Nutrition

Congratulations on your decision to learn more about nutrition!  Eating delicious, healthy and appropriate food is a key part of care for chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Control of your diet is often the earliest form of treatment and will play an important role in your ongoing care.  Eating properly will help you maintain kidney function and feel better overall.

A person with kidney failure cannot get rid of extra fluid and wastes made by the body. To reduce these waste products, it is important for patients to control both food and fluids.

When you begin dialysis, your dietitian will give you more detailed information on what the best choices are for your specific care.

Some patients find that changing their eating habits is difficult at first, though most people adjust well.  In general, patients who make appropriate diet changes early may have fewer problems later on.

There are several things in your diet you must watch carefully once you start dialysis.

These nutrition requirements are affected by the type of treatment you chose: traditional hemodialysis(3 times a week) or frequent (5 to 6 times a week) hemodialysis, or peritoneal dialysis.

Be sure to consult with your dietician or physician about any specific concerns you have about eating well.

We offer many delicious suggestions in our recipe section. 

Contact the Northwest Kidney Centers Nutrition department at info@nwkidney.org.