Kidney health · 7 min read
How to improve your eGFR.
Here's the honest version: you can't always raise an eGFR that has fallen from chronic kidney damage — but you can often protect the function you have and slow the decline, and if the drop was from a reversible cause, eGFR may recover. The steps that actually work are unglamorous and well-proven. Supplements and "kidney detoxes" are not among them.
Last updated April 15, 2026.
1. Control blood pressure
High blood pressure both causes and accelerates kidney disease. Keeping it well controlled — through medication, reduced sodium, activity, and weight management — is one of the most effective ways to slow eGFR decline. Your clinician will set a target that fits your situation.
2. Manage blood sugar if you have diabetes
Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure. Good glycemic control reduces the damage to the tiny filtering units in the kidney. This is a shared plan with your care team — diet, activity, and the right medications for you.
3. Ask about kidney-protective medications
For many people with protein in the urine, ACE inhibitors or ARBs slow progression. SGLT2 inhibitors have strong trial evidence (the DAPA-CKD and EMPA-KIDNEY studies) for protecting kidney function — even in some people without diabetes. These are prescription decisions: bring them up with your doctor rather than starting anything yourself.
4. Avoid things that harm the kidneys
- NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac) — regular use can lower eGFR; use sparingly and ask about alternatives.
- Smoking — accelerates kidney and blood-vessel damage.
- High-dose or unregulated supplements — some herbal and bodybuilding products are toxic to the kidneys.
- Excess salt — raises blood pressure and strains the kidneys.
5. Eat in a kidney-friendly way
For most stages this means less sodium, plenty of vegetables and fruit (as advised for your potassium level), and moderate — not extreme — protein. Very high-protein diets can strain filtration. In more advanced disease, potassium and phosphorus may need limiting, so diet should be individualized with a clinician or renal dietitian rather than copied from a generic plan.
6. Recheck, and track the trend
A single eGFR is a snapshot. What matters is the trajectory over months. If your eGFR fell suddenly, ask whether a reversible cause (dehydration, a new medication, contrast dye, illness) explains it — correcting that can bring the number back up. Repeat testing is how you and your doctor see whether the plan is working.
Frequently asked questions
Can you actually raise your eGFR?+
It depends on the cause. If your eGFR dropped from something reversible — dehydration, an NSAID course, or an acute illness — it often recovers once that is fixed. With chronic kidney disease, the realistic goal is usually to slow the rate of decline rather than reverse it, though eGFR can stabilize or improve modestly when blood pressure, blood sugar, and medications are optimized.
What is the single most important thing for kidney function?+
For most people it is blood pressure and blood sugar control. High blood pressure and diabetes are the two leading causes of chronic kidney disease worldwide, and controlling them is the best-proven way to protect the kidneys. A clinician-guided plan targeting these will do more than any supplement.
Do any medications protect the kidneys?+
Yes. For many people with kidney disease and protein in the urine, ACE inhibitors or ARBs slow progression, and SGLT2 inhibitors have strong trial evidence (DAPA-CKD, EMPA-KIDNEY) for protecting kidney function even in people without diabetes. These are prescription decisions for your doctor, not something to start on your own.
Does drinking more water improve eGFR?+
Staying adequately hydrated helps if you are dehydrated, but drinking large amounts of extra water does not boost kidney function and can be harmful in advanced kidney disease or heart failure. Aim for normal hydration and follow any fluid advice your clinician gives for your stage.
Estimate your eGFR with the CKD-EPI 2021 calculator and see your stage over time.
For general education only. Not medical advice. Do not start, stop, or change any medication without your clinician. References: KDIGO 2024 Clinical Practice Guideline for CKD, Kidney Int. 2024; Heerspink HJL et al. Dapagliflozin in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (DAPA-CKD), N Engl J Med. 2020; The EMPA-KIDNEY Collaborative Group, N Engl J Med. 2023; National Kidney Foundation.