Dialysis and diet

<h2>Do people on dialysis need to watch their diet?</h2>
Most people on dialysis need to watch what they eat and drink. Your doctor, nurse, or dietitian (food expert) will tell you if there are foods or drinks that you should limit or avoid. The diet that is right for you will depend on:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">The type of dialysis you have There are two types of dialysis: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. People who get hemodialysis at a dialysis center (in a hospital or clinic) need to watch their diet the most. They need to limit or avoid more foods than those who do peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis at home.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">How often do you have dialysis?</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Your health and other medical conditions</li>
</ul>
 
<h2>Why do people on dialysis need to watch their diet?</h2>
People on dialysis need to watch their diet because their kidneys aren&#8217;t working. Normally, the kidneys work to filter the blood. They remove excess water, salt, and other minerals and nutrients that people eat and drink.
Dialysis is a treatment that takes over the job of the kidneys. But dialysis doesn&#8217;t filter the blood as well as healthy kidneys do. Plus, normal kidneys work all day, every day. People usually have hemodialysis at a center only three times a week. So if a person on dialysis gets too much water, salt, or other nutrients through eating and drinking, these things can build up in the body. This can make people feel sick and cause problems.
When you watch your diet, you can help make sure that:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Too much fluid doesn&#8217;t build up in your body between treatments. Having too much fluid can raise your blood pressure, which makes your heart work harder. Extra fluid can also cause weight gain, swelling, or trouble breathing.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Your body has the right amount of nutrients. Some foods have high levels of certain nutrients. Eating those foods can raise the level of certain nutrients in your body between treatments. This can lead to problems.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">You stay as healthy as possible and don&#8217;t gain too much weight.</li>
</ul>
 
<h2>What do I need to watch in my diet?</h2>
You will probably need to watch:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Fluids: Most people on dialysis need to limit the fluids they eat and drink. Any food that is a liquid at room temperature (such as ice cream) is a fluid. Some fruits and vegetables have a lot of fluid in them, including melons, grapes, apples, and lettuce. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Sodium: This is the main ingredient in table salt. Most people on dialysis need to limit the amount of sodium they eat. That&#8217;s because eating a lot of sodium can raise your blood pressure. It can also make you thirsty and cause you to drink more than you should. To know how much sodium is in a food, you need to look at the food&#8217;s label. Try to eat foods that are normally low in sodium or foods that say &#8220;sodium-free&#8221; or &#8220;very low in sodium&#8221; (table 1). 
</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Potassium: This is a nutrient that affects your heartbeat. Most people on dialysis need to limit the potassium they eat. If too much potassium builds up in your body, it can cause problems with your heart rhythm. Try to eat foods that are low in potassium. Foods that are high in potassium that you should avoid are listed in a different table.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Phosphorus: This is a nutrient found in many foods. Foods such as milk, other dairy foods, nuts, beans, liver, and chocolate have high levels of phosphorus. Most people on dialysis need to avoid foods with high levels of phosphorus. That&#8217;s because if phosphorus builds up in your body, it can cause weak bones and other problems. Your doctor might also prescribe a medicine for you to take with your meals and snacks. This medicine can help keep your phosphorus level low.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Protein: Protein helps your muscles stay strong. Foods with a lot of protein include meat, chicken, fish, and eggs. People who do peritoneal dialysis might need extra protein because the body loses protein with each peritoneal dialysis treatment.</li>
</ul>
 
Your doctor will probably prescribe a vitamin for you to take every day. That way, your body can get the vitamins and minerals that might be missing in your diet.
<h2>What if I get thirsty?</h2>
If you get thirsty but need to limit your fluids, try these tips:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Suck on ice instead of having a drink because ice lasts longer. (But remember that ice is also a fluid.)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Chew gum or suck on hard candy.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Eat low-potassium fruit that is very cold, such as frozen grapes.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Rinse your mouth out with water or mouthwash, but don&#8217;t swallow.</li>
</ul>

Most people on dialysis need to watch what they eat and drink. Your doctor, nurse, or dietitian (food expert) will tell you if there are foods or drinks that you should limit or avoid.

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