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Oh this is something I think about a lot too, having gout and kidney stones at the same time. A few of these surprised me honestly. Turmeric was one, I was taking it thinking it helped with inflammation and had no idea it's high in oxalates until my nephrologist mentioned it. Same with beet supplements, which I had to cut back on for the same reason. Collagen also apparently breaks down in ways that can raise oxalate levels, which I didn't expect at all. Mushrooms are tricky for me too because some varieties push uric acid up. Berberine I have less personal experience with so I can't really say. The thing I've learned the hard way is that "natural" doesn't mean safe when your kidneys are already working harder than they should. I run everything by my doctor now before starting.
This is a genuinely tricky area to navigate. I follow kidney and uric acid research closely myself (I manage high uric acid), so a few of these caught my attention.
Turmeric and beets are two I've been personally cautious about. Both are high in oxalates, and from what I've read those can be a real consideration depending on your type of kidney issue. Not a hard no for everyone, just something I raised with my own doctor before adding anything to my routine.
Mushrooms vary a lot. Some I tend to avoid for the purine content (that's my uric acid concern), but the kidney angle on mushrooms is a separate question entirely, probably worth a conversation with your specialist.
Berberine I haven't tried. A lot of buzz around it lately but I honestly can't say how it interacts with kidney function specifically.
For the oxalate question around turmeric and beets especially, your nephrologist would be the right person to ask. That's where I'd start.
I was looking for an idea to help to lose weight. Besides water what can I take
I now take Renadyl, kidney probiotic, others have had good results with it.
What supplements are safe for kidneys — specifically maca, elderberry, collagen, beet supplements, berberine, turmeric, and mushrooms?
Great question! With kidney disease, it's really important to be cautious with supplements — even ones that sound natural or healthy. Here's a quick breakdown of what's generally known:
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