Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and Salt: How Much Is Too Much?
Urological HealthKidney Diseases

How Much Salt Can You Have With Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)?

How Much Salt Can You Have With Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)?
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Published on March 13, 2026
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Reducing how much sodium and salt you consume can help you manage chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Although your body needs sodium to function properly, excessive sodium intake can worsen CKD and cause complications. When your kidneys are damaged, they lose their ability to filter out excess sodium. When it’s in your bloodstream, it can harm your kidneys directly and cause heart-related issues, such as high blood pressure.

Knowing how much sodium you can have in your diet can help you determine a healthy diet plan for your CKD management.

Sodium and Salt: The Expert Guidelines

If you have CKD, doctors generally recommend consuming less than 2,000 milligrams (mg) of sodium per day, says Sumit Mohan, MD, transplant nephrologist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City.

 This upper limit is not dramatically different from the general recommendations for people who don’t have kidney disease, but it is far less than the 3,400 mg that the average American adult consumes in a day.

The recommendation your doctor gives you, however, might be different based on how advanced your CKD is, your other health conditions, and your diet.

 For example, the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that people with high blood pressure ideally consume no more than 1,500 mg of sodium per day.

 The same may be true if you have CKD symptoms or complications.

 Talk to your doctor about what amount of sodium is best for you.
It’s also important to note that sodium and salt are not exactly the same thing. Salt is a chemical compound of sodium and chloride, about 40 percent sodium by weight. Experts focus on the sodium content of salt because sodium is linked to numerous health issues, and salt is by far the biggest sodium source in the typical diet.

Why Too Much Sodium Harms Your Kidneys

When you have excess sodium in the blood, it attracts water that ends up in your bloodstream. This leads to fluid retention and more blood to pump, which means a higher blood pressure, says Melissa Mroz-Planells, RDN, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, who is based in Seattle.

“Poorly controlled hypertension (high blood pressure) can contribute to worsening kidney function.“ Dr. Mohan says.

Hypertension damages the blood vessels of the kidneys, impairing the oxygen and nutrients they receive and causing scarring over time. It can create a cycle that also can worsen your blood pressure levels.

In addition to causing more damage to your kidneys, high blood pressure puts added strain on your heart, brain, and eyes. It also can increase your risk of heart attack, heart failure, stroke, and blindness.

Should You Cut Out Salt Entirely?

No. Some sodium is absolutely necessary to maintain hydration and blood volume levels in your body and promote healthy nerve and muscle function.

“We do not recommend cutting out salt completely,” Mohan says. “This is neither feasible nor desirable.”

Sodium also exists naturally, even in trace amounts, in various healthy foods such as fish, meat, and vegetables. But it’s also added to numerous foods, from canned soup and processed foods to sauces and baked goods.

So while it’s impossible to cut out sodium, it is worth choosing foods lower in sodium to reduce your intake.

Be Careful With Salt Substitutes

There are a variety of salt substitutes available to season your food that contain little or no sodium. You should be careful with these, however, as some may contain large amounts of potassium, which your kidneys also may have trouble filtering out. If that occurs, it can cause heart rhythm problems.

“It is important to read nutrition labels to determine contents and avoid potassium-rich supplements, particularly in late stages of CKD,” Mohan says.

On the other hand, doctors may tell some people at an earlier stage of CKD to eat more potassium to help manage hypertension, he says. Talk to your doctor about the potassium levels and diet choices that are right for you.

Tips for Your Reducing Sodium Intake

It’s easy to cook with less salt and put your salt shakers away in a cabinet. It’s much less easy to reduce the salt that is such a huge contributor to the flavor of packaged foods and restaurant meals. Even foods that don’t taste salty, such as sliced bread, can contain surprisingly large amounts of sodium.

Ways to reduce your sodium intake include:

  • Read labels. Know exactly how much sodium is in a product of your choosing. To know if a food is okay for your kidneys, look at the daily value percentage on the nutrition facts panel, Mroz-Planells says: “Foods that are at 5 percent or less in that column are low sources of sodium, and foods that are more than 20 percent are high sources of sodium.” Compare labels between two similar products to make the choice that fits your daily sodium goal.
  • Cook at home. “We tend to consume most of the sodium in our diets from condiments, restaurant meals, and ultraprocessed food,” Mroz-Planells says. Opt instead for fresh foods, no-sodium canned foods (rinsed), or sauce-free frozen foods rather than ultraprocessed fare, she says.
  • Lean on salt-free seasonings. “Use herbs, spices, citrus, and vinegar for flavor instead of relying on added salt or high-sodium condiments,” Mroz-Planells says.

The Takeaway

  • Too much sodium in your diet can create complications with chronic kidney disease, including high blood pressure and heart issues.
  • Experts say that people with CKD should consume 2,000 mg or less of sodium each day, though your doctor may suggest a different amount based on your CKD progression, health conditions, and other diet choices.
  • Cutting out sodium or salt completely is neither advised nor possible. You need at least a little bit to stay healthy.
  • Paying attention to sodium amounts on food labels, preparing more meals at home, and sticking to salt-free seasoning such as citrus and vinegar can help you reduce sodium without sacrificing flavor.

Resources We Trust

EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. How Much Sodium Is Safe for Kidney Patients? National Kidney Foundation. January 5, 2022.
  2. Navaneethan SD et al. KDOQI US Commentary on the KDIGO 2024 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Management of CKD. American Journal of Kidney Diseases. February 2025.
  3. Sodium in Your Diet. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. March 5, 2024.
  4. High Blood Pressure and Chronic Kidney Disease. National Kidney Foundation.
  5. Shaking the Salt Habit to Lower High Blood Pressure. American Heart Association. August 14, 2025.
  6. Salt and Sodium. Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health. March 2023.
  7. High Blood Pressure and Your Kidneys. American Heart Association. May 10, 2024.
  8. Effects of Sodium and Potassium. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. February 3, 2025.
  9. Sodium in Diet. MedlinePlus. May 14, 2024.
  10. Kim MK et al. Potassium Disorders: Hypokalemia and Hyperkalemia. American Family Physician. January 2023.
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Reyna Franco, RDN, is a New York City–based dietitian-nutritionist, certified specialist in sports dietetics, and certified personal trainer. She is a diplomate of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and has a master's degree in nutrition and exercise physiology from Columbia University.

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