2. Why Nutrition?
• To keep healthy and well nourished.
• To prevent build-up of unwanted nutrients
and waste products.
• To help help slow the progression of kidney
disease.
3. Keeping Healthy is important!
• Well nourished people do better.
– Less chance of problems with dialysis.
– Improved ability to fight infection.
- Less time in hospital.
- You feel better.
4. If you are underweight…
• Eat small meals regularly.
• Make every mouthful count…
–Choose nutritious foods that are
energy dense.
–Make sure your drinks are nutritious.
• See a Dietitian.
5. If you are overweight…
• Your kidneys work harder if you are
overweight.
• Losing weight can help your kidneys work
as well as they can for as long as they
can.
• See a Dietitian.
6. The kidneys are your body’s waste
disposal unit
• Healthy kidneys remove waste
products from the bloodstream.
• In Chronic Kidney Disease…
– Waste products can build up in your blood.
– Some of these waste products come from the
food we eat eg potassium and phosphate.
– You may need to limit some foods.
7. Which nutrients to adjust..
• Protein
• Fluid
• Sodium
• Potassium
• Phosphorus
8. Protein
• Protein is found in red and white meats, fish,
eggs, dairy products and legumes.
• It’s important to have the right amount of protein
you need for growth, healing and fighting
infection.
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9. Fluid
• Excess fluid can cause:
– High blood pressure,
– Peripheral dema
– Pulmonary edema.
• Fluid is not just water.
– Count anything that is liquid at room
temperature.
• You should restrict the fluid according to the
amount of urine you are passing. You
should restrict the fluid according to the
amount of urine you are passing.
10. Sodium or Salt
• Most people eat too much salt.
• You don’t need to add salt to get too much salt.
– 75% of salt comes from processed foods.
– Corned, smoked, pickled and takeaway foods. Tinned and
packet soups, sauces.
• Too much salt causes fluid retention and increases
blood pressure.
• Restriction of fluids is not possible without restricting
salt.
11. Hints to cut down on Salt
• Salt is an acquired taste so you can change it
back to lower or no salt.
• Tips for low salt intake
– Limit processed foods,
– Limit takeaway foods,
– Avoid adding salt in cooking and at the table,
– Do not use Salt Substitutes.
12. Potassium
• Potassium is a mineral needed by the body to
make your muscles and cells work.
• High or Low blood levels of potassium can be
dangerous for your heart.
• Not everyone needs a low potassium diet.
– You will only need to start a low potassium
diet if your blood levels are high.
13. What does a low potassium diet
look like….?
• Potassium is found in a variety of
foods.
– not just bananas!
• Potassium is present in almost all fruits
and vegetables.
– Avoid fruits and vegetables having high
potassium.
• High potassium fruits: Bananas, oranges,
melon, mangoes, apricot, dates and dried fruit.
• High potassium vegetables: Potatoes, spinach,
cauliflower, tomatoes.
14. – All fruits and vegetables are high in potassium
if you eat large amounts.
– Boil all vegetables well or keep these
immersed in water for 2 hours and discard
water. This is necessary for high potassium
vegetables.
– Fruit juices should be avoided.
– Peel all fruits and vegetables
– Chop vegetables into small pieces.
15. Phosphate
• Phosphate is a mineral that is important for
strong bones and teeth.
• Phosphate levels are high in patients with
chronic kidney disease.
• High levels can weaken your bones and
damage your blood vessels.
• Phosphorus is present mainly in meat and
dairy products, but these are important
sources of proteins and cannot be avoided.
16. Treating a high Phosphate
• Phosphate binders
– Tablets that you take with meals.
– Act like a sponge to suck the phosphate out of your food
before you absorb it.
– Calcium containing – Calcium carbonate (Qalsan), calcium
phosphate (Lophos).
– Non-calcium containing – Sevelamer (Renavel).
• Low Phosphate Diet
– Not everyone needs a low phosphate diet.
– You will only need to start a low phosphate diet if your
blood levels are high.
17. What does a low Phosphate Diet
look like…?
• If you need a low Phosphate Diet, the
doctor/dietitian will check …
– If you are getting the right amount of protein and
dairy foods.
– If you are getting too many high phosphate foods,
particularly between meals.
e.g. chocolate, cola drinks, nuts and seeds, some
types of fish.
18. Everyone is different…
• Your kidney team will tell you if you need
to start a special diet.
• There is no need to avoid potassium or
phosphate foods unless your blood levels
are high.
19. Everyone is different…
• There is no one special diet for people
with renal disease.
• It all depends on…
– Your level of renal function.
– What your blood tests show.
– Amount of dialysis you are having.
