What Foods Contain Virtually No Protein?

Protein is an essential component of our daily diet and normally we need 40 to 60 grams of protein per day. However, people suffering from liver or kidney disease are often advised to reduce the intake of protein, under a medical expert's supervision, due to an inability to properly process it. In these cases, lowering protein intake can help avoid fatigue, loss of appetite and renal failure.

Major Medical Benefit

• A Johns Hopkins study by Mackenzie Walser, M.D. proved that a low protein diet can delay the requirement of dialysis by an average of nearly one year (in some instances up to four years), even in cases of chronic kidney failure.

Reducing Protein in Your Diet

• Individuals with liver and kidney problems are usually prescribed to reduce their protein intake to a range between 4 and 8 percent of their entire diet, as opposed to the average 12 to 15 percent in a typical affluent diet. Animal proteins and proteins from vegetable sources should still be consumed, but in the prescribed lower proportion.

Low-Protein Cereals and Grains

• Cold and hot cereals, bagels and English muffins are breakfast choices with medium or low protein levels. Rice also has virtually no protein, with white rice having even less than brown rice.

Low-Protein Vegetables

• Green beans, green leafy vegetables, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, potatoes and radishes are very healthy foods low in protein.

Low-Protein Fruits

• Bananas, apples, grapes, peaches, berries, tomatoes and melons are low-protein fruits.

Foods with No Protein

• Jams, jellies, hard candies, mustard, mayonnaise, butter, margarine, fruit juices and soft drinks have no protein.

  Replacing the protein portion of your diet with vegetables and grains instead of jellies, candies and condiments is recommended because vegetables and grains are low in proteins yet high in nutritional value; they also provide energy and are filling and satisfying.