Controlling Fluid Intake
High Phosphorus Foods
High Sodium Foods
High Potassium Foods

Protein Basics for Dialysis Patients

Low levels of blood proteins can result in loss of muscle and can compromise your immune system.Dialysis patients often have low protein levels because they lose some protein during dialysis treatments, and they often do not eat enough high protein foods (such as meat, poultry, fish, and eggs) to meet their nutritional needs.Here are some suggestions for increasing protein in your diet:

• Eat protein at every meal and snack.
• Add chopped meat, poultry, or fish to salads, soups, sauces, vegetables, noodles, or rice dishes.For example, tuna or chicken can be added to macaroni salad.
• Add chopped egg whites to salads.
• Prepare foods that contain eggs like sponge and angel food cake, or add an extra egg to your favorite recipe.
• Add extra meat or poultry to soups and stews.
• Have deviled eggs, hard-boiled eggs, or omelets at any meal.
• Double the meat on a sandwich.

Eat more of the Following High Protein Foods

Controlling Fluid Intake

As your urine output decreases, it may be necessary to limit the amount of liquid you drink each day to prevent such problems as swelling, shortness of breath, and high blood pressure.Ask your doctor or dietitian how much fluid you should drink each day.

The following items are considered liquids:

• Milk
• Soda
• Tea
• Juice
• Sherbet
• Coffee

• Water
• Ice
• Gelatin
• Popsicles
• Ice cream
• Soup

*Limit high salt foods because they make you thirstier!Look for foods with less than 300 mg sodium per serving.

Tips to Control Thirst

• Chew gum or suck on hard candy (sugar-free if diabetic) to keep mouth moist.
• Add a bit of lemon juice to water and ice to quench thirst.
• Make ice cubes from your favorite drinks.Suck on these instead of drinking the beverage.
• Eat small amounts of frozen grapes or berries.
• Brush your teeth or use mouthwash instead of drinking.
• Use small cups and measure your liquid intake on a daily basis.
• Keep track of the amount of ice you eat.
• When your mouth feels dry, rinse your mouth with cold water and spit it out.
• If you are diabetic, keep your blood sugar under good control as this may help to reduce your thirst.

HIGH PHOSPHORUS FOODS

• Most patients on dialysis need to limit or avoid foods that contain large amounts of phosphorus.
• Too much phosphorus causes itching, bone pain, and can lead to hardening of the arteries. 

DRIED BEANS & PEAS

OTHER

Beer  
Hawaiian punch®
Caramel
Macaroni & cheese
Chocolate
Molasses
Cocoa
Pizza
Colas
Red licorice

HIGH SODIUM FOODS

• These foods are high in sodium.
• Patients on dialysis need to limit or avoid high sodium foods.
• Limiting salt intake will help control blood pressure and will help prevent fluid retention.

Bacon
BBQ sauce
Bouillon
Chinese food
Canned meats (eg. Vienna sausage®, Spam®)
Chili sauce
Fast food (eg. McDonald’s®, KFC®, Taco Bell®)
Frozen meals (eg. Banquet®, Swanson®, Stouffer’s®)
Garlic salt
Gravy, canned or mix
Hamburger Helper®
Ketchup
Meat tenderizer
MSG/Accent®
Mustard
Rice & noodle mixes (Ramen Noodles®, Rice-A-Roni®)
Olives
Onion salt
Pasta, canned (Spaghettios®)
Pickles
Pickle relish
Popcorn, microwave
Pork rinds
Pretzels and chips:
(eg. Doritos®, Fritos®, Cheetos®, potato chips)
Pumpkin seeds
Lunch meats (salami, bologna, ham)
Salt substitute
Sauerkraut
Sausage
Seasoning salt
Salted nuts
Soup, canned or mix
Soy sauce, lite or regular
Spices with salt (eg. garlic salt, seasoning salt)
Steak sauce
Stuffing mix
Worcestershire Sauce
Fish, canned (tuna, salmon, sardines)
Processed cheese

HIGH POTASSIUM FOODS

• These foods are high in potassium.  Eating too much potassium can cause problems with normal muscle function and can affect the heart rhythm. 
• Patients on hemodialysis should not eat the following foods.