Renal disease, or kidney disease, occurs when your kidneys can no longer eliminate wastes from your body, according to Drugs.com. Much of the waste that needs to be eliminated comes from the foods you eat and the liquids you drink. Along with certain medications, those with renal disease are usually placed on a diet that limits sodium, phosphorus and potassium, and sometimes fluid, in the diet. This helps prevent volume overload and buildup of wastes in the body. Individuals may be given daily goals for such nutrients, depending on their stages of kidney disease.
Sodium
Individuals with kidney disease should restrict sodium intake to less than 2,000 mg a day, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Too much salt can cause water retention. Those with severe kidney failure may also need the aid of a diuretic medication to help eliminate excess fluid from the body, as their the kidneys may no longer be able to remove enough fluid.
Phosphorus
The Cleveland Clinic recommends that individuals with kidney disease consume no more than 600 to 800 mg of phosphorus each day. Phosphorus helps build strong bones and aids in the metabolism of foods. However, those with kidney disease cannot filter out excess phosphorus, so it builds up in the body and can cause itching, low calcium and calcium deposits, and phosphorus to form in tissues and blood vessels, according to the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. Those with kidney disease should restrict their intake of foods high in phosphorus, such as dairy products, liver, legumes, nuts, and soft drinks, with the exception of clear sodas and root beer. Milk should be limited to one cup a day. Individuals with kidney disease may also be given prescription drugs called phosphate binders that aid in removing excess phosphorus from the body.
Potassium
Potassium aids with muscle movement and balancing the amount of water in the body. Those with kidney disease are unable to excrete excess potassium from the blood, and therefore may suffer from hyperkalemia, or high blood potassium. This can increase the risk of abnormal heart rhythms and cardiac arrest, according to the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. Individuals with kidney disease should limit their potassium intake to 1,500 to 2,700 mg a day, depending on the stage of the disease, according to the Cleveland Clinic. They should avoid high potassium foods, such as oranges and orange juice, dried fruit, bananas, potatoes, avocado, tomatoes and tomato products, and cooked spinach. In addition, individuals with chronic kidney disease should avoid salt substitutes that contain high levels of potassium. Apples, pears, blueberries, cabbage, cucumber, lettuce, green peppers, and green beans are low in potassium.
Other Nutritional Goals
Other nutritional recommendations for those with kidney disease, include restricting fluid intake as recommended by a health care provider. Limiting fluid will help prevent the sodium concentration in the blood from getting too low, ensuring adequate protein intake within dietary restrictions to help maintain lean body mass and strength, and ensuring adequate iron intake to prevent anemia. Calcium supplementation may be needed for those who have low calcium levels as a result of high phosphorus. Those with diabetes and high triglycerides will need to control carbohydrate and fat intake to prevent further health complications.
