For kidney disorders that severely impair kidney function, or that cause kidney failure, treatment with a dialysis protocol is imperative. Dialysis replaces the work of healthy kidneys by filtering your blood and removing waste products before returning the cleaned blood to your body. Without this treatment, waste and toxins build up in your blood and cause significant damage. While dialysis is a life-saving procedure, adhering to strict nutritional requirements will help keep you healthy between treatments.
Sodium and Fluids
Healthy kidneys filter excess fluids and electrolytes from your blood to be eliminated from your body through your urine. Kidney failure increases your risk for buildup of fluid that eventually becomes severe enough to stress your heart and raise your blood pressure. For this reason, fluid restriction helps prevent complications associated with profound water retention. You can control your thirst by closely monitoring the amount of sodium in your diet. Dietary salt makes you thirsty. Therefore, restricting sodium intake is the best way to control your thirst. When you are thirsty, drink only small amounts of fluid at a time, and stay within your dietitian's recommendations for an appropriate daily fluid allowance.
Phosphorus
Your body requires a balance of the mineral phosphorus and calcium to maintain healthy, strong bones. Impaired kidney function brings about an imbalance between phosphorus and calcium, the result of which is a phosphorus excess and a calcium deficit. In this situation, phosphorus begins to leach existing calcium from your bones, causing them to become weak. For this reason, it is important to avoid foods containing high amounts of phosphorus between dialysis treatments. Such foods include peanut butter, nuts, cheese, ice cream, cola, sardines, chicken and beef liver, and beer.
Protein
One byproduct of your body's breakdown of protein is urea. If your kidneys are not healthy enough to eliminate urea, a buildup of the substance occurs, which can make you feel very ill. This is why, as a kidney patient, you might be used to limiting the amount of protein you eat each day. However, once you begin dialysis treatment, eating 8 to 10 oz. of protein every day will help your body repair muscle and tissue damage and resist infection. Choosing high-quality sources of protein, such as that from poultry, fish, meat and egg whites, will produce less urea than protein from other sources.
Potassium
Found mainly in vegetables, fruits and milk, potassium is an important nutrient that plays a key role in several body processes, including the maintenance of a strong, steady heartbeat. When your kidneys are not functioning properly, however, potassium might build up to a level in your bloodstream high enough to cause your heart to begin beating irregularly. This is a complication that can be potentially fatal over time. To avoid this condition between dialysis treatments, avoid foods that are high in potassium, such as oranges, bananas, avocados, peanuts, spinach, potatoes and tomatoes. Other high-potassium foods include fresh pears, milk, clams, Brussels sprouts and apricots.
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