Effects of Whole Food, Plant-Based Nutrition on Chronic Kidney Disease With Proteinuria

Inclusion Criteria: * Age greater than 18 years * Subjects with CKD 3b and 4 (as determined by an estimated glomerular filtration rate of ≥ 15 ml/min but ≤ 45 ml/min for at least three months) * Subjects with proteinuria documented at least twice with the most recent test within the last 6 months as determined by: * Urine albumin excretion rate of \> 300 mg/day or urine albumin to creatinine ratio of \> 300 mg/g of creatinine * Urine protein excretion rate of \> 500 mg/day or urine protein to creatinine ratio of \> 0.5 g/g of creatinine * If using angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, angiotensin receptor blockers and/or aldosterone antagonists, on a stable dose of for greater than one month * Fluent in English language * Able and willing to comply with the testing and group education schedules * Able and willing to comply with a whole-food, plant-based diet * Able and willing to give informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Any kidney disease requiring immunosuppressive therapy * Pregnancy or intent to become pregnant in the next 12 months * Life expectancy \< 12 months * History of solid organ transplant or anticipated solid organ transplant in next 12 months * History of hyperkalemia: Two potassium measurements \> 5.1 Meq/L within the last three months, or history of any intervention for hyperkalemia in the last 6 months * Subjects with malabsorptive syndromes * Subjects with history of bariatric surgery or planned bariatric surgery in the next 12 months * Subject…