Why Dialysis Patients Need To Avoid Certain Foods

Dialysis is a life-saving procedure that performs some of the functions of the kidneys in people whose kidneys are in such poor shape that they can no longer support life. However, dialysis is not a complete solution. Between 2002 and 2007, the five-year survival rate of patients on dialysis was only 33.6 percent. Given the high mortality associated with this disease, diet and exercise take on a new importance.

Malnutrition

An article in the January, 2009 "Seminars in Nephrology" by N.J. Cano and a team of researchers reports that 20 to 60 percent of patients on hemodialysis are malnourished. While many factors are responsible for these figures, the large number of nutritious foods that patients must avoid because they are on dialysis is partially responsible. Accordingly, it is important that dialysis patients learn how to make the most of a highly restricted diet.

Low-Potassium Diet

Dialysis providers routinely advise patients to eat a low-potassium diet because their kidneys are no longer able to regulate the level of potassium in their blood. High levels of potassium can be true medical emergencies because they are associated with irregular heartbeats. Writing in the August, 2010 "American Journal of Kidney Disease," N. Nourri concludes that "higher dietary potassium intake is associated with increased death risk in long-term hemodialysis patients. Patients on dialysis can avoid this risk by eating high-potassium foods such as bananas, oranges, broccoli and tomatoes very sparingly.

Low-Potassium Tips

While potassium is almost everywhere, it isn't easy to tell a high-potassium food from a low-potassium one. Since the law does not require producers to list potassium content, many patients use the database provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Potassium can be removed from potatoes by cutting the potatoes into small pieces and soaking them for several hours in a volume of very hot water that is 10 times greater than the volume of the potatoes. Rinse the soaked potatoes well before cooking and boil them in a large volume of water.

Low-Phosphorus Diet

Dialysis patients also tend to have high levels of phosphorus. Like potassium, phosphorus is found in many otherwise healthy foods such as legumes, dairy products, bran and wheat germ. These foods need to be eaten sparingly because the high phosphorus content pulls calcium from the bone, causing permanent bone weakness.

Low-Phosphorus Tips

Nondairy creamer is an excellent substitute for making creamed soups and custard-type desserts. Replacing hard cheese with cream cheese and cola with ginger ale are effective ways to lower phosphorus.

Another strategy is to periodically eat less phosphorus than you normally would so that you can indulge in a very small portion of a high-phosphorus food like pizza. This practice helps people feel less deprived -- and more likely to eat sensibly.