About this topic
Watching what you eat is important if you have kidney disease. With this illness, your kidneys are not filtering blood as well as they should. You may have a buildup of some nutrients and waste products. Eating a special diet can help. ‚
General
Your body needs to balance the level of many things in your diet. Some of them are water, protein, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and sodium. You also have to have the right amount of calories, vitamins, and minerals to meet your body needs. Your doctor and dietitian can help find the best foods for you to eat. ‚
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What will the results be?
You can lower the stress on your kidneys by watching what you eat. You may have less bad effects. You may stay healthier for a longer time. ‚
What lifestyle changes are needed?
You will need to make changes in your diet to limit some nutrients. Keeping a daily food log may help you track what you eat. This can help you make better choices. Learn to read food labels with care. They will show you how much of each nutrient is in a serving. This amount is given as a percentage of the total amount you need each day. Reading the labels will help you make healthy food choices. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Lower your phosphate levels
- Lower your blood pressure
- Give you more nutrients
What changes to diet are needed?
Talk to your doctor or dietitian about your own diet plan. Let your doctor or dietitian know about special conditions that may change your diet. You may: ‚
- Be a vegetarian
- Need to control your blood sugar
- Have heart disease
You will need to limit sodium, potassium, phosphorus, protein, and fluid. ‚
- Sodium ¢ ˆ ’ Is a mineral in food and found in table salt. Salt is in most foods you eat. Extra is added to canned, frozen, and processed food. Too much sodium can make you keep extra fluids in your body. You can cut the sodium in your diet. Avoid high sodium foods and condiments. Also, do not add salt to foods while cooking or eating.
- Potassium ¢ ˆ ’ Is a mineral found in foods. It plays a major role in the work of your heart and muscles. The doctor will watch your potassium level closely. Too much or too little potassium is unsafe. You may have to limit or avoid high potassium foods.
- Phosphorus ¢ ˆ ’ Is a mineral found in all foods. It is filtered by your kidneys in most cases. If your blood has too much phosphorus, your body will try to get rid of it by soaking up calcium from your bones. This makes your bones weak. Your doctor may give you a drug to help your body get rid of the extra phosphate. You may also have to limit the amount that you eat.
- Protein ¢ ˆ ’ The building blocks of our body. You need this for repairing your body and for fighting infections. When protein is broken down, it makes waste products. In most cases, your kidneys get rid of these waste products. If you have kidney disease, your body cannot get rid of these waste products as well. You will have to limit your protein intake. Your dietitian will give you a suggested amount of daily protein.
- Fluids ¢ ˆ ’ Based on your stage of kidney disease, you may need to watch how much you drink. Too much fluid can cause your body to swell and also raise your blood pressure. You may need to limit your fluids. Ask your doctor if you need to limit fluids.
When is this diet used?
This diet is used for people who have kidney disease. This diet is for people who are not on dialysis. ‚
Who should not use this diet?
People who do not have kidney disease should not follow this diet. It is also not the right diet for you if you are on dialysis. ‚
What foods are good to eat?
Talk to your doctor and dietitian often. They will help you learn how much of each nutrient you may have in your diet. This will change as your kidney disease changes. It is important to get enough calories to maintain your weight. ‚
- Meats and proteins like: Beef, fish, poultry, pork, eggs
- Breads and grains like: Cereals, white pasta and bread
- Fruits like: Apples, berries, cherries, grapes, peaches, pears, pineapples, plums, watermelon
- Vegetables like: Broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce, peppers, radish, zucchini, yellow squash
What foods should be limited or avoided?
Limit or avoid eating these foods: ‚
- Breads and grains like: Whole wheat bread, brown rice, whole grains
- Fruits like: Oranges, kiwis, prunes, raisins, bananas, melons
- Vegetables like: Potatoes, tomatoes, winter squash, pumpkin, asparagus, avocados, beets, spinach, parsnips
- Spices and herbs like: Soy sauce, teriyaki sauce
- Dairy foods
- Processed foods
- High amounts of protein foods
- Other foods and drinks like: Chocolate, beer, nuts and peanut butter, canned foods, chips, restaurant foods, coffee, tea, dark colored soda
Will there be any other care needed?
You may need other care based on your condition. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Too much fluid
- High blood pressure
- Too much phosphorus or potassium
- Waste product build-up in your blood
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Burning or tingling in your legs or feet
- Confusion or a feeling of not knowing where you are
- Slurred speech
- Extreme sleepiness or feeling very weak
- A lot of unplanned weight gain or loss
- Upset stomach, throwing up, or loose stools that do not go away
- Swelling in your hands and feet
Helpful tips
- Choose a water bottle with markings for volume to keep track of your fluid intake.
- Make a menu in advance to help you carefully choose what to have in your diet.
- Keep a record of the food you eat. This will help you count the calories you are taking in.
- Eat less salty food to avoid thirst.
- Eat fresh foods.
- Use herbs and spices to put flavor in your food.
- Use nondairy creamers instead of milk to lower the amount of phosphorus in your diet.
Where can I learn more?
National Kidney Foundation ‚
http://www.kidney.org/atoz/pdf/nutri_chronic.pdf ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚