Armed Forces Hospital Southern Region

Nutrition and Dietetics Department

Diet for Hemodialysis

What is the kidney function?

Filtering waste, protein and minerals and taking them out from the body. In case of kidney failure,
this leads to a high rate of minerals in the blood such as potassium and phosphate. When these
minerals rise in the blood negatively affect the patient's health, patient must maintain their normal
rates by following the correct diet for kidney failure.

Diet for hemodialysis:

✓ Eat more protein sources.
✓ Reduce salt intake and foods high in potassium and phosphate.
✓ Avoid drinking too much fluids such as water, coffee, tea, juices and also soup.

First: Salts:
✓ Avoid eating too much salt because it increases fluid retention in the body between blood
dialysis sessions and increases the feeling of thirst.
✓ Replace salt with spices and herbs.
✓ Avoid eating salt substitutes that high in potassium and also avoid adding vegetable or
chicken broth cubes to your food.

Spices allowed for kidney patients:

- Rosemary: Beneficial for brain health, memory and cognity.
- Garlic: Antibacterial and antioxidant contribute to reducing inflammation in the body.
- Wild thyme (origano): Rich in vitamin K.
- Red, black pepper and paprika: Rich in vitamin A, which plays an important role in eye and
skin health.
- Ginger: Anti-inflammatory, relieves pain and also helps relieve nausea.
- Cinnamon: Helps regulate blood pressure.
- Basil

Second: Meat (protein sources)

Dialysis patients need more protein as a result of losing a large amount of protein during the dialysis
process, which is an important element in building and maintaining muscles, as well as in the
treatment of wounds and helps strengthen the body's immunity.
✓ Eat 90 grams of meat (equivalent to the palm of the hand) or 1 chicken breasts or medium-
sized fish fillet at each meal.
✓ Eat 1 egg, 1\4 cup tuna, 1/4 cup cheese, 1 tablespoon peanut butter.
✓ Nuts : Eat 12 almonds or 9 cashews, 6 hazelnuts, 6 macadamia, 17 peanuts or 7 pecans, or
7 walnuts or mix a small amount of each ( handful ).
Note: Nuts and legumes contain protein but are recommended to reduce them because they are
high in phosphorus and potassium.
Third: Starches and cereals
✓ Avoid foods that contain whole grains and fiber such as bran or whole-grain wheat flour and
avoid foods that contain dairy products to maintain the normal phosphorus rate in the blood.
✓ If you baking at home, use white flour that is not mixed with brown flour and avoid putting
milk in the dough
✓ You can eat foods that are not high in potassium and phosphorus such as :plain rice, burger
bread, white bread, tortilla bread, unsalted biscuits, breakfast cereals such as Corn Flex.

Fourth: Milk and dairy products

✓ Reduce the consumption of milk or yogurt to half a cup a day, a quarter cup of cheese.
✓ Most dairy products are very high in phosphorus so .All milk, whether whole, low or skim,
contains the same amount of phosphorus.
Note: You can exchange cow's milk with vegan milk such as rice milk or almond milk.

Fifth: Fruits and juices

Allowed fruits Fruits eat less / moderation

Apples, peach, grapes, watermelon, pineapple, orange, kiwi, pear, banana, melons, raisins, dry
tangerine, blackberries, blueberries, grapefruit, fruits, apricots, avocados, bananas, dates,
raspberries, lemon, strawberries, cherries. guava, plums, figs, pomegranates.

Sixth: vegetables

Vegetables allowed Fruits eat less / moderation

Cabbage, carrots, lettuce, eggplant, onions, Potatoes, tomatoes, zucchini, pumpkin, beets,
garlic, cucumbers, coriander, cauliflower, white beans, beans, spinach, mallow, radish,
pepper, arugula, green beans, lemon. kale.

Diet for Hemodialysis, edited (2022)