Table 2.

The contemporary “healthy” diets in Western societies and suggestions for persons with a solitary kidney^a

Diet type	Features	Relevance to solitary kidney care
DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension)	Mix of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and low-fat dairy	A preferred diet for persons with solitary kidney
Mediterranean diet	High in fruits and vegetables, as well as healthy fatty foods like fish, nuts, and olive oil	Mediterranean diet is favorable as long as excessive protein intake of >1 g/kg per day and high sodium intake of >4 g/d are avoided
MIND diet	A mix of DASH and the Mediterranean diet	Acceptable diet regimen
Flexitarian diet	A blend of the words flexible and vegetarian; eat vegetarian most of the time for better health	Acceptable diet for persons with solitary kidney as long as high salt intake of >4 g/d is avoided
Weight Watchers	The PointsPlus system encourages consumption of fruit, vegetables, and fiber-rich foods, and discourages consumption of high-fat and energy-dense foods	Excessive protein intake of >1 g/kg per day to be avoided
TLC diet (Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes)	To lower high cholesterol	Excessive protein intake of >1 g/kg per day and high sodium intake of >4 g/d to be avoided
Volumetrics	To pay attention to the energy density in foods	Excessive protein intake of >1 g/kg per day and high sodium intake of >4 g/d to be avoided

^aNote that in addition to the listed diet, vegetarian or vegan diet can also be recommended.