CEREALS FOR KIDNEY PATIENTS 

What are cereals ?

• Cereals are seeds or grains which produces from the grasses
• These cereals include 

       Wheat(गेहूं)

       Rice(चावल)

       Oats(जई)

       Maize(मक्का)

       Barley(जौ)

       Rye(राई)

       Millet(सामा , कुटकी ) and Sorghum(चारा)

Wheat

For 100 gms of wheat serving the calories is obtained  is about 330 Calories 

Fats is around 1.9 gms

Sodium -2 mg

Potassium -340 mg

Protein-15 gms 

Carbohydrates-76g 

Additionally it also contains vitamin A ,C,Calcium and iron 

Rice

For 100 gms of rice rice serving the calories obtained is about 130 g

Fats- 0.3 g

Sodium-1 mg

Potassium -35 mg

Protein -2.7 g

Carbohydrates -28 g

Additionally , it is enriched with vitamins such as C,D,B6,calcium, magnesium,iron 

Oats 

For 100gms of oats serving the calorie obtained is about  379 calories 

Fats -6.9 g

Sodium-2 mg

Potassium-429 mg 

Protein -16.89 g 

Carbohydrates -66.27g

Additionally,it is enriched with vitamins B,thiamine,pantothenic acid phosphorus and manganese

Maize

For 100 gms of maize serving the calorie obtained is about 96 calories

Fats-1.5g

Sodium- 1mg

Potassium- 218mg

Protein- 3.4g

Carbohydrates -21g

Additionally vitamin A,C,iron and calcium 

Barley,hulled

For 100 gms of barley servings the calories obtained is about 354 calories 

Fats -2.3g

Sodium -12 mg

Potassium -452 mg

Carbohydrates -73 g

Protein -12 g

Additionally vitamin C,D,B6,iron, Calcium, magnesium 

Millets

For 100 gms of millet serving the calories obtained is about 378 calories

Fats -4.22 gms

Sodium -5 mg

Potassium-195 mg

Carbohydrates- 72 .85 gms

Protein -11.02 gms

Additionally contains vitamin A,C,D, Calcium and iron

Rye

For 100 gms of rye serving the calories obtained is about 335 calories

Fats -2.5 gms

Sodium -6 mg

Potassium-264 mg

Carbohydrates- 69.76 gms

Protein -14.76 gms

Additionally contains vitaminA,C,D,iron and calcium 

The cholesterol obtained through all the cereals is 0 mgs

Cereal Products available in the market 

There are plenty of cereal options available for a kidney patients  and those who are on dialysis ,they includes

• Hot cereal 
• Cold cereal-Very low potassium,low potassium,high potassium 
• Gluten free cereal

1.Hot cereal 

They must be prepared through heating/cooking 

• These cereal breakfast included with low potassium and phosphorus levels includes oats  
• The products available such as Quakers oats,Irish oatmeal,Bob red mill 10 grain hot cereal 

The products to be avoided is instant  cream of wheat because of presence of large quantities of phosphates and iron

2.Cold cereal 

They doesn’t require any heat to cook 

• They are available in 3 options like Low Potassium,Very low potassium,High Potassium

Very low potassium

• As the renal disease patients require potassium restrictions these cereal options are best diet options to consider 
• A bowl of Oats with honey and strawberries provides 60 mg potassium 
• Corn flakes -60 mg potassium
• Puffed corn -50 mg Potassium
• Smart bran cereal with wheat, psyllium and oat bran 
• Cascadian farm organic cereal with whole grain oats ,barley with almonds and honey 
• Fruit loops 
• Puffed rice,wheat

Low potassium 

These cereal options provide less than 200 mg of potassium per servings 

• Life cereal-chocolate,vanilla
• Grape-nuts 
• Kashi strawberry fields
• Honey bunches with oats and almonds
• Special K  blueberry with lemon clusters 

High potassium

These options are best indicated for renal patients who are not limited to potassium restricted diet

• Great Grains Banana Nut Crunch
• Raisin Bran
• Bran Flakes
• Great Grains Raisins, Dates & Pecans
• Grape-Nuts
• Shredded Wheat Original

Patients on dialysis procedure requires more protein so the cereal options include 

• Catalina crunch with 4-10 gms of protein and 30-80 mg potassium
• Kellogg’s protein cereal with wheat,rice soup protein isolate has 15 grams of protein and 160mg of potassium 
• Kellogg’s special k protein consists of honey almond ,oats and wheat grains has 15 grams of protein and 190 mg of potassium 

3.Gluten free cereal

• Puffins honey rice cereal
• Multigrain cereal
• Apple cinnamon chex and blueberry chex 
• Bobs brown rice and free mighty tasty hot cereal

Points to remember

• Additionally consider using coconut milk or almond milk instead of cow’s milk to cut down high intake of potassium 
• Choose grains with low Potassium
• Use yogurt or soy milk for extra protein 
• Lastly choose  low Potassium Containing fruits (strawberries or blueberries)as topping or low potassium cereal with high potassium fruit toppings for unrestricted diet following patients 

How do we choose ?

• Choose cereals with less than 100 mg of potassium per serving
• Choose cereals less than 150 mg of sodium per serving
• Avoid cereal brands with PHOSPates /salts included in it
• Add brown sugar instead of white sugars or honey or even butter or low sugar options 
• Choose based on the Daily value of which is less than 10%
• Select bran cereal rather than the high nuts containing cereals because of high values of phosphorus
• Opt for high fiber containing cereals

Frequently asked questions