Why we need diet control?

In pre-dialysis patients, low dietary protein intake can reduce the production of nitrogen-containing wastes. In addition, it prevents rapid deterioration of renal function. However,  adequate protein intake is still essential to maintain good health and avoid malnutrition. Lacking sufficient dietary protein, pre-dialysis patients may become weak, arcopenic and prone to infection.

How to control protein intake?

Patients with advanced chronic kidney disease should take in approximately 0.6-0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight daily. Of that, two third or more should come from high quality sources such as soy beans, fish, pork, beef, lamb, and eggs.

How to control fluid intake?

1. Excess fluid in your body can result in edema, especially in your ankles and feet; further fluid accumulation could lead to pulmonary edema, congestive heart failure, and high blood pressure.
2. You have to control salt intake and avoid drinking too much beverages, water, soup, and rice porridge(congee).
3. If you feel intensely thirsty, you can hold an ice-cube in the mouth, rinse your mouth, or try chewing gum.

Salt restriction

1. When your kidneys do not fuction properly, excessive sodium forces your body to hold excessive fluid that is detrimental to your health. This can result in edema, high blood pressure, and congestive heart failure.
2. The foods including soy sauce, monosodium glutamate, and some condiment are rich in sodium and should be restricted in your diet. You can use sugar, rice vinegar, ginger, and pepper instead.
3. Avoid any pickled or sodium preserved food, such as canned food, sausage, chicken extract, or pickled cabbage.

Potassium restriction

1. For patients with renal failure, having too much potassium in the body can be a serious problem which may cause arrhythmia or even sudden death.
2. Leach high-potassium vegetable before cooking.
3. Avoid or restrict foods that are high in potassium, such as fruits, vegetables, milk, sports drinks.
4. Be very cautious about using low sodium salt because some of them contain excessivepotassium.

Phosphate restriction

Unhealthy kidneys may not be able to remove phosphorus from our blood and result in high phosphorus levels. This extra phosphorus may lead to renal osteodystrophy and skin itching. The foods containing high phosphorus must be restricted, such as mung beans, small red beans, grain, nuts and processed meat.

For more detailed diet control plan, we recommend  you to discuss with your dietician in chronic kidney disease education office next to the nephrology clinics.