What are some common low-protein diets?

Understanding and following a low-protein diet is important for people with kidney disease, liver disease, and other conditions that require protein restriction. Here are some common low-protein diet options.

Staple Food

- Wheat starch: This is a staple food substitute commonly used in low-protein diets. It is obtained by removing the protein from wheat flour. The protein content is extremely low, with about 0.4-0.6 grams of protein per 100 grams of wheat starch, while ordinary wheat flour contains about 11-13 grams of protein per 100 grams. Using wheat starch to make noodles, steamed bread, biscuits and other foods can reduce protein intake.

- Corn starch: It is also a good choice for low-protein staple food. Every 100 grams of corn starch contains about 0.3 grams of protein. It can be used to make various cakes, puddings, etc. to increase the diversity of food.

- Potatoes: Potatoes are rich in carbohydrates and relatively low in protein, with about 2 grams of protein per 100 grams of potatoes. Potatoes can be made into mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, etc. as part of the staple food, but be careful to reduce the intake of other high-protein foods.

Vegetables

- Most vegetables: such as cabbage, spinach, celery, cucumber, winter melon, pumpkin, etc., are low-protein vegetables. Take cabbage as an example, every 100 grams of cabbage contains about 1.5 grams of protein. These vegetables are rich in vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber, which help maintain the normal physiological functions of the body without placing too much burden on organs such as the kidneys.

- Root vegetables: In addition to potatoes, sweet potatoes and taro are also low-protein root vegetables. Sweet potatoes contain about 1.1 grams of protein per 100 grams, and taro contains about 2.2 grams of protein per 100 grams. They can partially replace traditional staple foods and provide a sense of fullness.

Fruit

- The protein content of various common fruits such as apples, bananas, oranges, pears, grapes, etc. is very low, and the protein content of every 100 grams of fruit is mostly less than 1 gram. For example, every 100 grams of apples contains about 0.3 grams of protein, and every 100 grams of bananas contains about 1.4 grams of protein. Fruits are rich in vitamins and water, and are foods that can be eaten more appropriately in a low-protein diet.

Oils and Fats

- Vegetable oil: such as olive oil, peanut oil, corn oil, etc., the main component is fat, almost no protein. Appropriate intake of vegetable oil can provide energy for the body and maintain normal physiological functions of the body. However, it is important to control the intake to avoid obesity and other problems caused by excessive intake of fat.

Low protein special foods

- Low-protein milk powder: specially designed for people who need to limit protein intake. Its protein content is much lower than that of ordinary milk powder. At the same time, it contains appropriate amounts of nutrients such as carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals, which can meet some of the nutritional needs of patients.

- Low-protein nutritious rice noodles: With starch as the main raw material, it is added with a variety of vitamins and minerals. It has a low protein content and is one of the supplementary foods for people on a low-protein diet. It can be used for drinking or making various snacks.

For people who need a low-protein diet, they should reasonably match various foods according to their own condition and nutritional needs, and ensure that they take in enough energy, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients while ensuring that the protein intake meets the requirements to maintain the normal functioning and health of the body. At the same time, it is recommended to develop a personalized diet plan under the guidance of a nutritionist or doctor to achieve the best dietary treatment effect.