Sometimes patients wonder how important it is to adhere to a specific diet plan during dialysis. The answer we give in these cases is that smart and healthy choices are very important. A healthy diet is your ally during dialysis and your weapon to safeguard your overall health.
Therefore, dialysis patients are advised to follow a specific diet plan. We understand that this can often sound difficult to achieve, but the team of doctors that monitors the patient, assesses his health needs, the frequency of dialysis as well as the duration of each session and then formulates a personalized diet plan, which very naturally fits into their daily schedule.
What are the diet rules I should follow?
1. Eat high quality protein
During hemodialysis, not only waste substances are eliminated from our body, but also proteins that are in our blood. For this reason, we recommend consuming foods with high protein quality, such as lean meats, poultry, fish and eggs. Protein is quite important for our health as it strengthens the muscles but also strengthens our immune system. Therefore, it would be particularly beneficial to your health if you incorporated the above dietary choices into your daily meals and snacks.
2. Limit the intake of foods with a high potassium content
Potassium is a mineral that can accumulate in the blood when renal function is impaired, leading to complications such as irregular heartbeats. For this reason, we recommend limiting the consumption of potassium-rich foods, such as fruits and vegetables.
3. Limit intake of foods with high phosphorus content
In patients with renal insufficiency, the kidneys are unable to effectively remove excess phosphorus from the blood. This results in increased levels in the body, then causing the production of parathyroid hormone, which can lead to hyperparathyroidism. This condition can further exacerbate bone loss, disrupt the mineral balance in the blood, and contribute to cardiovascular complications. Also, excess phosphorus in the blood affects bones, vessels, heart, skin, and muscles.
For this reason, foods rich in phosphorus such as dairy, legumes, cereals, sausages and processed foods with phosphate additives are recommended to be restricted.
4. Limit liquid-rich foods
Excessive fluid intake beyond the recommended level can lead to pulmonary edema, which can have serious complications. To help manage thirst, patients are advised to limit their consumption of salty foods, as salt can enhance the feeling of thirst.
The Euronephros medical team works closely with you to develop a diet plan that meets your health needs and guides you on the right portion size and amount of water to consume.
How do I benefit from adhering to a specific diet plan?
A proper diet plan helps you manage the levels of certain nutrients and electrolytes in your body, while reducing the workload on your kidneys. A proper diet usually includes, as mentioned above, limiting foods that are high in sodium, potassium and phosphorus, as well as controlling the number of fluids you ingest. Adhering to this diet helps you balance the amounts of water your body ingests, control your blood pressure, shield your bone health, and reduce your kidney workload, slowing the progression of kidney damage.
This favors the effectiveness of your dialysis treatment, boosts your energy and improves your overall health. Euronephros provides comprehensive nutritional counseling and support to help you manage these dietary changes and achieve the best possible results.
