The Benefits of Following an Easy to Use Kidney Dialysis Meal Plan

Losing functioning of the kidneys is hard news to grasp. The prospect of changing one's lifestyle completely to accommodate a health condition like kidney disease can be frightening. Most likely, you will be put on new medications, required to have kidney dialysis an average of three times per week, and change your eating habits greatly.  This will involve you starting a kidney dialysis meal plan that is low in sodium and potassium to meet your needs but help you manage your kidney problems.

When you have a lot of  protein and sodium in your diet, it can result in further problems with other parts of your body,  and inhibit the dialysis procedure and medications from achieving the goals that your doctor wants.  You are trying to keep your nutritional needs in balance by assisting diseased kidneys in removing waste products from the blood, balancing body fluids such as adjusting sodium and electrolytes, regulating blood pressure, and working with hormones, particularly those of the endocrine system, in sustaining correct pH levels and pituitary function.  Wow, that is a lot for your body to have to do, especially when you have to rely on a machine for help.  So a kidney dialysis meal plan, one that is adjusted to meet your protein and other needs, can help a lot to make it easier for your body to cope with the changes.

What Should I Do To Make a Kidney Dialysis Meal Plan?

Your body will be weak from loss of organ function with medication effects adding to this. Attending dialysis at least three times a week averaging four hours a session is very taxing. No patient wants to think about meal planning but it is essential and life sustaining. The right foods, which are lower in proteins and sodium, need to be combined to balance with fats, sugars, and potassium. Sounding like a complex mathematical equation calculated for every meal, in truth, this is what needs to happen. Each person's unique chemistry needs close monitoring, and if additional complications such as diabetes are factored in, food choices ones makes are critical to your health.  When you are working on your kidney dialysis meal plan with your doctor and dietitian, it's important to realize that keeping it in balance is the most value.  You have certain foods you like to eat, and there are some foods you will have to eat less of just by the nature of the diet.

What foods can I choose for the kidney dialysis meal plan?

Again, when you are looking at your specific case for a kidney dialysis meal plan, think about what your doctor or dietitian tells you.  The amount of protein and salt is going to be lower, so processed foods are limited.  You will be making a lot of food at home from scratch.  The salt shaker will definitely not be on your table.  Read your labels, this can be most helpful during your learning process to know how to follow a kidney dialysis meal plan.

Feeling overwhelmed? This is where an online consultant can take over meal planning so that you and your family can concentrate on feeling well again. An easy to use online program will provide seven days worth of meal information including shopping lists, nutritional specifications, and delicious recipes. Each program, designed for one's specific needs by a registered dietitian, meets national disease-specific standards and guidelines.

Best of all, this information is gathered and sent online for you to print and use immediately. When you need to understand your kidney dialysis meal plan and know that it's made the right way for you, it's an easy way to start.  They also provide an average meal serving of four to six, enough to include family or prepare individual servings to freeze for later use.

Isn't the peace of mind, as well as the ease and low cost, worth it during this difficult adjustment?  I know that you can do it yourself, but you also have a lot to work on for your health, so take a thing or two off your mind and get started today on a kidney dialysis meal plan.

Also published on Medium.