Best Kidney Friendly Milk

By Lauren Gleason, Registered Dietitian and Certified Specialist in Renal Nutrition /

Milk is a common food item in many people’s household. It goes well with CKD Friendly Cereals or can be used to make other dishes like oatmeal. However, finding a kidney friendly milk can be tricky for people with Chronic Kidney Disease.

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Table of Contents

What makes a milk kidney friendly?

Protein

For people living with Chronic Kidney Disease, we are primarily interested in the protein content of milk. A cup of regular cow’s milk can contain 8g of protein. That could be 20% of your recommended protein intake for the day! I think that most people would prefer to get their protein from other sources.

Additionally, protein from animal sources (like milk) contribute more to metabolic acidosis than the proteins found in plant based foods.

For these reasons, plant based milks are going to be the best low protein milk options on the market.

Phosphorus

Regular cow’s milk is also relatively high in phosphorus. However, many plant-based milks and milk alternatives contain phosphorus additives (which we know are not good for our health). When looking at plant-based milks, we want to be sure to look at the ingredient lists to ensure that they do not contain any phosphorus additives. For some more detailed information about phosphorus additives, you can watch our video on YouTube.

Sodium

For most foods, we recommend looking at the nutrition facts labels to find foods that contain less sodium than calories. With plant-based milks and milk alternatives, this can get a bit tricky. Many of these milks contain more sodium than calories, however the overall amount of sodium is not that high. If you’ve taken our course on the CKD Diet, you know how to create meals and mealplans that end up very low sodium, so you have a bit of discretionary salt available to use on other foods in your day. A plant based milk may be where you want to “spend” some of your extra salt.

Potassium

Depending on your stage of kidney disease and many other factors, you or may not need to worry about the potassium content of your milk. However, if your dietitian has told you to be mindful of your potassium intake, you will want to check the labels and find a milk that is lower in potassium – preferably less than 200mg per serving. For most people with kidney disease, you do not need to limit your potassium intake.

Now let’s start reviewing different types of milk!

Is Almond Milk Good for Kidneys?

Yes, almond milk is a good choice for people with kidney disease. Almond milk is low protein, but tends to be higher in sodium (which you may still be able to fit into your day!). It is typically lower in potassium and high in calcium (talk to your dietitian to know if either of these should be of concern to you). Some milks may be higher in added sugar than others. If you have CKD and diabetes, then I would recommend choosing a milk that is lower in added sugar. Some people prefer to buy unsweetened milks and add their own zero calorie sweetener to taste, depending on what they are using the milk for.

Califia Farms Extra Creamy Almond Milk

Calories: 60
Protein: 1g
Carbohydrate: 6g
Fat: 3.5g
Sodium: 140mg
Phosphorus
Additives: None
Potassium: 70mg
Calcium: 440mg
Fiber: 1g
Sugar: 5g

This kidney friendly milk is low protein and lower in potassium than some alternatives. It is high in calcium and somewhat high in sodium (be sure to choose some lower sodium foods in your day to balance this out). Compared to other sweetened plant milks, this milk is lower in sugar. If you enjoy vanilla flavor, they also make a vanilla version that has a very similar nutrient profile. Click the icon below to check prices and reviews for this product.

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Califia Farms Unsweetened Almondmilk

Calories: 35
Protein: 1g
Carbohydrate: 1g
Fat: 3g
Sodium: 140mg
Phosphorus
Additives: None
Potassium: 60mg
Calcium: 440mg
Fiber: 1g
Sugar: 0g

This kidney friendly milk is low protein and lower in potassium than some alternatives. It is high in calcium and somewhat high in sodium (be sure to choose some lower sodium foods in your day to balance this out). This milk contains zero added sugars, so a great option for anyone who wants a low sugar choice such as those with CKD and diabetes. Click the icon below to check prices and reviews for this product.

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Blue Diamond Almond Milk

Calories: 80
Protein: 1g
Carbohydrate: 14g
Fat: 2.5g
Sodium: 150mg
Phosphorus
Additives: None
Potassium: 170mg
Calcium: 450mg
Fiber: 1g
Sugar: 12g

This kidney friendly almond milk is low in protein and contains no phosphorus additives. It somewhat high in sodium, low in potassium, and high in calcium. Is is also worth noting that this milk contains a lot of added sugars. If you are watching your sugar intake, you may prefer an unsweetened milk. Click the icon below to check prices and reviews for this product.

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Almond Breeze Unsweetened Almond Milk

Calories: 30
Protein: 1g
Carbohydrate: 1g
Fat: 2.5g
Sodium: 170mg
Phosphorus
Additives: None
Potassium: 160mg
Calcium: 450mg
Fiber: 1g
Sugar: 0g

This is the unsweetened version of Almond Breeze’s almond milk. Similar to the sweetened version, it contains no phosphorus additives, is low in potassium, high in calcium, and a bit higher in sodium. Be sure you are choosing low lower sodium foods throughout your day to offset the higher sodium of this kidney friendly milk. Click the icon below to check prices and reviews for this product.

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Calories: 60
Protein: 1g
Carbohydrate: 8g
Fat: 2.5g
Sodium: 150mg
Phosphorus
Additives: None
Potassium: 170mg
Calcium: 450mg
Fiber: 0g
Sugar: 7g

This kidney friendly milk is low in protein and contains no phosphorus additives. It is low in potassium, high in calcium, and a bit high in sodium. Be sure you are choosing lower sodium foods throughout your day to offset the higher sodium of this milk. Silk also makes an unsweetened version and vanilla flavored version that have similar nutrition profiles. Click the icon below to check prices and reviews for this product.

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Note: Many store brands also offer their own version of almond milk. Many of these are low in protein and contain no phosphorus additives and will have similar amounts of potassium and calcium.

Is Coconut Milk Good for Kidneys?

Yes, Coconut Milk is low in protein, making it a great choice for people with Chronic Kidney Disease. However, many coconut milks contain additives, so you will need to read the ingredient labels carefully to find one that may be appropriate. Coconut milks also contain a lot of calcium. Talk to your dietitian to see if a high calcium milk substitute is appropriate.

365 Coconut Milk

Calories: 50
Protein: 0g
Carbohydrate: 1g
Fat: 5g
Sodium: 30mg
Phosphorus
Additives: None
Potassium: 35mg
Calcium: 140mg
Fiber: 0g
Sugar: 0g

This coconut milk has zero protein and is actually considered a low sodium food. This plant-based kidney friendly milk is also low in potassium and calcium, so this could be a great option for anyone who needs to be mindful of either of those. This milk is also very low in carbohydrates and contains no sugar, so it is a good option for people with CKD and Diabetes. Click the icon below to check prices and reviews for this product.

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Califia Farms Coconut Milk

Calories: 45
Protein: 0g
Carbohydrate: 1g
Fat: 4g
Sodium: 140mg
Phosphorus
Additives: None
Potassium: 90mg
Calcium: 460mg
Fiber: 0g
Sugar: 1g

This kidney friendly plant based milk has zero protein and no phosphorus additives. It is technically high in sodium since there is more sodium than calories, however you can typically offset this sodium by fitting in some lower sodium foods throughout your day. This milk is also very low in carbohydrates and sugar, so it is a good option for people with CKD and Diabetes. Click the icon below to check prices and reviews for this product.

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Is Cow’s Milk Good for Kidneys?

No, cow’s milk is not recommended for someone with Chronic Kidney Disease, because it is too high in protein.

Is Oat Milk Good for Kidneys?

No, virtually all oat milks contain phosphorus additives and should be avoided by people with kidney disease.

Is Pea Milk Good for Kidneys?

No, Pea-based milk substitutes contain similar amounts of protein to animal milks, which means that they are all too high in protein. We do not recommend these for people with Chronic Kidney Disease.

Is Rice Milk Good for Kidneys?

Rice milks (typically called rice drinks) are typically low in protein and sodium and very low in potassium. The calcium and phosphorus content can vary widely though. For example, Rice Dream makes a “Classic” rice drink and an “Enriched” rice drink. The “Classic” contains no phosphorus additives and is low in calcium, while the enriched contains added phosphorus and is high in calcium. For people with kidney disease, we would recommend the “classic” version.

Rice Dream Drink Vanilla Classic

Calories: 120
Protein: 1g
Carbohydrate: 23g
Fat: 2.5g
Sodium: 95mg
Phosphorus
Additives: None
Potassium: 30mg
Calcium: 20mg
Fiber: 0g
Sugar: 12g

This rice milk is low in protein, potassium, and calcium. It is also considered a low sodium food. This kidney friendly milk is relatively high in added sugars, so it may not be the best choice for someone who also has diabetes. Note: Rice Dream makes a “Classic” and an “Enriched” rice milk. The “Enriched” version is high in phosphorus additives and should be avoided. Click the icon below to check prices and reviews for this product.

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Is Soy Milk Good for Kidneys?

No, of all of the plant based milks on the market, soy milk tends to be the highest in protein. We recommend choosing an alternative.

To Summarize

Almond Milk, Coconut Milk, and Rice Milk are going to be the best milk options for people living with Chronic Kidney Disease. These come in numerous types that are low in protein and contain no phosphorus additives.