When you have kidney disease, your kidneys are no longer able to filter your blood as well as they once did. If your kidney function becomes impaired to where you experience extreme adverse effects, your physician may recommend hemodialysis. This treatment involves using a machine to filter your blood when your kidneys cannot. Your physician may recommend a regulated diet to ensure you are getting enough nutrients in your daily diet without overconsuming minerals the kidneys typically filter.
Water-Containing Foods
Controlling fluid release and absorption is one of the main functions of the kidneys. While you may be watching your fluid intake between dialysis sessions, don't neglect monitoring your intake of water-containing foods. Many fruits like watermelons, cantaloupes, honeydew melon, apples, grapes and oranges are high in water. Lettuce and celery also contain water that can add to your fluid intake. Limit your consumption of these foods, eating them only occasionally.
Sodium-Containing Foods
Sodium can affect the way your kidneys regulate fluids in your body. If you take in too much sodium and you are between dialysis sessions, your blood pressure can increase and you can become thirstier, which is problematic when you are working to avoid excess fluid intake. Start by refraining from adding sodium to your foods and look for foods labeled as low-sodium, sodium-free, unsalted or sodium reduced. Purchase foods that have less than 100 mg of sodium per serving and stick to suggested serving sizes. Avoid salt substitutes because they contain potassium, another mineral you should avoid when on dialysis.
Protein
Protein is another nutrient that is important when you have kidney disease and are on dialysis. Prior to dialysis, you were likely told to limit protein because your kidneys are responsible for filtering protein breakdown. When you begin dialysis, you can increase your protein intake. However, you should choose high-quality protein sources like meat, fish, poultry and eggs. These proteins produce less waste for the kidneys to filter. You may wish to avoid dairy protein sources because they are high in potassium and phosphorus, which the kidneys must also filter.
Potassium
Potassium is a mineral present in your blood that works with sodium to generate chemical reactions that produce energy. However, excess potassium in your diet when you have kidney disease can cause abnormal heartbeat, which can potentially lead to death. For this reason, it's important to limit high-potassium foods in your diet. These include avocados, kiwi fruit, bananas and dried fruits. Foods that are frozen or canned also tend to be higher in potassium and sodium and as such, you should avoid them.
