Potatoes provide a great source of fibre (particularly in the skin), which is good for gut health, plus they are inexpensive, so not only are they good for overall health, but good for our wallet's health too!
Will eating potatoes damage my kidneys?
No, if they are enjoyed as part of a healthy diet with plenty of other plant foods and eaten in their natural form.
However, potatoes can become a problem if they are overly processed. When eating for general health, as well as kidney health, it helps to limit highly-processed foods, especially ones high in salt and additives.
What is a processed potato?
We do some processing in our own kitchen – for example, we peel, chop, boil, cook, and bake. All these processes can still provide us with a healthy way to enjoy our potato. But food manufacturers also process potatoes and while some of these processes can still be healthy, for example tinned potatoes (tinned in water), some processing methods include using food additives and it is these additives that can be harmful if you have kidney disease.
An overly processed potato food (also known as ultra-processed food) has multiple added ingredients such as unhealthy fats, salt, and sugar. An ultra-processed potato may also have added chemicals, such as additives and preservatives. These additives are unlikely to benefit your overall health, or your kidney health.
Ultra-processed foods can also be more expensive than less-processed options, so may harm your wallet, as well as your health!
Examples of less healthy, processed potato foods include:
- crisps
- croquette potatoes
- potato waffles
- chips (including some oven chips)
- other products such as potato smiley face shapes.
I have CKD, should I avoid eating potatoes?
Absolutely not! Potatoes can be enjoyed as part of a healthy balanced diet, rich in a variety of other plant foods.
The trick is to consider how processed your potato is. If you sometimes eat processed potatoes, try having them less often, and in smaller amounts.
What about potatoes and potassium?
Potatoes are rich in a mineral called potassium.
Some people living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) may need to reduce the amount of potassium they eat. This generally only happens in the later stages of kidney disease if levels of potassium in the blood are too high.
You should only reduce potassium-rich foods if you have been advised to by your kidney healthcare team. Reducing healthy foods like potatoes when there is no need means you may miss out on beneficial vitamins and minerals.
Advice from a kidney dietitian if you have been advised to eat less potassium
If you have been advised to eat less potassium, you do not need to avoid potatoes completely, but it is worth learning a few cooking tips to help lower the potato’s potassium content. For example, boiling potatoes helps to lower the potassium content (as long as you discard the water you have used to boil the potatoes).
If you have CKD and would like more information on how to include potatoes in your meals, ask to speak to a kidney dietitian. They will discuss your potassium levels with you, let you know if you need to reduce these, and how to go about it.
Eating potatoes with CKD: facts you need to know
Myth: “You should always peel potatoes if you have CKD.”
Fact: Potato skins are full of fibre, which helps digestion and may reduce how much potassium is absorbed. Unless your kidney team has advised you to peel, keeping the skin can be a real benefit.
Myth: “Jacket potatoes are off-limits if you have kidney disease.”
Fact: Jacket potatoes can be a healthy, affordable, and convenient meal. If you’ve been told to reduce potassium, you may need to limit how often you have them – but that doesn’t mean cutting them out completely.
Myth: “Boiling potatoes makes them ‘unhealthy’.”
Fact: Boiling can actually help lower potassium levels if needed – a useful tip for some people with CKD.
Myth: “Frozen or tinned potatoes aren’t healthy."
Fact: Tinned potatoes in water can be a healthy, convenient choice.
Most frozen potato products do contain added salt or fat, so it’s best to check labels and keep these for occasional use rather than everyday meals.
Myth: “Only sweet potatoes are good for you.”
Fact: White, red, new, and sweet potatoes all have their own benefits – variety is key.
Myth: “White carbs like potatoes aren’t healthy.”
Fact: Potatoes are naturally full of fibre, vitamins, and minerals. It’s how you cook and serve them that makes the difference.