If you're suffering from end-stage renal disease, your kidneys have stopped working well enough for you to live without either dialysis or a kidney transplant. It's vital to eat a special diet to deal with end-stage renal disease, since your body can no longer process chemicals from your food the way it did when your kidneys worked well.
High-Iron Foods
You'll probably need extra iron in your diet, notes the National Institutes of Health, since end-stage renal disease often increases the body's need for iron. Good dietary sources of iron include beans, poultry, meat, and cereals that have been fortified with iron. It is advisable to talk with your doctor concerning just how much extra iron you may need. Since many iron-rich foods also contain lots of protein, it's important to discuss your protein needs with your doctor or nurse, as well. Before you start dialysis, you'll probably need to limit the amount of protein you consume to about 1 g of protein per kg of body weight each day, reports the National Institutes of Health, but after you begin dialysis, you'll likely need to increase your protein intake to 8 to 10 oz. of high-protein foods per day.
Low-Potassium Foods
When your kidneys don't work well anymore, too much potassium can build up in your blood, causing your heart to beat irregularly or even stop beating completely, cautions the National Institutes of Health. So it's crucial to limit the amount of potassium you consume. Potassium is found mostly in fruits and vegetables, but eating produce is important to your body's overall health and some fruits and vegetables contain far less potassium than others. The National Kidney Foundation recommends eating two to three ½-cup servings of low-potassium fruits, like apples, grapes, berries, cherries, peaches and pears, daily. Low-potassium vegetables include cabbage, green beans, broccoli, onions, carrots, cucumbers and all types of peppers, and the recommended daily amount is the same as for fruit -- two to three ½-cup servings.
Low-Phosphorous Foods
Your blood levels of the mineral phosphorous can easily become too high when you have end-stage renal disease and this can lead to weakening of your bones. You can limit how much phosphorus you consume by eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, since they're all low in phosphorous; however, it's important to remember that they're also high in potassium. Milk and most dairy foods are very high in phosphorous, but some lower-phosphorous foods include cream cheese, margarine and sherbet. It is advisable to discuss low phosphorous foods your doctor.
