Diet & Nutrition

What They Do

• Protein builds muscle and is essential to your body
• Too little protein can make you retain fluid and make it hard for your body to fight infection and heal wounds
• Albumin is protein found in blood that indicates your body’s protein intake 
   

What You Should Do

• Consume 1.2g of protein per kg of your body weight each day. 
• This is equal to 2-3 palm-sized portions per day.
   

At A Glance

30 grams of protein

• 1 chicken wing
• 1/4 cup water-packed tuna
• 1 egg or 2 egg whites
• 2 tablespoons peanut butter

60 grams of protein

• 1 chicken drumstick or thigh or 2 wings
• 2 lamb chops
• 1/2 cup water-packed tuna
• 2 eggs or 4 egg whites
• 1/2 cup ground meat

90 grams of protein

• 3 lamb chops
• 1 split chicken breast
• 1 medium hamburger patty
• 3/4 cup water-packed tuna
• 3/4 cup ground meat 

What It Does

• A good balance of phosphorus in your blood helps build strong bones and teeth. 
• It is important to ensure that phosphorus in your blood is not too high as it can lead to weak bones, mineral imbalances and calcium deposits in your blood vessels and heart.
• Healthy kidneys will remove excess phosporus in the blood.
   

What You Should Do

• Limit foods that are high in phosphorus as the kidney is unable to process too much. 
• Speak to your dietician on phosphorus-rich foods.
   

At A Glance

Foods high in phosphorus:

• Fast food
• Dairy product (e.g., milk, yoghurt, cheese, kefir)
• Seeds, nuts, beans
• Canned fish 
• Dark soft drinks (i.e., cola) 

What It Does

• Keeps the nerves, muscles and heart working properly.
• Too much potassium can cause irregular heartbeat.
• Excess is usually removed by your kidneys.
   

What You Should Do

• Watch your potassium levels and strategize your intake with your dietician.
   

At A Glance

Foods high in potassium:

• Bananas
• Chickpeas 
• Tomatoes
• Cantaloupe/honeydew
• Orange juice 
• Dried fruit 
• Milk 
• Sweet potatoes/yams
• Nuts & seeds
• Asparagus

TIP : Potassium is soluble. This means that soaking vegetables for 24 hours and boiling them twice in different waters can reduce potassium in vegetables by up to 50%. 

What It Does

• Essential in maintaining blood volume and pressure.
• Helps muscles and nerves work properly.
• Is a key component in common salt.
• Too much has a fluid-retention effect.
   

What You Should Do

• Track sodium intake to avoid dangerous fluid build-up.
   

At A Glance

• Keep a food journal.    
• Avoid adding salt to food and limit foods that are high in sodium. 
• Read labels and track sodium intake as advised by dietician.

What It Does

• Vital for overall bodily functions, as your body is made up of 70% water.
• A build-up of fluid in body can cause swelling, breathing difficulties and heart failure.
   

What You Should Do

• Dialysis helps remove some extra fluids but it is important to strictly observe daily fluid intake. 
• Be mindful that some foods are considered as fluids too. 
• Pay attention to foods with high water content. 
• Speak to your doctor/dietician about your fluid intake.
   

At A Glance

On average, a patient needs only 500ml of fluids to maintain normal bodily functions. You should not increase your weight by more than 4% between dialysis treatments.

• Avoid salty foods.
• Use small cups. 
• Ration your liquid intake.
• Be aware of your urine output.
• Take medications with mealtime fluids. 
• Use a spray bottle to mist your mouth. 
• Chew gum to moisten your mouth.

REMEMBER : This is just a general guideline and should not be replaced with dietary advice from your nephrologist and your dietician. Please ensure that you are absolutely clear about their instructions as it impacts your health and well-being. If you have any concerns, speak to a care team member as soon as possible.