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A Guide to Kidney Disease
Dietary Advice For Kidney Patients

Dietary Advice For Kidney Patients

Dietary treatment is an important aspect of care for all patients with kidney disease. It is necessary to meet with your dietician to
discuss individual needs for your renal diet.

The following information will give you an overview of a renal diet, prior to dialysis, and also what to expect when you commence
dialysis. You will be informed by the dietician when it is necessary to commence this diet. All patients have different dietary needs, so it
is important to start this diet only under the guidance of the dietician.

A healthy balanced diet contains correct amounts of protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins and minerals. It is important that your diet is
balanced and varied to keep you in optimum health.

Some of the main functions of the kidney that relate to the diet include:
● Excretion of waste products;
● Control of fluid volume in the body;
● Control of blood pressure.

When food and drinks are consumed, our bodies use what is needed and the rest is turned into waste products which can be excreted
as urine. When your kidneys are not working properly, these waste products can build-up in your blood and cause complications, which
will be discussed in the following sections.
 Foods to enjoy.

Foods to avoid.

SALT

Salt is an important aspect of dietary treatment at all stages of your kidney disease. High intake of salt, from the diet, can cause
problems with blood pressure control and fluid retention. It is advised to avoid adding any salt to meals and also to reduce the intake of
very salty foods such as processed meats, bacon, sausages, soup and packet sauces. Your dietician will advise you on suitable
alternatives to using salt.

PROTEIN

Protein intake from the diet is important during the progression of chronic kidney disease and also when you commence dialysis. The
protein we eat is used for tissue repair and growth. Any unused protein is broken down into waste products, including urea and
creatinine. As your kidneys are unable to excrete urea and creatinine properly, they build up in your blood and cause symptoms such
as nausea and loss of appetite.
By eating large amounts of protein foods e.g. meat, fish, chicken, eggs, cheese, milk and yoghurt before commencing dialysis, you will
affect the buildup of urea and creatinine in your blood. An appropriate daily intake of protein should be advised by your dietician.

However, once dialysis treatment has commenced it is important to make sure that your body is getting
enough protein to prevent malnutrition. Some of your stores of protein are lost during the haemodialysis
and CAPD sessions. How much protein you need depends on your body size and is specific to each individual.

PHOSPHATE

Phosphate is another mineral found in many foods, mainly meat and dairy products such as milk, cheese, yoghurts, and also bran nuts
and cola. Calcium and phosphate work together to keep your bones, teeth and blood vessels healthy. When phosphate and calcium
levels are elevated, or out of balance in kidney disease, the extra calcium and phosphate join together to form hard deposits in your
body. This is known as calcification. These deposits can form in the heart, lungs, blood vessels, joints and other soft tissue. High
phosphate levels also affect your bones, causing kidney bone disease. Over time bones become brittle, weak and painful and liable to
fracture easily.

As with potassium, an elevated phosphate level will require you to reduce the intake of phosphate from your diet. It may also be
necessary to take phosphate binding substances with your food to reduce the absorption of phosphate from the gut.

POTASSIUM

Potassium is a mineral found in many foods, mainly fruits, vegetables and

potatoes. It is necessary for muscle contractions but a very high level in the blood
can be dangerous as it may cause irregular heart rythym. If your potassium levels
increase, above normal, you will need to avoid certain foods that are high in
potassium as advised by your dietician. High sources of potassium in the diet
include bananas, dried fruit, peas, beans, spinach and potato products such as
chips and crisps. The dialysis diet provides enough potassium to meet the needs of
your body, while preventing accumulation between dialysis sessions.

FLUIDS

If you are treated with haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis you may need to limit
your fluid intake. The amount of fluid you will be allowed depends on the amount of
urine you produce. You can reduce your fluid intake by using small cups/glasses,
and spacing out your drinks throughout the day. You can also help prevent thirst by limiting the amount of salt and salty foods that you
eat.

Each person, with kidney disease, is very different and so are their needs and requirements. The dietary advice you are given depends
on a number of factors including the stage of kidney disease, the type of treatment you are on, your blood results, your body weight,
and the presence of other medical conditions e.g. diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol levels. The dietician will, therefore, provide you
with information that is designed for you as an individual to suit your own specific needs.

GUIDE TO SUITABLE FOODS TO USE WITHIN YOUR RENAL DIET:

Foods Low in Potassium Foods High in Potassium

✓ Apples, pears, plums, ✖ Banana, dried fruit, prunes,

mandarins, grapes apricot,

✓ Kiwi, peach ✖ Rhubarb

✓ Cauliflower, peppers, carrots, ✖ Peas, beans, mushrooms,

broccoli spinach, beetroot

✓ Cabbage, green beans, turnip ✖ Salt substitutes

✓ Boiled/mashed potato, rice, ✖ Jacket/chipped/roast potato
pasta

✓ Spirits, white wine, boiled ✖ Beer, stout, red wine, chocolate,
sweets coffee

Foods Lower in Phosphate Foods High in Phosphate

✓ Ask your dietician about milk ✖ Milk, yoghurt,

alternatives cheese

✓ Porridge, Weetabix, Cornflakes, ✖ Bran cereals, peas, beans,

tea corn, nuts

✓ Marshmallows, jellies, boiled ✖ Toffee, cola, chocolate

sweets

Foods to ENJOY Foods to AVOID

✓ Pepper, herbs, garlic, mustard, ✖ Salt, stock cubes, soup
lemon

✓ Home-made stock ✖ Salted snacks

✓ Chicken, lamb, pork, beef, eggs ✖ Bacon, sausage, black & white
pudding

✓ Fish (excluding smoked fish) ✖ Processed meats

Breakfast

✓ Boiled/poached/fried eggs ✖ Bacon, sausage, black & white

pudding

✓ Plain omelette, bagel, English ✖ Salt substitutes

muffin

✓ Croissant, french toast, porridge ✖ Bran cereals, muesli

✓ Cereals (excluding bran cereal &

muesli)

Sandwich Ideas

✓ Turkey and cranberry sauce ✖ Ham, cornbeef,

salami

✓ Roast beef & mustard ✖ Cheese

✓ Egg mayonnaise, chicken, tinned

salmon (no bones)

Main Course

✓ Ask for sauces/gravy to be served ✖ Casseroles, cured or

Casseroles, cured or salted meats on the side salted
and use sparingly. meats

✓ Roast/grilled pork/lamb/beef

Chicken/turkey or fish

Side Orders

✓ Green beans, cabbage, ✖ Spinach, mushrooms, peas,

asparagus corn

✓ Carrots, cauliflower, broccoli ✖ Chipped/jacket potato

✓ Plain rice, pasta, noodles,

couscous

Dessert

✓ Canned peaches, pears, fruit ✖ Dried fruit, fresh fruit cocktail,
cocktail melon

✓ Fresh grapes, fresh & canned ✖ Banana, orange

pineapple

✓ Jelly, plain and cream cakes, ✖ Desserts with chocolate, nuts,
apple tart dried fruit

✓ Sherbet, sorbet, plain biscuits, ✖ Coconut, milk pudding, ice cream
Pavlova

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