Dialysis diet and nutrition: eat and treat!

 Diet and nutrition are two important things a dialysis patient must consider. Food gives you energy and helps your body repair itself Your blood picks up nutrients from your food and carries them to all your body cells. These cells take nutrients from your blood and put waste products back into the bloodstream.
Good nutrition is the key to good health for everyone.

 It is especailly important for people with kidney disease. Even with the help of artificial kidney (dialysis), you cannot get rid of all the wastes and fluids that build up in your body from what you eat and drink. When your kidneys were healthy, they worked around the clock to remove wastes from your blood. 

Now that your kidneys have stopped working, Dialysis removes wastes from your blood, but between sessions, wastes can build up and make you sick. You can reduce the amount of wastes by watching what you eat and drink.

If you’re currently undergoing dialysis treatment and is concerned about diet and nutrition, I strongly recommend consulting with your Nephrologist and Renal Dietitian.

 A Nephrologist is a doctor that specializes on kidney diseases and a Renal Dietitian is a dietitian with special training in care for kidney health. They are the people that could help you with your diet concerns and it is imperative that you consult with them first before implementing a meal plan.

This is for the simple reason that every patient has a unique dietary need that should be considered first before proposing an appropriate meal plan.

It would also depend on your kidney’s remaining functions. A patient in the earlier stages of kidney failure would have a more restricted diet compared to those who are on the latter stages. This is because they’re already going through dialysis and the machines helps in eliminating excess waste. In my case, I was given a 50-gram protein/ day diet plan. Protein, being an essential mineral that your body needs and produces the most waste as well, will be your doctor’s primary consideration.

 "Yes! eat less salt, salt holds the water in our body."

 Along with other minerals like potassium, phosphorus, and calcium, this is where your diet would revolve.

With sensible food choices and smart eating habits, dialysis patients are more likely to stay healthy throughout their treatment. It also minimizes the need for hospitalization, if not totally eliminate it. Together with exercise, a patient has the means to keep kidney failure at bay. One only needs sensibility, discipline, and the determination to abide by the laws that govern their wellness.