Unlikely, according to a new study.
Especially if you have chronic kidney disease (CKD). People with the condition were found to eat fewer colorful fruits and veggies than those without the condition, which may play a role in both disease risk and severity.
It is no surprise that eating more fruits and vegetables is strongly linked to health in many diseases.
The study found that between 1988 and 1994, 52 percent of respondents with CKD had a low intake of fruits and vegetables, compared to 48 percent without the condition.
Between 2003 and 2010, 46 percent of respondents with CKD had low produce intake, compared to 41 percent of others. Between 2011 and 2018, the numbers were 48 percent and 46 percent.
Roughly 37 million U.S. adults have CKD. It occurs when kidneys cannot effectively filter waste from a person’s blood. It can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.
Fruit intake may be an issue for people with CKD because they are often told to reduce and monitor potassium intake, a common mineral in fruits and vegetables. The health benefits of this advice, however, are unknown.
The effects of reducing fruit and vegetable intake may be more harmful than beneficial in people with CKD, as well as in the general population.
Replacing processed and ultra-processed foods with fruit and vegetables, at least 8 servings per day, may help improve the effects of CKD and reduce the risk of associated conditions like high blood pressure and heart disease.
Eating a balanced diet that is low in processed food and higher in fresh and minimally processed food, like the Mediterranean diet, is regularly associated with a healthier, longer, and higher quality life.