide links to external resources (USDA, National Kidney Foundation, others) for convenience. We do not control these sites and are not responsible for their content or accuracy.
8. No Guarantee of Outcome
Kidney disease is complex and highly individual. Using this Service does not guarantee any particular health outcome, improvement in lab values, or slowing of disease progression.
9. Reporting Errors
If you spot a nutrient value or rating you believe is wrong, please email contact@kidneyfoods.com so we can review it. We take data accuracy seriously but cannot promise perfection.
10. Acknowledgment
By using KidneyFoods you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Medical Disclaimer, and you agree that KidneyFoods, its team, and its contributors are not liable for any decisions you make based on information found on the Service.