Sometimes, a kidney-friendly meal needs a little something extra. That’s where NKF comes in. Here are low-sodium homemade seasoning, dressing, and sauce recipes that you and your kidneys will love. Seasoning Mixes to Spice Up Your Life A good seasoning blend can completely change a meal. Here are two of our favorites to try. Kidney-Friendly Taco Seasoning Taco night just got easier. This homemade blend combines chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, garlic, onion, and red pep

Medicare helps people with kidney failure get life-sustaining care. But for many patients under age 65, a gap in federal law can leave them facing high costs without guaranteed access to insurance that could help pay those bills. On September 24, 2026, the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) urged Senator Ron Wyden (Democratic leader of the Senate Finance Committee) to address this gap. Responding to his request for ideas to improve health coverage and lower costs, NKF called fo

When two-time Super Bowl-winning defensive tackle Khalen Saunders thinks about kidney disease, he doesn't think about statistics. He thinks about the woman who raised him, his mother, Kim Hamilton. Losing Vision Reveals Kidney Issues For years, Kim pushed through symptoms she couldn't explain. She was constantly itching, exhausted, and dealing with headaches. Sometimes she felt so weak she thought she might pass out. “One day, in 2013, after an argument with the cable company

Heart disease and kidney disease are closely connected, but they are often addressed separately. That can mean missed opportunities to find kidney damage early and better understand a person’s risk of heart disease. At Foreign Policy’s Health Forum @ UNGA81 in New York, the “Partners in Prevention: Transforming Heart and Kidney Health,” I joined with my colleagues Dr. Neeraja Balachander, Vice President, Clinical Development Medical Affairs, Cardio-Renal-Metabolism, Boehringe

Managing phosphorus can be hard for people on dialysis. It usually means changing diet, taking medicines, and tracking lab results. It can also lead to questions about kidney transplant, with some people wondering if having high phosphorus can affect their chance of getting a transplant. To learn more, the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) asked people on dialysis about how they managed phosphorus and whether phosphorus had been discussed during the kidney transplant process.

Food connects us to our culture, our families, and memories that last a lifetime. And a chronic kidney disease (CKD) diagnosis doesn't mean you have to leave any of that behind. With a few simple tweaks, we’ve made some of your favorite recipes more kidney-friendly. So, whether you're making pasteles with relatives, preparing fresh salsa, or gathering around the table, here are eight recipes to try out this Hispanic Heritage Month. 1. Refreshing Cucumber Lime Agua Fresca Tr

Back-to-school season means busy mornings, packed lunches, after-school activities, and family dinners that need to come together quickly. If a family member is living with kidney disease, planning meals can add another layer of stress. The good news? Kidney-friendly eating does not have to mean complicated recipes or giving up foods your family enjoys. With the right ingredients and portions, you can find simple options for breakfast, snacks, lunch, and dinner. Here are seve

You may have heard the phrase, “Kidney disease runs in the family.” But what does that really mean? People often use the terms genetics and family history as if they mean the same thing. They're connected, but they describe different things. Understanding the difference between the two can help you better understand your kidney health and talk with your healthcare professional about your risk. What Are Genetics or Genes? Genes act as the body’s instruction manual, telling it

Tony Award winner J. Harrison Ghee is known for bringing memorable characters to the Broadway stage, including Lola in Kinky Boots and their Tony Award-winning performance in Some Like It Hot. But behind the Broadway curtains, Ghee has been fighting kidney disease. After keeping their diagnosis private for several years, Ghee shared their story publicly in 2025. Now, they are on the kidney transplant waiting list and using their voice to raise awareness about kidney disease,

As summers continue to get hotter, protecting your kidneys is becoming more important than ever. New research presented at the National Kidney Foundation's 2026 Spring Clinical Meetings found that parts of the United States experiencing rising temperatures are also seeing increases in kidney disease-related deaths. While researchers are still working to understand exactly why, the findings highlight the importance of staying safe during hot weather, especially if you have kid

IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is one of the most common rare immune-related diseases that damages the kidneys' tiny filters, called glomeruli. For many years, treatment options were limited. Today, that is changing. As of August 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved six medications specifically for IgAN, with many more being studied in clinical trials. With so many new treatments becoming available, doctors have important questions about how to use these med

IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is entering a period of rapid therapeutic change. In response to the evolving treatment landscape in IgAN, the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) hosted two scientific workshops in spring 2026: The Future of Clinical Trials in IgAN, held April 22-24 in Washington, DC, and B-Cell Therapies for Treating IgAN, held May 14-16 in Dallas, Texas. The Evolving IgAN Treatment Landscape While considered a rare disease, IgAN is the most common primary glomeruloneph

Research on kidney disease has only begun to accelerate with advancements in medical technology, xenotransplantation, and prescription drugs. Kidney disease is a particularly underfunded area of research, with many treatments the same as they were in the 1960s. The proposed OMB rule would be particularly harmful for people with kidney disease whose future requires research advancements in transplantation options and therapy methods. What Is the Proposed OMB Rule? The Office o

The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) recently urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to strengthen protections for kidney patients in a new Medicaid rule on community engagement reporting requirements. What is Medicaid? Medicaid is a federal and state health insurance program that provides healthcare coverage to eligible people with limited income and certain health needs, including those living with kidney disease, kidney failure, and kidney transplants. It

Looking for ways to improve your health? You're not alone. According to a 2024 study, 70% of adults take at least one dietary supplement every day. But while supplements often promise more energy, better immunity, and improved wellness, they aren’t always safe—especially for people with chronic kidney disease (CKD), those on dialysis, and kidney transplant recipients. Registered dietitian Desiree de Waal and pharmacist Dr. Calvin Meaney explained what to watch for and how to

Dr. Robert Montgomery, Director of the NYU Langone Transplant Institute, presenting at the 2024 Spring Clinical Meetings Xenotransplant Session. The Second Annual Richard Slayman Clinical Xenotransplantation Workshop is a groundbreaking kidney transplant meeting that brought together experts to discuss the future of xenotransplantation, including the National Kidney Foundation's own Heather Murphy, who represented the patient perspective. What is Xenotransplantation? Xenotra

People living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) often have other health conditions too, like diabetes, heart disease, obesity, or heart failure. Together, these interconnected conditions are known as cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome. The good news? Healthcare professionals have more treatment options than ever before to help protect kidney and heart health. The challenge is figuring out how to use those treatments together. Which medications should come first? W

More than 1 in 7 U.S. adults are estimated to have chronic kidney disease (CKD), yet about 9 in 10 don't know they have it. Because kidney disease often develops without noticeable symptoms, many people are not diagnosed until the disease has already progressed. By then, treatment options may be more limited. Advancing Early Disease Care The good news is that early detection can make a difference. When CKD is found early, people have more opportunities to slow disease progres

Managing chronic kidney disease (CKD) has become increasingly complex, due in part to a rapid and promising increase in the number of pharmacologic therapies now available to slow CKD progression and reduce its associated cardiovascular risk. To help address these challenges, the National Kidney Foundation recently convened a multidisciplinary scientific workshop focused on developing practical, patient-centered approaches to combination therapy in CKD. Cardiovascular-Kidney

Millions of Americans are living with chronic kidney disease (CKD), yet many do not receive education about managing their condition until their kidneys have already suffered significant damage. New bipartisan legislation introduced by Representatives Suzan DelBene (D-WA) and John Joyce, M.D. (R-PA) aims to change that. Kidney Disease Education Access Expansion Act The current Medicare Kidney Disease Education (KDE) benefit, championed by the National Kidney Foundation (NKF)