🍄 Mushrooms, Fungi & Seaweed
Mushrooms are low-protein foods overall. Potassium can be moderate to high in some varieties. Phosphorus is plant-based (lower absorption ~40–60%). Sodium is naturally very low unless salted, sauced or preserved. Dried mushrooms and dried seaweeds are dramatically more concentrated in all minerals — treat them as high-risk.
🍄 Mushrooms
✔ Generally CKD-Friendly (low protein, manageable minerals) — Fresh/Raw
Button · Cremini · Oyster · Enoki · Shimeji · Bamboo fungus (fresh)
⚠ Use Caution — Moderate Potassium
Shiitake (fresh) · Maitake · King oyster · Straw mushrooms · Portobello (large portions)
❌ Limit or Avoid in CKD 4–5
All dried mushrooms (shiitake dried, wood ear dried, morel dried) · Large portions of any high-K variety · Mushrooms cooked in soy sauce, oyster sauce or seasoning powder
Common & Western Mushrooms — Per 100 g
| Mushroom | Protein Raw (g) | Protein Cooked (g) | K (mg) | Na (mg) | P (mg) | Sugar (g) | GI | CKD Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Button (white) | ~3.1 | ~2.2 | ~318 | ~5 | ~86 | ~0.5 | ~15 | Moderate K; low Na; moderate P; safest fresh mushroom for CKD | ✔ Safe |
| Cremini (brown) | ~3.0 | ~2.1 | ~448 | ~6 | ~120 | ~0.4 | ~15 | Similar to button; slightly higher K — moderate portions | ⚠ Moderate |
| Oyster | ~3.3 | ~2.3 | ~420 | ~18 | ~120 | ~0.4 | ~15 | Moderate K; P moderate; good CKD option fresh | ✔ Safe |
| Portobello | ~2.6 | ~2.0 | ~364 | ~9 | ~101 | ~0.3 | ~15 | Moderate K; low Na; watch portion size | ⚠ Moderate |
| Shiitake (fresh) | ~2.2 | ~1.6 | ~304 | ~9 | ~112 | ~1.4 | ~15 | Moderate K; dried is much higher in K & P | ⚠ Moderate |
| Shiitake (dried) | ~9–10 | ~2.5–3 (rehydrated) | ~1,534 | ~13 | ~294 | ~1.4 | ~15 | Very high K when dried → limit strictly in CKD | ❌ Limit (Dried) |
East Asian Mushrooms — Per 100 g
| Mushroom | Protein Raw (g) | Protein Cooked (g) | K (mg) | Na (mg) | P (mg) | Sugar (g) | GI | CKD Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enoki | ~2.7 | ~2.0 | ~359 | ~3 | ~105 | ~1.2 | ~15 | Moderate K; low Na; CKD-friendly fresh | ✔ Safe |
| Shimeji (beech) | ~2.6–2.8 | ~2.0 | ~389 | ~3 | ~88 | ~0.9 | ~15 | Moderate K; good fresh option | ✔ Safe |
| Nameko | ~2.8 | ~2.0 | ~230 | ~4 | ~74 | ~1.8 | ~15 | Moderate K; low Na; safe fresh | ✔ Safe |
| Maitake (hen of the woods) | ~2.0 | ~1.5 | ~204 | ~1 | ~74 | ~0.3 | ~15 | Moderate K; low Na; generally safe fresh | ✔ Safe |
| King oyster (eryngii) | ~3.0 | ~2.1 | ~464 | ~23 | ~130 | ~0.6 | ~15 | Moderate K; relatively higher fibre | ⚠ Moderate |
| Bamboo fungus (fresh) | ~1.4 | ~1.1 | ~250 | ~5 | ~60 | ~0.5 | ~15 | Low protein; low–moderate K; CKD-friendly fresh | ✔ Safe |
| Bamboo fungus (dried) | ~5–6 | ~1.5–2 (rehydrated) | ~900 | ~12 | ~200 | ~0.5 | ~15 | Higher K than fresh when dried → portion control | ❌ Limit (Dried) |
Chinese Specialty & Medicinal Mushrooms — Per 100 g
| Mushroom | Protein Raw (g) | Protein Cooked (g) | K (mg) | Na (mg) | P (mg) | Sugar (g) | GI | CKD Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black fungus / wood ear (fresh) | ~1.5 | ~1.2 | ~685 | ~8 | ~49 | ~0 | ~15 | Low protein; moderate K — safe fresh in small portions | ⚠ Moderate |
| Black fungus / wood ear (dried) | ~10–14 | ~2–3 (rehydrated) | ~4,400+ | ~34 | ~292 | ~0 | ~15 | Extremely high K when dried → soak extensively & use tiny portions | ❌ Avoid (Dried) |
| Straw mushroom | ~3.5 | ~2.5 | ~550 | ~4 | ~100 | ~0.5 | ~15 | Moderate-high K; watch portion | ⚠ Moderate |
| Cloud ear (variant of wood ear) | ~1.5 | ~1.2 | ~685 | ~8 | ~49 | ~0 | ~15 | Similar to wood ear | ⚠ Moderate |
| Lion's mane | ~2.5 | ~1.8 | ~430 | ~2 | ~90 | ~0.4 | ~15 | Moderate K; good fresh option | ⚠ Moderate |
| Chanterelle | ~1.5 | ~1.2 | ~506 | ~14 | ~63 | ~1.2 | ~15 | Lower protein; moderate K | ⚠ Moderate |
| Morel (fresh) | ~3.1 | ~2.2 | ~411 | ~21 | ~194 | ~0.8 | ~15 | Dried morels very high K & P — avoid dried form | ⚠ Moderate (Fresh Only) |
| Truffle | ~5–6 | ~4 | ~500 | ~13 | ~114 | ~1.0 | ~15 | Higher P; typically eaten in very small amounts → usually safe | ✔ Safe (Tiny Use) |
💡 Mushroom Cooking Tips for CKD
Boil and discard water to reduce potassium. Avoid cooking mushrooms with soy sauce, oyster sauce, miso or seasoning powders. Use: garlic (tiny amount), ginger, black pepper, calamansi. Fresh > dried for all mushrooms in CKD. Portion control matters more than protein content for mushrooms.
🌿 Seaweeds
❌ Critical CKD Warning — All Seaweeds
Seaweeds are NOT a protein food in typical portions, but they can be extremely high in sodium (Na) and potassium (K) — especially dried forms. Iodine is also extremely high in kombu/kelp. Hijiki contains inorganic arsenic and is generally avoided. Treat seaweed as a condiment, not a vegetable. Soak 10–30 minutes and discard water to reduce Na & K. Avoid seaweed broths (dashi, kelp soup).
Japanese & East Asian Seaweeds — Per 100 g
| Seaweed | Protein Fresh/Dry (g) | Protein Rehydrated (g) | K (mg) | Na (mg) | P (mg) | Sugar (g) | GI | CKD Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mozuku (fresh) | ~0.3 | ~0.2 | ~52 | ~116 | ~9 | ~0 | ~0 | Lower Na than dried seaweeds; moderate K; relatively safer fresh | ✔ Safer (Fresh, Small) |
| Nori (dried sheets) | ~30–35 | ~5–6 | ~2,500 | ~1,000+ | ~356 | ~0 | ~0 | Very high Na & K when dried; small 1–2 g sheets only (sushi nori) | ⚠ Tiny Amounts Only |
| Wakame (dried) | ~18 | ~3 (rehydrated) | ~4,800 | ~18,000+ | ~196 | ~0 | ~0 | Extraordinarily high Na when dried; soak and discard water; very small portions | ❌ Extreme Caution |
| Arame (dried) | ~10 | ~2 | ~1,490 | ~5,900 | ~150 | ~0 | ~0 | High Na; moderate–high K | ❌ Limit |
| Aonori (green laver, dried) | ~20–25 | ~4–5 | ~2,500 | ~3,100 | ~390 | ~0 | ~0 | High Na; moderate–high K | ❌ Limit |
| Hijiki (dried) | ~9 | ~1.8 | ~4,400 | ~4,700 | ~160 | ~0 | ~0 | High Na, K & P; high iodine; inorganic arsenic concerns → generally avoid | ❌ Avoid |
| Kombu/Kelp (dried) | ~8–10 | ~1.5–2 | ~7,300 | ~12,000+ | ~240 | ~0 | ~0 | Extremely high K & Na; very high iodine → avoid in CKD entirely; also avoid kombu dashi | ❌ Avoid |
Chinese & Southeast Asian Seaweeds — Per 100 g
| Seaweed | Protein Fresh/Dry (g) | Protein Rehydrated (g) | K (mg) | Na (mg) | P (mg) | Sugar (g) | GI | CKD Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caulerpa ("sea grapes"/lato, fresh) | ~1.5–2 | ~1.3 | ~380 | ~250 | ~45 | ~0 | ~0 | Lower Na than dried seaweeds; moderate K; fresh is safer | ⚠ Very Small Amounts |
| Sea lettuce (Ulva, dried) | ~20–25 | ~3–4 | ~2,900 | ~4,400 | ~260 | ~0 | ~0 | High Na when dried; moderate–high K | ❌ Limit |
| Gracilaria/gulaman (dried) | ~6–8 | ~1 | ~1,600 | ~4,100 | ~45 | ~0 | ~0 | High Na; moderate K; common in desserts — note sugar in dessert form | ❌ Limit |
| Eucheuma (dried) | ~4–6 | ~0.8–1 | ~1,400 | ~3,800 | ~35 | ~0 | ~0 | High Na; moderate K | ❌ Limit |