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Eating well is important for everyone but it’s critical for people with chronic kidney disease. Your diet will vary depending on the stage of your kidneyÌýdisease, other health problems and type of treatment.

Pre-dialysis patients

There’s plenty you can do to help your kidneys now. Start by eating a healthy, balanced diet.

✓ Meet with aÌýdietitian

You can take control of your kidney disease byÌýattending one of our free classes, taught byÌýa ÌìÌÃÓ°Ôº dietitian,Ìýbefore you start treatment. Sign up forÌýour Eating Well, Living Well class to learn about diet changes you can make now.

✓ Eat less salt

Eating less saltÌýwillÌýhelp you control high blood pressure. Most of the salt in your diet comes from processed foods. Avoid salty, processed foods; tryÌýcooking some of our low-salt recipesÌýat home.

✓ÌýVisit your doctor to monitor potassium, phosphorous and protein

See your doctor regularly to keep potassium, phosphorous, protein and other diet needs in order.

Dialysis patients

Your nutrition requirements are affected by the type of dialysis treatment you chose: traditional hemodialysis (three times a week), frequent hemodialysis (five to six times a week), or peritoneal dialysis. However, there are general guidelines all patients on dialysis should follow.

✓ Meet with a dialysisÌýdietitian

Meet with a dialysis dietitian afterÌýyour first treatment. Dialysis will change the way your body removesÌýwaste and your diet must change as well. Together, you and your dietitian will create an eating plan depending onÌýthe type of dialysis you will get, any otherÌýhealth issues you have and your overall activity.

✓ Eat enough protein

Though you may have been told to limit protein before, once you start dialysis you will need to eat more of it. Dialysis patients should eat a high-protein foodÌýat every meal. Beef,Ìýfish, poultry, pork, tofu, and eggs are great sources of protein.

✓ÌýContinue to eat less salty foods

Substitute fresh, home-cooked foods for salty processed foods. Limit restaurant meals, which are often high in salt, byÌýcooking some of our low-salt recipesÌýat home.

✓ Limit fluids

Once you start dialysis, keep a close eye on the amount of liquid you take in. If you drink too much, fluid can build up in your body and lead to shortness of breath.ÌýEating too many salty foods is the number one reason people drink too much fluid. Talk with your dietitian about ways to cut salt from your diet.

✓ Choose foods low in potassium and phosphorus

YourÌýkidneys may have trouble processing potassium and phosphorus. Choose vegetables low in potassium like broccoli, carrots and zucchini. Dairy foods can be quite high in phosphorus so limit milk and yogurt to, for example, halfÌýa cup a day. Try to work dairy alternatives and otherÌývegetables low in potassium into your diet to help keep your potassium and phosphorous at the right levels.

TransplantÌýpatients

Follow the tips below to keep your new kidney healthy.

✓ Meet with your transplant dietitian

MeetÌýwith your transplant dietitian before and after your transplant forÌýpersonalized advice about how to care for your new kidney.

✓ÌýPractice good food safety

You’ve worked so hard to get your new kidney, so work just as hard to keep it healthy. Make good choices at the store and at home. Avoid processed and preparedÌýfoods, and keep track of the amount of sodium in your diet. AskÌýyour transplant dietitian if you need to monitor your potassium intake and maintain a healthy weight to avoid puttingÌýyour new kidney in danger.