Why Do You Need To Follow A Low Phosphorus Diet?

A Low Phosphorus Diet together with a Pre-Dialysis Diet, is a crucial part of treating chronic kidney failure.  Research has shown that a low phosphorus renal diet can significantly slow down the deterioration of kidney functions.  Your diet will also affect how you feel and if your day to day activities are restricted.  You can order one online that is written by a registered dietitian and provided for you and updated every week.

Kidneys are the organs that get rid of harmful waste products, excess salts and toxins from your blood.  They also regulate the levels of salts and the amount of fluid in your body.  When they no longer function properly, the normal filtering process they perform is broken down.   The Low Phosphorus Diet together with a Pre-Dialysis Diet are aimed at counteracting waste build-up by limiting the amount of protein and phosphorus.

A Low Phosphorus Diet Can Slow Down The Progression of Kidney Disease

Not everybody who suffers from kidney failure will be treated with dialysis.  It is only when the kidney function falls to about 10% of normal that dialysis is initiated.  Dialysis is expensive and inconvenient, involving major changes to your daily routine.  What you eat can help or hinder your kidney function significantly.   That is why doctors recommend the Predialysis Diet together with a Low Phosphorus Diet as a way to slow down the loss of function of kidneys.

A Low Phosphorus Diet is A Part of The Pre-Dialysis Diet

Both the Pre-dialysis Diet and the Low Phosphorus Diet are aimed at boosting the effectiveness of your medical renal treatment by regulating the amount of waste products in your blood.  Your diet must provide all the nutrients your body needs while placing as little stress as possible on the kidneys, thus enabling them to retain their function for as long as possible before needing assistance from dialysis.
A Pre-Dialysis Diet aims to fulfill the following criteria:
*  Restrict proteins to a daily minimum (about 45-75 gm/day)
*  Restrict table salt
*  Restrict phosphorus and calcium and potassium as necessary.  The blood-levels of these salts will be carefully monitored
and your Doctor will advise you about necessary restrictions.  You will probably be advised to follow a Low Phosphorus
Diet.
*  Make sure that sufficient energy foods are supplied for normal body functions
*  Fluids might need to be restricted if they are retained
Phosphorus build-up in your blood causes calcium to be drawn from your bones.  This makes bones brittle and weak.  The calcium is deposited in other parts of your body, particularly in arteries or heart valves. Damaged kidneys have difficulty excreting phosphorus, that is why you need to follow a Low Phosphorus Diet.  This will allow you to keep your kidneys working well with little stress on them.  Your doctor might prescribe a phosphate binder to help by preventing the absorption of phosphate from your digestive system for when you eat.  You should always follow the directions of your doctor with medications and any other medical changes.

Foods You Can Eat Freely in a Pre-Dialysis Diet and Low Phosphorus Diet

*  Fresh fruits except bananas and oranges
*  Vegetables such as green beans, onions, garlic bell peppers.  Restrict leafy vegetables and potatoes.
*  Non-dairy creamers, un-enriched soy or rice milk
*  Creamer
*  Enriched white bread
*  Light colored soft drinks

Foods to Restrict When Following a Pre-Dialysis Diet and Low Phosphorus Diet:

*  Dairy products such as milk, cheese, yogurt and ice cream.  You should restrict milk to half a cup a day.  Avoid using milk in sauces.
*  Dried beans, peas and seeds
*  Nuts including peanut butter
*  Leafy green vegetables, mushrooms and parsley
*  Colas and dark colored soft drinks
*  Processed meats
*  Dried fruits
*  Fish and seafood can have high potassium levels
*  Whole grain foods
*  Chocolate

Your kidney function is, to a large extent, in your own hands.  Your diet will make a big difference as to how you feel and how you function.  You will be able to live a normal life for far longer if you care for your kidneys.  Stick to your Pre-Dialysis Diet faithfully and also eat a Low Phosphorus Diet to give your kidneys the best chance of coping without the need for dialysis.

If you have a need to follow a low phosphorus diet but don't know where you should start, check out our kidney diet meal plans to get a weekly plan that is complete with 7 meals, grocery lists, and easily downloadable immediately after purchase.  Not to mention that they are written by a Registered Dietitian who is up to date on how to manage a low phosphorus diet well.

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