If you have chronic kidney disease, good nutrition and diet play an important role in your treatment plan. Your diet recommendations will change based on the stage of your kidney disease. For those beginning dialysis treatment, watching what you eat is important in order to stay healthy. Here are some tips to keep you on track:
- Eat a high protein food at every meal. This includes meat, fish, poultry, fresh pork or eggs.
- Choose foods that are lower in potassium and phosphorus.
- Avoid peanut butter, nuts, seeds, dried beans and lentils. Even though these are high in protein, they are also high in potassium and phosphorous.
- Use less salt and eat fewer salty foods. This may help to control blood pressure and reduce fluid weight gains between dialysis sessions.
- Use herbs, and spices and seasonings without salt in place of salt.
- Avoid salt substitutes made with potassium.
- Avoid whole grain and high-fiber foods such as whole wheat bread, bran cereal and brown rice to help limit your intake of phosphorous.
- Limit your intake of milk, yogurt and cheese. These are very high in phosphorus. Limiting dairy-based foods protects your bones and blood vessels.
- All fruits have some potassium. Limiting potassium protects your heart. Choose apples and berries over oranges and bananas.
- All vegetables have some potassium. Choose green beans and cabbage over potatoes and broccoli.