Eating Mistakes That Can Damage Your Kidneys Analysis by Dr. Joseph Mercola STORY AT-A-GLANCE Your kidneys lower your body acid burden. As kidney failure progresses, acid tends to accumulate in your system, causing severe harm A high-acid diet can deteriorate your kidney function and accelerate the progression of kidney disease Any diet high in fruits and vegetables and low or devoid of processed foods and dairy products will be lower in acid Anything that helps improve diabetes will also improve kidney health. This includes fasting or time-restricted eating and exercise High-protein diets can also damage your kidneys, thanks to the ammonia generated. To protect your renal health when eating a high-protein diet, add in more fruits and vegetables to buffer the acid created In this interview, Dr. Lynda Frassetto, a nephrologist and professor emeritus in the department of medicine at University of California San Francisco (UCSF), shares important information abo...