Last updated: August 6, 2026
A handful of grapes make a healthy snack for a kidney friendly diet—tasty, convenient and full of phytochemicals—amazing plant components that provide health benefits. Anthocyanins are a polyphenol antioxidant that gives the red to purple color to grapes, grape juice and red wine. Resveratrol is another polyphenol antioxidant found in grapes.
Benefits
These and other phytochemicals in grapes protect against heart disease by keeping blood vessels relaxed, preventing inflammation and oxidation of free radicals. This may be a benefit to anyone with kidney disease because cardiovascular disease and inflammation risks are greater in kidney patients as compared to the general public. Phytochemicals have also been linked to cancer prevention and protection against nerve degeneration that occurs with aging.
Nutrients
- 1/2 cup grapes contains 1 mg sodium, 88 mg potassium, 4 mg phosphorus
- 4 fluid ounces grape juice contains 5 mg sodium, 131 mg potassium, 27 mg phosphorus
- 4 fluid ounces red wine contains 5 mg sodium, 149 mg potassium, 27 mg phosphorus
What about raisins? Raisins are dried grapes but caution–it’s easy to consume too much potassium from this or any dried fruit. A snack-sized box of raisins (1.5 ounces or 1/4 cup) contains 315 mg potassium. Stick with the miniature size box if you are on a low potassium diet (0.5 ounce or 1-1/2 tablespoons)—potassium 105 mg.
Tips & Recipes
Grapes taste great frozen—and also help quench thirst for those on a fluid restriction. In addition to eating grapes for a snack, try incorporating them into a meal.
DaVita.com has several recipes that include grapes or grape juice:
References:
Sabra A, Netticadan T, Wijekoon C. Grape bioactive molecules, and the potential health benefits in reducing the risk of heart diseases. Food Chem X. 2021 Oct 27;12:100149. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8567006/. Accessed August 6, 2026.
