Sodium is a mineral that is necessary for the body to function properly. It chiefly serves to regulate blood pressure and blood volume. Healthy kidneys tightly control the amount of sodium in the body by reabsorbing or eliminating it in the urine. However, when kidneys fail, the body can no longer regulate it and there is a risk of accumulation. Patients on dialysis must limit dietary sodium intake.
Recommendations
Not only does excess sodium intake adversely affect blood pressure, it also causes thirst. This is a problem because dialysis patients need to limit fluid intake. A high intake of sodium generally cause you to drink more, which leads to excessive amounts of fluid gain between dialysis treatments. The National Kidney Foundation recommends limiting sodium intake to 2,000 mg per day while on dialysis. This can be a challenge since the typical American consumes about 3,400 mg per day.
Eliminating Salt
The most simple step to reducing sodium intake is to eliminate added salt in cooking and at the table. Just one teaspoon of table salt contains 2,325 mg of sodium, which is greater than the daily recommended amount for dialysis patients. However, table salt accounts for only a small portion of dietary sodium intake. Most sodium comes from processed foods and packaged foods.
Processed Foods
Sodium occurs naturally in small amounts in food, but sodium is also added as a preservative to processed foods -- sometimes in very large amounts. Canned soups, frozen dinners, processed or cured meats, deli meats, canned vegetables, and pizza are examples of foods that are often very high in sodium. In addition, fast food generally contains a lot of sodium. You can significantly reduce the amount of sodium in your diet by choosing fresh food as often as possible.
Condiments and Seasonings
Another significant source of sodium in the diet is from condiments and seasonings. Ketchup, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, pickles, barbecue sauce and salad dressing all add a significant amount of sodium to food. It is best to use these items sparingly. When dining out, always ask for sauces on the side so that you can limit the amount you use. Find ways to add flavor to your food without adding sodium such as with lemon juice, natural herbs and spices, or salt-free seasoning blends.
References
- MedlinePlus; Sodium in Diet; May 2010
- "Nutrition Care in Kidney Disease"; Laura Byham-Gray, Ph.D., R.D., C.N.S.D. and Karen Wiesen, M.S., R.D.; 2004
- "American Journal of Kidney Disease"; NKF K/DOQI Clinical Practice Guidelines for Nutrition Care in Chronic Renal Failure; 2000
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