Diets for People on Kidney Dialysis

Kidney disease is a serious medical condition and sometimes leads to the patient being placed on dialysis. A patient is hooked up to a dialysis machine every few days to cleanse the blood, something that the kidneys should be able to do but cannot. It is important for those on dialysis to watch what they eat to help the machine and avoid further complications. Although there is not set meal plan, there is advice on what should and should not be eaten.

Function

• A dialysis diet is important to assist the machines in doing their job in keeping the blood clean. The dialysis alone cannot completely remove wastes, so it is important to watch what you put into your body at every meal. A renal diet will enable you to eat healthy and avoid mucking up your blood.

Increase Protein

• After you have begun dialysis, you will need high levels of protein. This is because a large amount of the mineral will be lost during each session. It is also important to strictly limit salt, potassium and phosphorous intakes, things found in most meats. Chicken and pork are better sources of protein for dialysis patients than red meat.

Limit Sodium, Potassium and Phosphorous

• Sodium should be limited by dialysis patients due to its effects on fluid retention and blood pressure. Potassium should also be reduced due to the possibility of developing hyperkalemia, a serious blood condition that results from elevated levels of potassium in the blood. Phosphorous is a third nutrient that should be reduced, which means dairy products should be eaten in moderation.
  Dialysis machines have a hard time removing these minerals from the blood, which is why it is so important to control the amount in your body at a given time by eating properly.

Reduce Fluid Intake

• As dialysis progresses, most patients' bodies reduce urine output and after six months may not be producing any urine. For this reason, fluids should be strictly limited to prohibit retention, weight gain and other serious complications. The amount of fluids you can take in each day are directly related to the amount of urine your body can produce, so it is different for each patient.

Stick to Low Fat

• A low-fat diet is imperative, due to the body's inability to effectively rid itself of wastes. Refusing to follow a diet low in fat can lead to serious heart problems, including heart attack and heart disease. Daily caloric intake should also be monitored to ensure healthy eating.

Use of Supplements

• Many dialysis patients take vitamins and supplements to assist the body in staying healthy. Water-soluble supplements are ineffective because they are lost during dialysis treatments. Calcium supplements are often given to bind to and remove phosphorous in the blood, as the machines cannot remove the mineral. Other supplements will be administered on an individual basis, depending on nutrient levels in the body at a given time.