Eat Right to Feel Right on Hemodialysis
Many foods contain water.
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Talk With a Dietitian
Make a food plan that reduces the potassium in your diet. Start by noting the high-potassium foods (below) that you now eat. A dietitian can help you add other foods to the list.
High-Potassium Foods:
apricots
avocados
bananas
beets
Brussels sprouts
cantaloupe
clams
dates
figs | kiwi fruit
lima beans
melons
milk
nectarines
orange juice
oranges
peanuts
pears (fresh) | potatoes
prune juice
prunes
raisins
sardines
spinach
tomatoes
winter squash
yogurt |
Others:______________________________________
Changes:
Talk with a dietitian about foods you can eat instead of high-potassium foods.
Instead of _________, I will eat _________.
Instead of _________, I will eat _________.
Instead of _________, I will eat _________.
Instead of _________, I will eat _________.
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What do I need to know about phosphorus?
Phosphorus is a mineral found in many foods. If you have too much phosphorus in your blood, it pulls calcium from your bones. Losing calcium will make your bones weak and likely to break. Also, too much phosphorus may make your skin itch. Foods like milk and cheese, dried beans, peas, colas, nuts, and peanut butter are high in phosphorus. Usually, people on dialysis are limited to 1/2 cup of milk per day. The renal dietitian will give you more specific information regarding phosphorus.
You probably will need to take a phosphate binder like Renagel, PhosLo, Tums, or calcium carbonate to control the phosphorus in your blood between dialysis sessions. These medications act like sponges to soak up, or bind, phosphorus while it is in the stomach. Because it is bound, the phosphorus does not get into the blood. Instead, it is passed out of the body in the stool.
Taking a phosphate binder helps control phosphorus in your blood.
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What do I need to know about protein?
Before you were on dialysis, your doctor may have told you to follow a low-protein diet. Being on dialysis changes this. Most people on dialysis are encouraged to eat as much high-quality protein as they can. Protein helps you keep muscle and repair tissue. The better nourished you are, the healthier you will be. You will also have greater resistance to infection and recover from surgery more quickly.
Your body breaks protein down into a waste product called urea. If urea builds up in your blood, it’s a sign you have become very sick. Eating mostly high-quality proteins is important because they produce less waste than others. High-quality proteins come from meat, fish, poultry, and eggs (especially egg whites).
Poultry and fish, like broiled flounder, are good sources of high-quality protein.
Talk With a Dietitian
Meat, fish, and chicken are good sources of protein. Talk with a dietitian about the meats you eat.
I will eat ______ servings of meat each day. A regular serving size is 3 ounces. This is about the size of the palm of your hand or a deck of cards.
Try to choose lean (low-fat) meats that are also low in phosphorus. If you are a vegetarian, ask about other ways to get your protein.
Low-fat milk is a good source of protein. But milk is high in phosphorus and potassium. And milk adds to your fluid intake. Talk with a dietitian to see if milk fits into your food plan.
I (will) (will not) drink milk. I will drink ______ cup(s) of milk a day.
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What do I need to know about sodium?
Sodium is found in salt and other foods. Most canned foods and frozen dinners contain large amounts of sodium. Too much sodium makes you thirsty. But if you drink more fluid, your heart has to work harder to pump the fluid through your body. Over time, this can cause high blood pressure and congestive heart failure.
Try to eat fresh foods that are naturally low in sodium. Look for products labeled low sodium.
Do not use salt substitutes because they contain potassium. Talk with a dietitian about spices you can use to flavor your food. The dietitian can help you find spice blends without sodium or potassium.
Find new ways to spice up your food.
Talk With a Dietitian
Talk with a dietitian about spices and other healthy foods you can use to flavor your diet. List them on the lines below.
Spice: _____________________________
Spice: _____________________________
Spice: _____________________________
Food: _____________________________
Food: _____________________________
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What do I need to know about calories?
Calories provide energy for your body. If your doctor recommends it, you may need to cut down on the calories you eat. A dietitian can help you plan ways to cut calories in the best possible way.
Some people on dialysis need to gain weight. You may need to find ways to add calories to your diet. Vegetable oils—like olive oil, canola oil, and safflower oil—are good sources of calories. Use them generously on breads, rice, and noodles.
Butter and margarines are rich in calories. But these fatty foods can also clog your arteries. Use them less often. Soft margarine that comes in a tub is better than stick margarine. Vegetable oils are the healthiest way to add fat to your diet if you need to gain weight.
Hard candy, sugar, honey, jam, and jelly provide calories and energy without clogging arteries or adding other things that your body does not need. If you have diabetes, be very careful about eating sweets. A dietitian’s guidance is very important for people with diabetes.
If you need to get extra calories, vegetable oils like these are a good choice.
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Should I take vitamins and minerals?
Take only the vitamins your doctor prescribes.
Vitamins and minerals may be missing from your diet because you have to avoid so many foods. Your doctor may prescribe a vitamin and mineral supplement like Nephrocaps.
Warning: Do not take vitamin supplements that you can buy off the store shelf. They may contain vitamins or minerals that are harmful to you.