If you are receiving hemodialysis treatments, your diet is an important part of your overall care.

Important points regarding the diet:

Getting the right amount of calories and protein Staying at a healthy body weight Sodium and fluids Phosphorus and calcium Potassium Vitamins and minerals Handling special diet needs Diabetes Vegetarian diets

Getting the Right Amount of Calories

Getting the right amount of calories is important to your Overall health and helps to give you energy to do the activities you enjoy. Calories come from all the foods you eat, and they are important because they:

Give your body energy

Help you stay at a healthy body weight

Help your body use protein for building muscles and tissues.

Getting the Right Amount of Protein

Before you started dialysis, you may have been on a low Protein diet to limit the amount of waste products in your Blood. When you begin dialysis, your diet should include more protein. Getting the right amount of protein Is important to your overall health and how well you feel.

Your body needs the right amount of protein for:

Building muscles Repairing tissue Fighting infections.

Protein-rich foods include:

Fresh meats Poultry (chicken and turkey) Fish and other seafood Eggs or egg whites Small servings of dairy products.

Sodium

Eating too much sodium can make you thirsty and cause your body to hold onto more fluid. The extra sodium and Fluid can cause: Swelling or puffiness around eyes, hands or feet Fluid weight gain Shortness of breath A rise in blood pressure More work for your heart.

Phosphorus and Calcium

Phosphorus is a mineral found in all foods. Large amounts of Phosphorus are found in: Dairy products such as milk, cheese, yogurt, Ice cream and pudding Nuts and peanut butter Dried beans and peas such as kidney beans, Split peas and lentils Beverages such as cocoa, beer and dark cola drinks. Eating foods high in phosphorus will raise the amount of Phosphorus in your blood.

Dialysis cannot remove all this Phosphorus. When phosphorus builds up in your blood, Calcium is pulled from the bones. Over time, your bones will become weak and break easily.

Calcium

Calcium is a mineral that is important for strong bones. However, foods that are good sources of calcium are Also high in phosphorus. The best ways to prevent loss of Calcium from your bones are to follow a diet that limits High-phosphorus foods and to take phosphate binders. A high level of phosphorus in your blood may also cause calcium phosphorus crystals to build up in your joints, muscles, skin, blood vessels and heart. These deposits may cause serious problems such as bone pain, Damage to the heart and other organs, poor blood circulation and skin ulcers.

Potassium

Potassium is another important mineral found in food. Potassium helps your muscles and heart work properly. Too much or too little potassium in the blood can be dangerous. With hemodialysis, you will probably need to limit your intake of high potassium foods. Your blood level of potassium will be checked every month and your dietitian will help you plan a diet that will give you the right amount of potassium from your foods.

Large amounts of potassium are found in certain fruits and vegetables

(like bananas, melons, oranges, potatoes, tomatoes, and some juices) milk and yogurt dried beans and peas most salt substitutes protein-rich foods such as meat, poultry, pork and fish

Vitamins and Minerals

Eating a wide variety of foods gives your body the vitamins and minerals it needs each day. In addition to a good diet