Avoid foods for health, strength & kidney disease ( PKD )

Foods I Personally Avoid for My Health, Strength & Polycystic Kidney Disease

One of the biggest misconceptions about nutrition is that there’s one perfect diet for everyone.

There isn’t. I have polycystic kidney disease (PKD), celiac disease, and I’m passionate about building muscle and staying strong. Over the years, I’ve learned that the best diet is the one that supports your health, your goals, and how your body responds.

These are some of the foods I personally choose to limit or avoid.

1. Gluten

I have celiac disease, so gluten is completely off limits. Even small amounts can damage my small intestine and affect how I absorb nutrients.

2. Highly Processed Foods

I try to avoid foods made with long ingredient lists and little nutritional value. They’re often low in protein, easy to overeat, and don’t leave me feeling satisfied.

3. Processed Meats High in Sodium

Because kidney health is important to me, I don’t make highly processed deli meats or other high-sodium processed meats a regular part of my diet. I usually choose fresh chicken, salmon, lean beef, or turkey instead.

4. Sugary Drinks

Liquid calories add up quickly and don’t keep me full. I’d rather eat foods that provide protein and nutrients than drink my calories.

5. Foods That Don’t Help Me Reach My Goals

This is the biggest one.

I don’t ask, “Is this food good or bad?”

I ask, “Does this help me become the person I’m trying to become?”

If the answer is no, I simply don’t make it part of my everyday routine.

What I Eat Instead

Most of my meals are built around protein, fiber, and whole foods. I regularly eat:

• Chicken ( 7 days a week )

• Salmon ( 7 days a week )

• Lean beef ( occasionally)

• Egg whites ( daily )

• Cottage cheese

• Greek yogurt ( plain, no taste so I add a scoop of protein to make it sweet. )

• Oats

• Rice

• Potatoes ( any ) French fries home made

• Green veggies

• Fruit

• Protein shakes

  
  

My Philosophy

I don’t believe in chasing perfection.

I believe in building habits you can repeat for life.

For me, healthy eating isn’t about fear. It’s about making more choices that support my energy, my strength, and my long-term health. Living with PKD has taught me to pay attention to my body, track my progress, and make decisions based on both how I feel and what my lab work shows.

Your body is unique. Learn from it. Listen to it.

Then build a way of eating you can come back to again and again. At the end of the day there’s no way to avoid other diseases even when I barely ate protein. Before eating more protein, I was obese & close to becoming diabetic. I was faced with a choice.

Doctors are about medicine & pharma. I am a human who is about food & exercise.

Each human has their own values. These are mine.

Together we can be stronger.