Information for educational purpose to kidney patients

Q: Which fruits are not advisable to consume for kidney patients undergoing dialysis?

Krishna: Healthy kidneys keep the right amount of potassium (and other minerals too) in your blood to keep your heart beating at a steady pace. Potassium levels can rise between hemodialysis sessions and affect your heartbeat. Eating too much potassium can be dangerous to your heart and may even cause death.

To control potassium levels, limit potassium-rich foods such as avocados, bananas, kiwis, and dried fruit. Choose fruits and vegetables that are lower in potassium. Have very small portions of foods that are higher in potassium, such as one or two cherry tomatoes on a salad or a few raisins in your oatmeal.

You can remove some of the potassium from potatoes by dicing or shredding them and then boiling them in a full pot of water.

Dietary restrictions vary depending on the stage of kidney disease.

Contrary to popular belief, patients with kidney disease CAN include fruit and vegetables, even with the dreaded potassium restrictions. Fruit and vegetables are an important part of a healthy, balanced diet and provide many vitamins and minerals, fibre and taste.

When your kidney function starts to decline, the potassium levels in your blood may start to increase and you may be advised to follow a low potassium diet in order to help reduce it to a safe level. Not all renal patients need to follow a low potassium diet and it is important not to restrict yourself unless you have been advised by a qualified health professional. Your renal dietician can advise you how to follow a low potassium diet while making sure your diet stays balanced, nutritious and tasty.

Fruit and vegetables are a known high source of potassium, however the types chosen and how they are prepared and cooked can impact on their potassium content. Even with a potassium restriction, two portions of fruit, such as an apple and an orange and two portions of vegetables, such as two heaped tablespoons each of carrots and broccoli, are allowed daily. Avoiding known higher sources and preparing them in the right way, helps you to maintain a safe potassium level within your blood.

If you have kidney disease, reducing your potassium, phosphorus, and sodium intake can be an important aspect of managing the disease.

Fruits and vegetables that you should likely avoid on a renal diet:  canned foods, avocados, bananas, oranges and orange juice, olives, apricots, potatoes and sweet potatoes, tomatoes, spinach, and beet greens are leafy green vegetables, dates, raisins, and prunes.

Dietitian tips on making low potassium choices when eating fruit and vegetables :

• Boil potatoes and vegetables in a large amount of water. Three egg sized potatoes are a suitable portion if following a low potassium diet.
• Make sure they are well cooked, double boiling is NOT necessary.
• Avoid using cooking water to make sauces, soups, casseroles or gravy
• Parboil potatoes if wanting to fry, mash, chip or roast
• Parboil vegetables before adding to sauces or casseroles. Be sure to throw away the boiling water first!
• Avoid using a pressure cooker, microwave, steamer or stir-frying
• If wanting to include fruit juice, one portion of fruit can be swapped for 120ml of fruit juice
• If you enjoy salad, a handful counts as one portion from your vegetable allowance (if given one). Do not exceed one portion of salad per day if you are on a low potassium diet.
• Half a standard can of tomatoes (i.e. approx. 200g/8oz) can be swapped for one portion of potatoes, as long as the juice is drained and thrown away.
• If vegetables are preferred over fruit or vice versa, one portion can be swapped for the other.

But Talk with Your Renal Dietitian. Don't try to take advice on the net.

This reply is only to give  information for educational purpose and is not a medical advice.