Does this sound familiar?

First, it's important to limit your intake of potassium and phosphorus. You can find these minerals in foods like bananas, potatoes, and beans. While they're healthy in moderation, too much can be dangerous for people on dialysis.

Second, here are four lists of foods that are

• • • • high in potassium
      • high in phosphorus
      • low in potassium
      • low in phosphorus

Third, you'll need to be careful with your fluid intake. Too much can cause problems with your dialysis treatment, so it's important to talk to your doctor about how much is right for you.

Fourth, you’ll need to avoid processed foods.

Finally, remember that a healthy diet is still a important part of staying healthy on dialysis. Eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can help you feel your best.

This is the kind of information I was given when I had to start dialysis.  It is good and valid information as far as it goes, but in my mind, it does not go nearly far enough.  These are just guidelines, not “how to” instructions.

So, I took the information I was given and immediately thought that if a food was “high” in either potassium or phosphorus that I could not eat it.

I also believed that if a food item was “low” in both phosphorus and potassium that I could eat all that I wanted.

Then I discovered some foods that were “low” on one list, but “high” on another list!  What the heck do I do?  Can I eat it or not?

Starting a renal diet can be daunting, but it's not as hard as it seems. With a little planning and some help from your loved ones, you'll be on your way to eating healthy and managing your kidney disease.

Kidney-Friendly Eating: A 5-Step Guide

1. Get your daily dietary budget from your dietitian.
   You need to know exactly how many milligrams of phosphorus, potassium, and sodium you can have each day. The amount will depend on what stage of kidney failure you are at.
2. Get a food scale
   So you can accurately measure the amount of food you're eating.
3. Portion Control
   Count nutrients like they were calories. As long as you stay within your budget (and don’t eat too much at once!), you will be able to eat most anything you want.
4. Track Your Diet
   By staying within your budget and writing down everything you eat and drink each day, your doctor can adjust your dialysis to your diet.
5. Show It To Your Doctor
   Showing it to your doctor will gain you his or her trust and…
   You will gain your doctor’s respect. He or she will be much more willing to listen to and work with you.

How Do I Know How Much Of Each Nutrient Is In My Food?

If you liked this article, you'll LOVE this amazing book I published recently. It's titled “Essential Kidney Diet Skills Every Dialyzor Needs To Know” and you can grab it for here: https://EssentialKidneyDietSkills.com. It explains all the details you need and how to implement them.  The sooner you implement, the sooner you will feel better! 🙂