Patients on dialysis must follow strict renal diet guidelines to maintain a optimum balance of minerals, electrolytes, and fluid in their system. Because dialysis alone does not remove all waste products from the blood, and most dialysis patients urinate very little or not at all, a renal diet helps prevent waste build up between dialysis treatments. The following renal diet guidelines will help dialysis patients plan meals and eat healthy, without compromising their condition.
Renal Diet Guidelines – Carbohydrates:
Carbohydrates are a wonderful source of energy and are acceptable foods on the dialysis diet guidelines for a kidney diet. Of course, carbs should be eaten in moderation, which include fruits, white breads, and vegetables. Patients following a renal diet can have high-calorie desserts with carbohydrates in them, including pies, cookies, and cakes, as long as they do not include bananas, nuts, chocolate, and any type of dairy products.
If you have diabetes or you are overweight, you’ll have to limit your carbohydrate intake. Since carbs turn into sugar, people with diabetes should be cautious as to how much carbohydrates they consume each day.
Renal Diet Guidelines – Calcium and Phosphorus:
These two important minerals are monitored closely because phosphorus levels in the blood of kidney failure patients can get too high very easily and very quickly. When phosphorus levels are too high, it will lower the calcium levels in the blood and the body will then draw calcium from the ones. This will make the patient’s bones very weak.
The best way to control the amount of phosphorus ingested, if you have renal failure, is to limit dairy foods like yogurt, milk, and cheese. Margarine, butter, cream cheese, ricotta cheese, nondairy whipped toppings, heavy cream, and sherbet is allowable on a renal diet.
Renal Diet Guidelines-Fats:
Monosaturated and polyunsaturated fats are not only a great source of calories, but help protect your arteries. Use olive oil, safflower oil, and canola oil in moderation.
Renal Diet Guidelines-Fluids:
Fluid easily builds up in the body between dialysis treatments, when you have chronic kidney disease (CKD), making it important for patients to watch their fluid intake. Also, do not eat too much food that contains a lot of water, like melons, lettuce, Jell-O, ice cream, popsicles, celery, and tomatoes.
To avoid becoming too thirsty or drinking too much, limit or avoid foods high in sodium, do not add salt to your meals, stay cool on hot days, and use smaller glasses and turn them upside down when you are finished.
Renal Diet Guidelines-Potassium:
Potassium can build up easily in cases of renal disease, y result in dangerous heart rhythms. Because potassium is found in most of the food groups, especially vegetables and fruits, it is important to choose meals carefully and read all labels. A low potassium diet including grapes, peaches, pears, apples, berries, plums, cabbage, carrots, eggplant, wax beans, green beans, yellow squash, and broccoli.
Renal Diet Guidelines-Protein:
Prior to, or at the start of dialysis, the doctor may insist on a low protein diet. However, after dialysis starts, more protein is needed to replace lost muscles and tissues. Foods high in protein and are acceptable on a renal diet include poultry, fish, pork, and eggs. Patients on dialysis are often instructed to consume 8-10 ounces of high-protein foods daily.
Renal Diet Guidelines Futher Expert Help:
Meeting with a registered dietician that specializes in renal nutrition and understands kidney disease and dialysis treatments is the best way to ensure renal diet guidelines are successfully followed. The dietician will help create a diet plan that based on foods that you enjoy eating, while adhering to the doctor’s instructions.
You can also seek help, obtain educational materials, and find information about local programs from The Kidney Foundation, which has chapters in most states. This is also a great resource about renal diet guidelines for family and friends of patients with kidney disease.
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