Chronic kidney disease affects 26 million American adults, according to the National Kidney Foundation. The disease affects your kidneys' ability to function properly and can lead to serious health conditions, such as malnutrition, anemia, nerve damage and weakened bones. High blood pressure and diabetes are the most common causes of chronic kidney disease. Treatment usually involves medication to treat the underlying conditions and a special diet to maintain a balance of fluid, minerals and electrolytes.
Diet
Your diet must contain enough calories, protein, vitamins and minerals for you to maintain or build muscle, prevent infection, achieve or attain a healthy body weight and keep your kidney disease from worsening. You also need to limit consumption of fluids and certain vitamins and minerals, according to the National Kidney Foundation.
Fluids
Fluid consumption may not need to be limited unless you are in the latter stages of chronic kidney disease or you require dialysis, to prevent fluid buildup in your body. Your physician can tell you how much fluid you should drink daily. Certain foods that contain water, such as lettuce, grapes, jello or soups, should be limited or avoided. Salty foods tend to make you drink more fluids, so limit or avoid such foods.
Sodium
Sodium affects the balance of fluid in the body as well as your blood pressure. Kidneys affected by infection or disease cannot regulate sodium properly, so your diet should contain limited amounts. Your physician can tell you how much sodium you should have. Limit foods such as table salt, onion or garlic salt, soy or teriyaki sauce, frozen dinners, processed meats like bacon, deli meats or ham, salty snack foods and fast food.
Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are primary source of potassium. Your body needs potassium for peak muscle and heart function. However, impaired kidney function can lead to potassium buildup, which can cause dangerous irregular heart rhythms. You may be advised to limit or avoid fruits such as bananas, nectarines, honeydew, oranges, dried fruits, kiwis, prunes and cantaloupe. Vegetables you may need to avoid or limit include potatoes, avocado, asparagus, pumpkin, winter squash and cooked spinach.
Dairy
Dairy products are excellent sources of calcium and protein, but they also contain phosphorus. Your kidneys cannot properly remove phosphorus when their function is compromised. Too much phosphorus can lead to excess phosphorus in your blood, which causes a drop in your blood calcium. You body will then get the calcium it needs from your bones, weakening them. Calcium may also build up in your heart and blood vessels, your joints, skin and muscle, leading to heart damage, skin ulcers, poor blood circulation and bone pain. You may need to limit or avoid foods such as ice cream, cheese, milk and pudding.
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