More than 25 million Americans suffer from chronic kidney disease, and some 360,000 undergo regular dialysis treatment, according to the National Kidney Foundation. Although the disease is irreversible, a special diet while you're on dialysis can help improve your quality of life, extend lifespan and limit how often you need dialysis. A report put together by the National Kidney Foundation concluded that diet was one of the most important treatments for those with kidney disease, especially for those on dialysis.
Sodium
In a August 2001 paper published in the journal "Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation," Dr. Charles Tomson of Great Britain's Southmead Hospital said that sodium restriction is a crucially important aspect of a dialysis diet. High levels of sodium can cause high blood pressure and fluid retention. Those on dialysis don't have kidneys that can effectively filter out sodium.
While table salt is the most recognizable source of sodium, foods with the highest levels of sodium aren't always easy to spot. Canned, processed and frozen foods tend to have massive amounts of sodium. The Mayo Clinic reports that 77 percent of Americans' sodium intake comes from processed and prepared foods.
Protein
Because dialysis stresses the body and filters out proteins, a dialysis diet should be high in protein.
High-quality, low-phosphorus protein sources are ideal for those on dialysis. They include cottage cheese, beef, pork and fish.
Phosphorus
Limiting dietary phosphorus is particularly important for those on dialysis, as dialysis isn't effective at filtering excess phosphorus from the blood. Cutting down on phosphorus, however, can be a challenge. The Mayo Clinic says, "Nearly every food contains some phosphorus, so you can't eliminate all phosphorus from your diet." But by limiting your consumption of dairy, beans, whole grains, soda and starchy vegetables, you can make a dent.
Fluid
If you're on dialysis, it's important to keep fluid intake to a minimum to avoid the hypertension, headaches and muscle cramps that accompany fluid accumulation between dialysis sessions. The best way to figure out your ideal fluid intake is to take note of how much weight you gain between dialysis sessions and adjust how much you drink to keep your weight gain minimal. Remember that it's not just water that counts as fluid. Include soda, coffee, ice pops and ice cream.
Registered Dietitian
Because there are so many factors to consider on a dialysis diet, it may be a good idea to meet with a registered dietitian. A dietitian can help you plan your meals, teach you more about dialysis and kidney disease and make sure that you're meeting your treatment goals.
Food
Just because a dialysis diet has certain limitations doesn't mean that you won't be able to enjoy a meal ever again. Most foods that should be avoided or limited on a dialysis diet can be substituted with something similar. For example, if you're craving fruit, apricots aren't the best choice because they're high in phosphorus. But you can have a low-phosphorus choice, such as an apple.
