• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Renal Diet Menu Headquarters

Renal Diets That You Will Love!

Let’s Get Social!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Medium
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Looking for something?

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Renal Menu Plans
    • Free 7 Day Meal Plan
    • Kidney Diet Starter Kit
    • Pre Dialysis Diet Meal Plan
    • Renal Diabetic Diet Meal Plan
    • Renal Dialysis Diet Meal Plan
    • Caring For Renal Patients
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • Media Room
    • Speaking
    • Resources
      • Renal Diet Education Handouts
      • Renal Diet Newsletter
      • Podcast
      • Conversion Calculator
  • Members
  • Cookbooks
    • Pre-Dialysis Cookbook
    • Dialysis Cookbook
  • Kidney Diet Recipes
    • Recipes
  • Spices – Perfect For Your Diet
  • Vegetarian Meal Plan
  • Understanding Kidney Test Results Course
  • Books On CKD
You are here: Home / Kidney Dialysis / Alcohol and Kidney Disease – Can I Have A Beer?

Alcohol and Kidney Disease – Can I Have A Beer?

By Mathea Ford Leave a Comment

Alcohol And Kidney Disease – Can I Have A Beer?
Alcohol And Kidney Disease – Can I Have A Beer?
Alcohol And Kidney Disease – Can I Have A Beer?
Alcohol And Kidney Disease – Can I Have A Beer?
Alcohol And Kidney Disease – Can I Have A Beer?
Alcohol And Kidney Disease – Can I Have A Beer?
Alcohol And Kidney Disease – Can I Have A Beer?
Alcohol And Kidney Disease – Can I Have A Beer?
Alcohol And Kidney Disease – Can I Have A Beer?
Is beer good for kidney disease? (Photo credit: uberculture)

Today I'm going to answer an age-old question: Is beer good for kidney disease?

I got an email from a customer with a great question this week:

 “What about alcohol?”  Basically – Alcohol and Kidney Disease, Can I Have A Beer?

When you get so wrapped up in choosing the right foods and eating the right things, you forget that food used to taste great and was pleasurable to eat, not a battle.  Maybe it's not a battle for you – even better.  But you spend a lot of time thinking about what you CAN eat, and what you DO eat and how it affects your labs and kidneys, and I found this question to be a very important question to answer.  Many people enjoyed a beer or glass of wine before they got diagnosed with kidney disease.  Can they continue?

What about alcohol and kidney disease?

Moderation is key.  Yes, you can have alcohol with both pre-dialysis and dialysis kidney disease but you have to make sure you are drinking in moderation.  (And talk to your doctor about it)

Moderation means 1 drink per day for women and older people and 2 drinks per day for men.  Why the difference?  Women and older people have less weight and less water in their body so the alcohol becomes more concentrated quickly.  One drink is defined as a 12-ounce beer or wine cooler, a 5-ounce wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80 proof spirits.  So you can have a glass of wine with your dinner.

What Are The Potential Problems with Alcohol And Kidney Disease?

Alcohol can and does interact with medications.  Some very important medications that you may be taking.  So – one of the main reasons to talk to your doctor – is because alcohol may interact with one of your medications.  Be cautious.  You might be on just a few meds or you might be on quite a few, but either way, discuss if alcohol affects your medications.  By the way, this is true no matter what you have going on, whether or not you have kidney disease.  Much the same is true of grapefruit fruits and juices.

Alcohol can also increase urination through the effect it has on your anti-diuretic hormone – and that in turn concentrates your blood and increases the levels of calcium, sodium, phosphorus, and potassium in your blood.  It directly affects this hormone, so you may find yourself with the need to urinate within 20 minutes of drinking.

Alcohol is mostly processed through the liver, so as long as you don't have liver damage you can drink in moderation.  If you have been a long time drinker and have any sort of liver problems or disease, you should stop drinking due to your liver not being able to process the alcohol easily.

If you are on dialysis – the amount of liquid counts toward your fluid allowance for the day.  So, a 1.5-ounce shot is less fluid than a 12-ounce beer.  Not that I am endorsing either of them.  It's just a thought.  Watch how your lab results are and adjust your intake.  Click here for a chart on Davita about the nutritional value of different alcoholic beverages.

Alcohol and Kidney Disease – What About Calories?

Alcohol may not have much nutritional value, but it does have calories.  When I say nutritional value, I mean – vitamins and minerals.  Alcohol as 7 calories per gram.  In general, a beer will contain 120-140 calories.  Depending on your needs, that might or might not fit in.  But don't think it doesn't have calories, because it does.  You can really overdo your diet if you drink too much.

Learn to enjoy your beer – don't feel like you have to stop drinking.  But do pay attention to your fluid intake if you need to on dialysis, and check to make sure it works ok with your medication.

Learn to enjoy a renal diet by following a meal plan – choose the right one for your needs!

Alcohol And Kidney Disease – Can I Have A Beer?

Also published on Medium.

Suggested Reading:

  1. The Kidney Disease Diet Can Be Complicated
  2. How Quickly Will My Chronic Kidney Disease Progress To Dialysis?
  3. Grapefruit and Kidney Disease, and Medications
  4. The Importance of Diet for Stage 3 Kidney Disease
  5. Is Stage 3 Kidney Disease Common After Age 65?

Tagged With: alcohol and kidney, can I drink alcohol with kidney disease, can I drink with renal disease, chronic kidney disease, kidney diet menu, kidney disease, kidney disease diet, renal diet, renal diet menu, renal diet restriction

I am concerned I might have CKD
My doctor just told me I have Kidney disease
I am a diabetic and have kidney disease
Im on dialysis and ESRD

About The Author

I have over 22 years of experience as a registered dietitian nutritionist, and I have worked with many different people. From children to the elderly, I have helped them all. I own several meal planning websites, and I have recently published a book on Kindle and Amazon, entitles "Living with Chronic Kidney Disease - Predialysis" Read More…

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Search For More

Course Progress

Need Help With Healthy Kidney Meals?

Get a free 7 day meal plan for your kidney disease diet
 

I'm predialysis kidney disease patient
I have predialysis kidney disease and diabetes
i'm on dialysis and need a meal plan

Zestify Your Diet Recipes

 More ...

Footer

Quick Link To Spices Recipes

Alcohol and Kidney Disease – Can I Have A Beer?
  • Pre Dialysis Diet
  • Renal Dialysis Diet
  • Renal Diabetic Diet
  • Recipes
  • Podcast
  • Caregivers
  • Renal Diet Books

Copyright © 2021 RenalDietHQ® (405) 793-7306

close

Download The Free 7 Day Meal Plan For Your Type Of Kidney Disease

Get started now with your new diet plan by downloading these 7 dinner meals that includes nutritional information you need to make your best decisions and get on the right track!  You can choose which style you need, based on your stage of renal disease.

envelope
envelope
x
Want healthier kidneys now?

Want Healthier Kidneys Now?

You want to KNOW the information and resources that calm your nerves and set you up to pursue the best care -  instead of waiting for your kidneys to fail!

Drop your name & email below to get our free worksheets and proactive info about​ how to have healthier kidneys now.

x

Enter your text here...

meal planning for chronic kidney disease

So The Doctor Says You Have Kidney Disease.

You need information and help right now, so get started with the FREE 7 Days of Dinner Meals in your inbox. Easy to prepare and they taste great.

Drop your name & email below to get started feeling better and slowing the progression of your kidney disease!​

x
How Are Chronic Kidney Disease And Diabetes Linked?

How Are Chronic Kidney Disease And Diabetes Linked?

Have Both Kidney Disease & Diabetes?

This can be hard! Wondering what to eat now? Would you love a FREE 7 Days of Dinner Meals guide to help you to make the best food choices for your body?

Drop your name & email below to get started now feeling better and controlling BOTH your diabetes and kidney disease!

x
The Truth About Dialysis

Wondering How Dialysis Impacts Your Diet?

When you're on Dialysis, your dietary needs change quite a bit. You need some quick ideas and plans for what to eat that doesn't work against your kidney failure.

Drop your name & email below to get your FREE 7 Days of Dinner meals to keep you strong and healthy through your treatment!​

x

Terms and Conditions - Privacy Policy