The kidneys control the levels of fluid, electrolytes and minerals in the blood. These important organs also filter waste products from the blood. When kidney function declines, the kidneys are unable to maintain normal function. Several diets for renal patients help to reduce the levels of waste products in the blood and bring mineral and electrolyte levels within normal ranges.
Low-Sodium Diet
Damaged kidneys allow sodium and excess fluid to accumulate in the blood, making the heart work harder and increasing blood pressure. Reduced sodium intake helps people with kidney disorders maintain normal fluid levels in the blood vessels. Dr. Norman Kaplan and Barbara Olendzki, a registered dietitian and licensed dietitian nutritionist, report that a low-sodium diet consists of less than 2,000mg of sodium each day. Reduce your sodium intake by eating fresh fruits and vegetables, limiting processed foods and fast foods, replacing salt with herbs and spices that contain no sodium and avoiding canned soups, cured luncheon meats, canned vegetables and frozen meals with high levels of sodium.
Low-Potassium Diet
People with kidney disorders often have difficulty controlling blood potassium levels. When potassium levels get too high, slow pulse, irregular heartbeat, weakness, numbness and tingling, heart failure and sudden death can occur. Normal blood potassium levels range from 3.5 mEq/L (milliequivalents per liter) to 5.0 mEq/L, according to Davita, a company that provides kidney disease education, dialysis and vascular access services. A reduced-potassium diet helps keep blood potassium levels within this normal range. This diet involves avoiding high-potassium foods and replacing them with lower-potassium alternatives. High-potassium foods to avoid include avocados, mangoes, bananas, cantaloupe, oranges, pumpkin, potatoes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, milk, yogurt, chocolate, and seeds and nuts.
Low-Protein Diet
Eating high amounts of protein makes the kidneys work harder. Protein metabolism also creates waste products known as creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). When kidney function declines, these waste products build up in the blood. Peggy Harum, a registered dietitian writing for the American Association of Kidney Patients, indicates that patients with kidney disorders should reduce their protein intake to 0.6g of protein per kilogram of body weight each day. This means a 140-lb. person would eat 38.2g of protein each day. Reducing protein intake requires limiting foods that contain high levels of protein. These foods include red meat, poultry, nuts and dairy products.
Low-Phosphorus Diet
Since the kidneys control the levels of minerals and electrolytes in the blood, people with kidney damage may have difficulty controlling their phosphorus levels. This results in the need for a low-phosphorus diet. Patients on a low-phosphorus diet must decrease their intake of foods with high phosphorus levels, or substitute foods with a lower phosphorus content. High-phosphorus foods to limit include chocolate, ice cream, cola soft drinks and hard cheeses. Replace these high-phosphorus foods with hard candy, ice pops, sherbet, clear soft drinks and cream cheese.
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