Kidney disease stages 3, 4 and 5 (not on dialysis)
Why do I need to change my eating habits in kidney disease stages 3, 4, and 5 (not on dialysis)?
Kidney disease stages 3, 4, and 5 involve damage to the kidneys, preventing them from filtering waste and excess fluid from your blood as effectively as they should. Your doctor and dietitian may recommend that you follow a specific kidney-friendly food and fluid plan because your kidneys aren't operating as effectively as they were in the early stages of renal disease. Making modifications to your eating habits and the amount of water you drink can help you avoid more kidney damage and slow the advancement of kidney failure.
How can I eat well if I'm in stages 3, 4, or 5 of kidney disease and not on dialysis?
You'll almost certainly need to limit:
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Protein
In these stages, you will need to decrease your protein intake.
Sodium (salt)
If you consume too much salt, your body will retain fluid, which will elevate your blood pressure. Your kidneys have to work harder to filter your blood when you have high blood pressure.
Fluid
You may need to limit your total fluid consumption at this time. Fluids include anything that is liquid at room temperature, not only water!
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Protein is necessary for building muscle, healing, and staying healthy, but the amount you should consume varies on your stage of renal disease. You should eat less protein if you have renal disease stages 3, 4, or 5 (and are not on dialysis) to save your kidneys from having to work harder to filter more protein waste, which could wear them out faster.
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Get your protein from lean sources:
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Eggs
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Chicken
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Fish
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Turkey
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Quinoa
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Beans
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Soy products (tofu, edamame, tempeh, soy milk, etc.)
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Should be kept to a minimum or avoided:
Red meat (beef, bison, lamb, pork, venison, etc.) and organ meats (liver, etc.)
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Suggested serving sizes for lean protein:
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½ cup of beans (7 grams of protein)
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1 large egg (6 grams of protein)
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3 oz. chicken (about the size of your palm) (27 grams of protein)
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3 oz. fish (about the size of your palm) (20 grams of protein)
Protein
Ask your doctor and dietitian how much protein you should eat each day
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Suggestions for limiting protein intake:
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At meals, eat a smaller portion of protein.
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Non-starchy veggies, whether fresh or frozen, should take up more space on your plate (you may need to start choosing low-potassium vegetables to prevent raising your potassium to dangerous levels-discuss with your doctor or dietitian)
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To make your portion size appear larger, use a tiny plate (9-10 inches in diameter).
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The amount of sodium—one of two electrolytes found in salt—in foods can be found on the nutrition label. Salt serves a variety of functions in our bodies, but too much sodium can be hazardous to persons who have kidney disease. Your kidneys may be unable to eliminate excess sodium from your body if they are not functioning properly.
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When your body has too much sodium, it retains (holds on to) fluid, making your heart and kidneys work harder. This can cause your blood pressure to rise and your renal illness to worsen over time.
The amount of salt present naturally in foods is sufficient to maintain a healthy level in your body, but sodium is frequently added to many processed foods, restaurant dishes, and even home-cooked meals. This can result in you ingesting too much salt and accumulating too much sodium in your body.
The amount of salt you should consume is determined by your kidney disease stage and function. In general, a healthy amount of salt per day is 2,300 mg or less. This is approximately 1 teaspoon of salt every day. In kidney disease stages 3, 4, and 5 (not on dialysis), ask your doctor and dietitian how much sodium you should consume each day.
Sodium is typically added to these meals and drinks (unless they are labeled as low-salt or low-sodium):
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Soda and sports drinks
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Ice Cream
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Frozen dinners and snacks
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Fast food and food from restaurants
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Packaged snacks (chips, pretzels, nuts, etc.)
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Bakery items (bread, bagels, pies, cakes, etc.)
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Condiments (ketchup, salad dressings, hot sauce, soy sauce, etc.)
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Canned and jarred foods (tomatoes, beans, corn, pickles, etc.)
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Seasonings and spices with salt (garlic salt, celery salt, seasoned salt, taco seasoning, seafood seasoning, etc.)
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Tips to avoid added sodium
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Avoid salt replacements labeled "NuSalt" or "No-Salt" since they contain potassium and may cause your potassium levels to rise dangerously high.
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Choose canned and jarred products with the phrase "no salt added" on the label.
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Choose snacks that don't include any salt (unsalted or no-salt pretzels, etc.) To control the quantity of salt in your food, prepare and cook your meals from scratch using one of our kidney-friendly recipes.
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Instead of salt, use fresh or dried herbs and spices to enhance the flavor of your dishes.
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Instead of sports drinks or soda, drink water.
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If you're eating out, request that your dish be cooked without any salt.
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Sodium
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One of your kidney's key responsibilities is to maintain the balance of fluid in your body. Your kidneys aren't operating well in stages 3, 4, and 5 of renal disease (if you're not on dialysis), which means they can't filter extra fluid out of your body. You'll probably need to reduce your fluid intake so that your kidneys don't have to work as hard.
Fluid restriction is necessary to avoid fluid retention, which occurs when the body retains too much fluid. Fluid retention can make you feel bloated and uneasy, as well as raise your blood pressure, weakening your heart and exacerbating kidney illness.
Ask your doctor and dietitian how much fluid you should have each day.
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Remember that fluid refers to more than just the water you consume. At room temperature, everything that turns to liquid counts toward your daily fluid intake.
Examples of fluids include:
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Ice
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Soups and stews
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Pudding
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Ice cream, sherbet, sorbet, popsicles, etc.
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Protein drinks (Nepro, Novasource, Ensure, etc.)
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All beverages (water, soda, tea, coffee, milk, nondairy milk, etc.)
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Jell-O® other gelatin products and gelatin substitutes (pectin, arrowroot powder, etc.)
If you see any of the following signs of probable fluid retention, contact your doctor straight away:
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Swelling in your ankles or feet
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Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing when:
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​Walking a short distance (1-3 blocks)
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Lying flat on your back
Fluids
More tips to stay healthy in stages 3, 4 and 5 (not on dialysis)
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Whole grains are the best option.
Brown rice is preferable than processed grains like white rice.
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Incorporate an extra daily activity into your routine.
After dinner, go for a brisk stroll or use the stairs instead of the elevator.
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Attend all of your scheduled appointments.
Our doctor will keep an eye on your renal function and other health issues.
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If you have diabetes or high blood pressure, follow your doctor's instructions for taking your medications.
Keeping your diabetes or high blood pressure under control is one of the best strategies to prevent your kidney disease from worsening.
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Maintain a healthy weight.
Consult your doctor about a healthy weight range for you and how to maintain it.