If your doctor has diagnosed you with kidney failure, you probably know you'll need to make some changes to your diet. Kidney failure patients must carefully watch their intake of specific nutrients, including protein and salt, since too much of these nutrients can cause health problems. Because you may have other conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, along with kidney failure, there's no "one diet fits all" approach for kidney failure patients. Instead, your physician and dietitian will develop a personalized plan that suits your particular medical circumstances.
Low-Protein Diet
Your kidneys help to remove urea, a waste product of protein digestion, from your blood. As a kidney failure patient, if you eat too much protein you risk having too much urea build up in your body, according to NYU Langone Medical Center. High-protein foods include animal products such as meats, eggs and dairy, whole grains, beans, nuts and certain vegetables such as spinach. Ask your doctor how much protein you should eat each day. Spread out the protein throughout the day, instead of eating most of it at one meal.
Low-phosphorus/Low-potassium Diet
Potassium helps your heart beat properly, but too much potassium in your blood stream can lead to heart irregularities, according to the Medical College of Wisconsin. Phosphorus helps you build healthy bones, but too much can lead to skin problems and joint pain. Since the kidneys regulate the levels of both of these nutrients, you'll need to cut back on them if you have kidney failure. Foods that contain significant amounts of phosphorus include cola drinks, ice cream, beer and nuts; avoid these or limit them. Meanwhile, foods that contain plenty of potassium include bananas, oranges, potatoes and coffee, so limit those as well.
Low-sodium Diet
Kidney failure patients risk collecting too much fluid in their tissues because they can't adequately filter it out. That can lead to swelling and discomfort. Since sodium -- the salt found in your salt shaker and in many processed foods -- can make your body retain water, limit your salt as much as possible. Your doctor will tell you how much salt you can consume each day, so read food labels and keep track of your daily intake. In addition, purchase foods such as soups and canned vegetables that are labeled "low-salt" or "no salt added." Try herbs such as basil or garlic to season your food instead of salt.
Other Diet Alternatives
Since you may have other medical conditions that will impact your diet, your physician will add some additional diet guidelines. For example, if you have diabetes in addition to kidney disease, you may be advised to restrict sugar or to monitor your blood sugar levels; in this case, you'll need to keep track of the sweets you eat and potentially cut back. If you have high blood pressure or coronary artery disease, you may benefit from a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, which are found in animal products. However, people with high blood pressure often are told to increase their intake of potassium-containing foods, which would be dangerous for you as a kidney failure patient. Talking with a dietitian can help you determine what you can and can't eat when you have kidney failure in addition to other chronic conditions.
