Health Conditions

Kidney health

Protect your kidney health over time

Your kidneys play an important role in your overall health, and kidney function is closely connected to blood pressure, blood sugar, and other health factors. Lifestyle medicine can work alongside your medical care to help protect kidney function, manage related health conditions, and support your long-term health.

Proactive care

Kidney health can be affected by several interconnected factors, including:

What supports kidney health can vary depending on your kidney function, health conditions, medications, and other individual needs. What helps one person may not be appropriate for another. Lifestyle medicine works alongside medical care to help address these factors, monitor kidney function, and personalize your plan over time.

Meaningful progress

When healthy lifestyle changes become part of your care, progress may include improvements in blood pressure, blood sugar, energy, and daily function. For kidney health, progress is also about protecting kidney function and slowing disease progression over time. Consistent changes, paired with regular medical care, can help support your long-term health.

Early changes

  • More stable blood pressure
  • Better blood sugar control
  • Improved energy
  • Greater consistency with healthy routines

Measurable improvements

  • Improved or stabilized blood pressure readings
  • Improved blood sugar markers (A1C, fasting glucose)
  • Stable kidney function labs (as monitored by your clinician)

Functional improvements

  • Better ability to maintain healthy routines
  • Improved stamina and daily functioning
  • Reduced swelling or fluid-related symptoms (if present)

Clinical outcomes

  • Slowed progression of kidney disease
  • Reduced strain on the kidneys
  • Improved overall cardiometabolic health

Questions to ask your care team

What is my current kidney function, and what does it mean for my health?

Which lifestyle changes could best support my kidney health?

Are there specific nutrition changes I should make based on my kidney function?

What tests or health measures should we track, and how often should we check them?

How do my medications affect my kidney health, and are there any I should review or avoid?

6 Ways to Take Control of Your Health

A quick overview of six lifestyle areas that can support better health and help reduce chronic disease risk.

Best for: People who want a simple starting point for improving their health.

Use with your clinician: Bring questions like, “Which of these six areas should I focus on first?” to your next visit.

Important: You do not need to change everything at once. Choose one meaningful and manageable next step.

Download: 6 Ways to Take Control of Your Health (PDF)

Chronic Kidney Disease and Plant-Based Nutrition

An introduction to how plant-based nutrition may fit into an individualized eating plan for chronic kidney disease.

Best for: People with chronic kidney disease who want to discuss plant-predominant eating with their healthcare team.

Use with your clinician: Bring questions like, “How can I safely eat more plant foods based on my kidney function, lab results, and medications?” to your next visit.

Important: Kidney disease can change nutritional needs. Do not make major dietary changes without guidance from your clinician or a renal dietitian.

Download: Chronic Kidney Disease and Plant-Based Nutrition (PDF)

SMART Goals for Adults

A worksheet for turning a broad health goal into a specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound action.

Best for: People who have a health goal but need help deciding exactly where and how to begin.

Use with your clinician: Bring questions like, “Can you help me make this goal realistic, measurable, and appropriate for my health?” to your next visit.

Important: Start with a goal small enough to complete consistently, then adjust it as you learn what works.

Download: SMART Goals for Adults (PDF)