Have Sufficient Intake of Calories

Some renal patients have an excessive control in their diet and often do not have sufficient energy. Thus, their bodies weaken gradually and their immune system deteriorates. This makes the patients’ body produces more toxin, since protein decomposes spontaneously when patients have an insufficient energy level. This increases urea, nitrogen and potassium in blood, which is a burden to the kidneys.

Have a Suitable Intake of Protein

Protein is essential to the maintenance of high immunity and reduces the chance of infection. Since proteins and amino acids are lost during haemodialysis, the quantity of protein intake required by renal patients is higher than those without nephrosis. Renal patients have to take in 1.2 grams of proteins per kilogram (of their weight) every day. It is also suggested that they take in high-quality proteins, which are used to repair body tissues and maintain the strength of the muscles.

Be Aware of the Intake of Sodium, Phosphorus and Potassium

The Control of Sodium

• - When the kidneys are not functioning properly, excessive sodium ions in blood cannot be discharged. This may lead to hypertension, oedema, the pleural effusion and heart failure.
• - Sodium is the major component of salt. Therefore renal patients must limit their intake of salt.
• - Select as much natural food as possible. The intake of cured food, canned food and processed food is prohibited since the sodium content in such food is extremely high.
• - Low-sodium salt contains a lot of potassium ions. Patients undergoing haemodialysis treatments should take in normal table salt.
• - Flavour the food with white sugar, white vinegar, cinnamon, five spices powder, pepper, parsley, lemon juice, spring onion, ginger and garlic.
• - The intake of sodium is limited to 3 to 5 grams per day
• - Conversion of sodium content:
  1 gram of salt = 1.2 teaspoons of soy sauce = 1 teaspoon of ketchup

The control of Phosphorus

• The bodies of renal patients accumulate phosphorus easily. In fact, the high level of the blood phosphorus decreases the rate of absorption of calcium, thus affects the manufacture of Vitamin D inside the body. This will cause skeletal problems and lead to skin itchiness.
• Avoid eating food with high phosphorus level, such as milk and dairy products, beans, mushrooms, dried fruit, whole-wheat cereal.
• Choose nutritional supplement low in phosphorus.

The Control of Potassium

Renal patients who need dialysis treatment have a reduced ability of removing potassium ions. Therefore, patients may have high blood potassium easily, causing difficulties in breathing, irregular heartbeat, paralysis at hands and feet as well as other symptoms. Thus they should avoid eating food with high potassium level, such as vegetables with dark green colour and fruits. On the contrary, when patients have continuous anorexia, nausea, vomiting and serious diarrhoea, they will possibly have low blood potassium level. As a result, patients must pay attention to the following:

• Boil vegetables using a large amount of water, but do not drink soup boiled with vegetables
• Do not eat carambola products as the ingredients in carambola can initiate toxicity and nerve poison
• Herbal medicine and traditional Chinese medicine may cause high blood potassium level. Therefore, patients should consult doctors before taking them.
• Do not intake food made with chicken essence and meat extract powder, ginseng and other concentrated products.
• Cut rhizomatic vegetables high in potassium like sweet potato, potato into thin slices and soak them in water before boiling.