End Stage Renal Disease Eating Plan

End stage renal disease is the last stage of chronic kidney disease, where the kidneys have reached a point where they can no longer function enough to sustain your body. At this point, the only option is to replace the function of the kidneys via dialysis treatments, or undergo a kidney transplant.

Aside from dialysis, changes will be recommended to your diet. You will likely be given a list of foods that you should avoid. It is very important to follow through with a strict diet that is appropriate for end stage renal disease. This is because although your kidney function is technically being replaced through dialysis, your body is not constantly filtering and processing waste and byproducts like it would if your kidneys were healthy. Dialysis is typically performed two to three times a week, which means there is time in between treatments where waste and excess fluid can build up. This is not only dangerous for your health, but it could also be extremely uncomfortable for you.

A specialized end stage renal disease eating plan is what you need. It may seem like there are more foods on the “no” list than there are foods being recommended. This is because of the importance of omitting certain items due to their impact on your kidneys. Things like sodium, potassium, phosphorus, excess fluid, and protein need to be strictly monitored or completely omitted.

Building a meal plan is the best way to help yourself stick to your new diet. A meal plan not only organizes your meals so there is no guess work, but it also helps you to focus on the foods that you can eat rather than just the foods that are being omitted.

Research

The first step to any good meal plan is research. This research comes in two parts: first you want to research the foods that you can and should be eating, as well as what foods contain items that need to be omitted. Your doctor can help you with this by giving you a list of foods that you both should and should not eat. Second, you want to research recipes to use during the next few days to a week. Look for easy to follow recipes with simple ingredients rather than complicated recipes that use ingredients you have never heard of before.

Build Your Plan

A great meal plan is all about organization. You want to decide and write down what you plan to eat for each meal and snacks during the time period you have set. It is best to only plan a few days to a week at a time so you don't overwhelm yourself. Based on what you have planned, make a grocery list.

Execute Your Plan

Go grocery shopping based on your list, prep whatever you can ahead of time, and put your awesome meal plan into action. Following through this way will help you to stick to your plan, which will help your overall health greatly.

A meal plan is one of your greatest tools when it comes to taking control of your health. Big diet changes, like the ones necessary for end stage renal disease, can be made a lot easier with an eating plan. You are more likely to follow through and have a successful diet with an effective meal plan.Check out the rest of my blog for more End Stage information.