A new study has found that eating a diet that’s good for both your health and the planet may also protect your kidneys.
The research, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), looked at how the EAT–Lancet planetary health diet affects the risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD).
The findings show that people who closely followed this plant-forward diet had a lower chance of developing CKD over time.
Chronic kidney disease is a serious health problem that affects about 10% of adults worldwide. If not treated, it can lead to kidney failure and other major health issues. Experts believe CKD will become the fifth leading cause of death around the world by 2040.
This study was based on data from the UK Biobank, a long-term research project that tracks the health of people in the U.K. The researchers looked at health and diet data from 179,508 adults aged 40 to 69 living in England, Scotland, and Wales.
Participants filled out a detailed food questionnaire and were followed for about 12 years on average. During that time, 4,819 of them (about 2.7%) developed chronic kidney disease.
The EAT–Lancet diet encourages people to eat mostly plant-based foods like fruits, vegetables, legumes (beans, lentils), and whole grains, along with small amounts of meat and dairy.
It also recommends limiting added sugars and fats. This diet was designed not only to support human health but also to help protect the environment by lowering the impact of food production.
The researchers found that people who followed the EAT–Lancet diet more closely were less likely to develop CKD. The protective effect was especially strong among people who lived in areas with less access to green spaces and those with certain genetic risk factors for kidney disease.
The study’s lead author, Dr. Xianhui Qin from Southern Medical University in China, and his team believe the results show how this diet could help prevent kidney disease.
While there are already popular diets like DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) and the Mediterranean diet that promote kidney health, the EAT–Lancet diet goes a step further by focusing on the bigger picture—balancing human and environmental health.
All of these diets share common features: they include lots of fruits, vegetables, and nuts, and limit red meat. But the EAT–Lancet diet adds a unique emphasis on cutting back on added sugars and fats, which may help reduce inflammation and stress in the body—two things that can harm the kidneys.
In short, this study shows that making thoughtful food choices isn’t just good for the planet—it’s also good for your kidneys. Eating more plant-based foods and limiting sugar and fat could be a simple but powerful way to reduce your risk of kidney disease, especially if you live in a city or have a family history of CKD.
If you care about kidney health, please read studies about how to protect your kidneys from diabetes, and drinking coffee could help reduce risk of kidney injury.
For more information about kidney health, please see recent studies about foods that may prevent recurrence of kidney stones, and eating nuts linked to lower risk of chronic kidney disease and death.
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