Foods high in sodium can make you very thirsty. Excess sodium may also increase blood pressure and contribute to fluid retention. For people on dialysis these are two reasons sodium is limited in the dialysis diet. For those with kidney failure, fluids are limited in their diets. Because kidneys are no longer able to remove fluids from the body, doctors will recommend how much fluid can be in the dialysis diet. In order to stick to the fluid restriction, sodium is limited to also limit thirst. Too much sodium has also been shown to increase blood pressure. Since most people with kidney disease have to take blood pressure medicine, limiting sodium is also recommended to help control blood pressure. Fluid overload related to eating too much sodium can make dialysis treatments uncomfortable because when too much fluid is attempted to be removed, blood pressure can drop causing cramps and an overall washed out feeling.   Examples of high sodium foods to limit or avoid are frozen dinners; cured or processed meats, like ham, bologna, hot dogs, bacon and sausage; processed cheese; instant or canned soups; foods in a brine like pickles and olives; foods with salt on top, like chips, pretzels and crackers; and commercial rice and pasta mixes.

For people on dialysis too much phosphorus can harm their hearts and make bones weak. Excess phosphorus is normally removed by working kidneys through urine. However, for those with kidney failure, they are no longer able to remove phosphorus and it builds up in their blood stream. Dialysis helps remove some of the phosphorus, but the key to keeping phosphorus normal is to limit how much is consumed. In addition to eating low-phosphorus foods, phosphorus binders are prescribed.  “Binders” act like sponges to keep phosphorus out of the blood.

Unlike other medicines, phosphorus binders work in the stomach and GI (gastrointestinal) track to absorb phosphorus before it can go into the blood. To be effective, binders need to be taken at the same time meals (and phosphorus containing snacks) are eaten.Examples of binders are Tums, Phoslo, Renagel and Fosrenol.

People on dialysis and those with chronic kidney disease who are not yet on dialysis  are usually given a special diet to eat. Many foods are limited on the diet, especially foods that are high in phosphorus, potassium and sodium. However, there are many foods that are okay to eat on the dialysis and pre-dialysis diet. Eating a variety of foods from the recommended food list helps a person get the vitamins and minerals needed to maintain health. A source of protein should be included at each meal. Protein intake is limited in the pre-dialysis diet, but still important for good health. Those on the dialysis diet will need to increase their protein intake. Good sources of protein for dialysis patients are eggs, meat, fish and poultry.Patients will receive information about their nutritional needs from their doctors and renal dietitians. Getting enough nutrition is important to helping the body stay healthy. Even though the kidney diet limits many foods there are still nutritious foods to choose from. Try new foods on your food list to help add variety to your diet. When it comes to good nutrition, variety is not only the spice of life; it’s essential for life.