Best and Worst Drinks for C3 Glomerulopathy (C3G)

Which drinks are okay and which ones should be limited depends on several factors, including your kidney function, protein in the urine, and electrolytes. While certain drinks may support kidney function, others may contribute to swelling, high blood pressure, or abnormal lab values, says Georges Nakhoul, MD, a nephrologist at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.

But in general, there are drinks that are a healthy choice for people with C3G, a few that should be limited or avoided, and some that aren’t so clear-cut and should be discussed with your healthcare team.

Some beverages are easier on the kidneys than others. Here are some of the best choices for people with C3G and what to consider when choosing them.

Water Is Usually the Best Choice

“Water is the safest and most recommended beverage,” Dr. Nakhoul says. It gives you fluid without adding sodium, potassium, phosphorus, or sugar.

How much water should you drink? “Fluid intake should be individualized,” Nakhoul says. People who have significant swelling or fluid retention may need to limit fluids, while needs can also change with heat and activity, he says. Rather than trying to hit a generic water goal, ask your kidney care team whether you need a fluid target or restriction.

Coffee Is Generally Safe but Watch What You Add

Nakhoul says moderate coffee intake is likely safe for people with chronic kidney disease (CKD), and black coffee is low in potassium and phosphorus.

Unsweetened Tea Can Give You Some Variety

Nakhoul says unsweetened herbal teas and other beverages that are low in sodium, potassium, phosphorus, and added sugar are generally reasonable choices.

Other drinks may include a lot of sodium, phosphorus, potassium, or sugar — all of which can be important to watch with C3G. Here are the beverages most likely to need limiting and why.

Sports Drinks and Salty Vegetable Juices Can Pack in Sodium

Sports and electrolyte drinks may sound healthy, but many are designed to replace sodium lost through sweat. “That can work against the sodium limits commonly recommended for glomerular kidney diseases,” says Nakhoul.

“These beverages are specifically designed to deliver sodium and are counterproductive,” he says. Too much sodium can contribute to high blood pressure and swelling and may worsen protein loss in the urine. Unless your healthcare team has told you that you need an electrolyte drink, water is usually a better everyday choice.

V8, tomato juice, and other vegetable juices may have more sodium than you expect. Low-sodium versions of these juices can be better options.

High-Potassium Drinks Can Be a Problem for Some People

In people with advanced disease, the body has trouble getting rid of potassium, and levels can rise too high and become dangerous, says Nakhoul.

“However, potassium restriction should be individualized — in early CKD, high-potassium food intake from natural sources appears protective, and blanket restriction may be harmful,” he says.

Dark Colas and Drinks With Phosphate Additives Aren’t Great Choices

Dark colas commonly contain phosphoric acid, and other packaged beverages may contain phosphate additives. “Those additives are a concern in kidney disease because the body absorbs them readily,” Nakhoul says.

Sugary Drinks Are Better Left as an Occasional Choice

Regular soda, sweet tea, lemonade, energy drinks, and other sugar-sweetened drinks aren’t good everyday choices for kidney health.

Some drinks don’t fall neatly into a “best” or “worst” category. Whether these options fit depends on your kidney function, lab results, medications, and other health conditions.

Alcohol Depends on Your Health and Medications

The relationship between alcohol and kidney health isn’t straightforward, says Nakhoul.

Milk and Plant Milks Aren’t One-Size-Fits-All

“In advanced CKD or when phosphorus/potassium are elevated, dairy-based drinks should be limited,” he says.

Fruit Juice in Small Amounts May Be Okay

Fruit juice isn’t automatically a bad drink for C3G, but it should be limited, says Nakhoul. “Juice can be a concentrated source of potassium, sugar, and calories without the fiber of whole fruit,” he says.

Drinking juice rather than a sweetened drink could be a healthy choice, but “this doesn’t mean juice should be consumed freely,” says Nakhoul.