KidneySource - Your Nutritional Needs

Nutrition Is Important
With Reduced Kidney Function

Proper nutrition is especially important when you have reduced kidney function. You can actually help your kidneys work easier by limiting or adding certain foods to your diet!

What to Consider in a Renal Diet for Stage 3 or Stage 4 Chronic Kidney Disease

Research has shown that, by eating right and following a special diet as prescribed by your doctor or registered dietitian, you may be able to delay the need to go on dialysis.* Work closely with your health care professional to develop a diet that includes the intake of some or all of the following:

Sufficient Calories
If you don’t get enough calories every day, your body will break down muscle for energy, resulting in weight and muscle loss over time. To make sure you are getting enough calories, your doctor or registered dietitian may recommend increasing your intake of high-calorie, low-protein foods such as:
- Margarine and oils
- Honey
- Syrups
- Jams and jellies
- Hard candies
If you have diabetes and reduced kidney function, your registered dietitian can adjust amounts of fat and carbohydrates so your diet provides enough calories and still meets your needs.
Limited Protein
Foods that contain protein produce urea and other wastes when you digest them. Normally, your kidneys process these wastes and excrete them in your urine. With reduced kidney function, this excess protein places added stress on your kidneys. Following a low-protein diet may help slow down kidney damage and may delay the need for dialysis treatments.

Some protein is important in your diet, but it should be high-quality protein such as that found in:
- Eggs
- Fish
- Chicken
- Meat
High-quality protein provides balanced amounts of the essential amino acids needed to build, maintain and repair body tissue. The amount of protein recommended for you by your registered dietitian depends on your body size. A registered dietitian can tell you exactly how much protein and how many servings of high-protein foods you should have each day.
Reduced Potassium
The amount of potassium in your diet is usually not a problem in stage 3 or stage 4 of chronic kidney disease. However, as the condition progresses, you may need to reduce potassium intake. Potassium is found in:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Milk
- Cheese
- Nuts
Appropriate Sodium
You find sodium in many processed foods. It is a major component of table salt. Too much sodium in your diet can contribute to high blood pressure. Kidney disease is often associated with high blood pressure, which can harm your heart or even cause a stroke. To manage sodium in your diet, season foods with spices and herbs instead of salt.
Controlled Phosphorus
Phosphorus is a mineral found in cheese, milk and meat. In kidney disease, your body can’t keep a balance between calcium and phosphorus, resulting in too little calcium and too much phosphorus in your blood. Your doctor may prescribe a phosphate binder, a medicine that helps control phosphorus levels in the blood.
Adequate Calcium
You need to be sure you are getting enough calcium to prevent bone disease, without ingesting too many dairy products. Milk and other dairy products are rich in calcium, but they also contain a lot of potassium and phosphorus, which you may need to limit in your diet. Your doctor may prescribe a supplement to help you get enough calcium.
Balanced Vitamins
Your kidneys are important in metabolizing several vitamins; so, you may need to supplement certain vitamins and control the intake of others. If you don’t already take a prescribed vitamin supplement, you should ask your doctor or registered dietitian for a recommendation before taking one.

*What Is Dialysis?
Dialysis is a treatment (using machines) that does some of the things typically done by healthy kidneys. You may need dialysis when your own kidneys can no longer take care of your body’s needs. Some professionals may also refer to reduced kidney function as “pre-dialysis.”

Learn more about making good food choices for a healthy renal diet.


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