Renal Failure Diet for Low Potassium and Low Sodium

A renal failure diet is an approach designed to reduce the workload of the kidneys, the organs responsible for processing a number of important minerals and nutrients in the body, including sodium and potassium. Beyond merely restricting your intake of these items, reducing your overall consumption of protein can help to alleviate the workload from the kidneys, helping to potentially slow the progression of renal disease.

Low Sodium Diet

Consume no more than 2,000 to 2,200 milligrams of sodium a day while following a diet to curb the onset of renal failure. Accomplishing this will not be easy -- it is suggested that you get in the habit of keeping a daily sodium log in a small notebook and carrying it around with you throughout the day. Check the nutritional labels of foods or check online to determine the sodium content of the foods you eat, constantly searching for low-sodium alternatives for your favorite foods and entrees to avoid going over the limit. The easiest way to meet this goal is to only eat fresh food that you prepare yourself, as then you will know exactly how much sodium is contained therein. Coupling that approach with a restriction on the use of table salt should enable you to stay beneath your sodium ceiling, but do not stay too far below as the body requires a bit of sodium to maintain proper fluid balance.

Low Potassium Diet

Making food substitutions to limit potassium intake, avoiding foods that are particularly high in it. While you might already know that bananas contain a large amount of potassium, other foods that are potassium-rich include coffee, chocolate, broccoli, apricots, mushrooms, oranges, bananas, prunes, oranges and all types of greens (e.g. collard greens). Instead of these foods, search out low-potassium items such as apples, cherries, berries, pears, onions, cucumber, noodles, beans and grapes.

Protein Restriction

Restrict your total consumption of protein to from 40 to 60 grams a day, an amount that will provide your body with sufficient protein for tissue repair without overloading and overworking the kidneys. As with the restriction of sodium, you will want to come close to your protein ceiling every day, as the body does require a nominal amount for normal functionality. Accomplish protein restriction by limiting your consumption of meat and dairy products, including beef, seafood, poultry, eggs, cheese, milk and other higher-protein items. Again, as with sodium, it may help to keep a running tally of the number of grams of protein you have consumed each day, allowing you to make quick meal adjustments on the fly to remain in compliance with your diet for renal failure.