How Much Protein Do You Need After Donating a Kidney?

If you’ve recently donated a kidney—or are considering it—you might be wondering how your diet should change, especially when it comes to protein.

The Role of Protein in Your Body

Protein plays an essential role in healing and maintaining strength and is a key building block for muscles, tissues, enzymes, and hormones.

After kidney donation, your body needs protein to help recover from surgery. Some transplant centers recommend increasing your protein intake to one and a half times the recommended amount for the first two months after surgery.

However, once you’ve healed, your post-kidney donation diet should shift to maintaining a balanced intake that supports your health without putting unnecessary strain on your remaining kidney.

Do Kidney Donors Have to Follow a Low-Protein Diet?

The short answer is no. Most living kidney donors do not need to follow a low-protein diet. However, high protein diets (like those promoted for rapid weight loss or muscle building) can put additional stress on your kidney, so they are not recommended for kidney donors.

Is Protein Bad for Your Kidneys?

When protein is broken down during digestion, it creates waste products like urea, as well as substances that can make the body more acidic. These waste products enter your bloodstream, and your kidney filters them out and removes them through urine.

When you eat a lot of protein, your kidneys have to work harder to get rid of the extra waste and keep your body’s acid levels in balance. Over time, this added workload can be stressful—especially if you’re living with one kidney.

What Is the Right Amount of Protein for Kidney Donors?

The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of protein for adults is 0.8 grams of protein for every 2.2 pounds of body weight. For a person weighing 150 pounds, that’s 54 grams of protein daily.

To easily determine your recommended daily protein intake, multiply your weight in pounds by 0.36, or use this online protein calculator for a more exact number based on your age, sex, height, weight, and activity level.

Talk to your transplant center or a registered dietitian for advice tailored to your body, activity level, and overall health.

Tips for Managing Protein After Donation

• Choose high-quality protein: Opt for lean meats, fish, eggs, dairy, beans, lentils, tofu, and nuts. Limit meats that are high in salt or preservatives (hot dogs, bacon, sausage, salami, etc.).
• Avoid excess: Skip protein shakes or powders unless your healthcare provider recommends them.
• Stay hydrated: Your remaining kidney needs water to function efficiently, especially because it filters the waste produced when your body processes protein.
• Check labels: Some packaged foods, especially energy bars and snacks, contain more protein than you may realize.

Plant-Based Protein and Kidney Health

Plant-based diets are often recommended for kidney health because they’re easier on the kidneys and can help lower blood pressure. You don’t have to become vegetarian, but you may want to consider adding more plant-based meals to your diet.

If you have more questions about protein intake or other dietary changes after kidney donation, talk to your transplant team.