Washington, Oct 31 (IANS): The Mediterranean diet rich in fruits, vegetables, fish, legumes and heart-healthy fats can help you lower the risk of developing chronic kidney disease by 50 percent, a research said.

In addition, such a diet that restricts consumption of red meats, processed foods and sweets can reduce the risk of experiencing rapid kidney function decline by 42 percent, the findings showed.

"There is increasing evidence that poor diet is associated with kidney disease," said co-researcher Minesh Khatri from Columbia University Medical Centre in the US.

For the study, the researchers examined the associations of varying degrees of the Mediterranean diet on long-term kidney function in an observational, community-based, prospective study.

In their analysis of 900 participants, who were followed for nearly seven years, every one-point higher in a Mediterranean diet score, indicating better adherence to the diet, was associated with a 17 percent lower likelihood of developing chronic kidney disease.

Dietary patterns that closely resembled the Mediterranean diet were linked with a 50 percent lower risk of developing chronic kidney disease and a 42 percent lower risk of experiencing rapid kidney function decline.

The study is forthcoming in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.