Know the kidney diet differences

	Pre-Dialysis Diet	Dialysis Diet	Diet Tip
Fluid	Fluid, which can be found in everything from beverages to fruit and vegetables, is usually not restricted at this point.	Most people ondialysis need to limit fluid intake to 4-8 cups a day.	Frozen grapes, lemon wedges, mouthwash rinses and ice help decrease thirst.
Potassium	You likely won't be on a restrictedpotassium diet unless your blood levels are high.	Your type of treatment and personal lab results will determine if a low-potassium diet is needed.	Limit common potassium sources such as bananas, oranges, potatoes, tomato products, avocado, yogurt and nuts.
Phosphorus	If labs show you have highphosphorus levels, you may be eating less dairy, nuts, legumes, meat and soy.	People on dialysis generally continue to limit foods high in phosphorus and often take phosphate binders to keep levels in a healthy range.	Read food labels closely and look for phosphate additives that can add a significant amount to your daily intake.
Sodium	You’re probably limiting your sodiumintake to around 1,500 mg a day—choosing fresh foods over processed, picking low-sodium products and eating fewer fast foods.	Your new daily target could be from 1,000 mg to 3,000 mg depending on your treatment type. You’ll still want to continue eating fresh, low-sodium, home-cooked meals.	Discover a whole new world of low-sodium flavors with herbs, spices, vinegar and flavored oils.
Protein	As kidney function declines, you may be eating less protein to minimize protein-related waste buildup in your blood.	A low-protein diet is no longer needed. In fact, people on dialysis need to eat extra protein to replace some lost during dialysis.	Choose at least half of your protein from high-quality sources, such as meat, seafood, poultry and eggs.