Patient/caregiver was educated on foods to avoid on a renal diet as follows:
- Soft drinks, such as, cola drinks and pepsi are low in potassium, in comparison to foods like coconut water and banana, but excessive consumption of these drinks can add up for the total potassium intake. So, these drinks must be limited for individuals on low potassium intake recommendation. Also, these soft drinks are very high in phosphorus content and should best be avoided for individuals on renal diet.
- For desserts, limit intake of products containing dark chocolate and milk products, such as, ice cream, for their rich potassium content. Also, adding any dry fruits and nuts to your dessert can compromise the low potassium intake recommendation.
- All milk and milk derivatives are high in phosphorus content. Limit consumption/avoid all milk and dairy products such as, whole milk, reduced fat milk, buttermilk, most of cheese varieties, cottage cheese, custard, yogurt, and ice cream.
- Limit consumption of/avoid vegetables rich in phosphorus content, such as, potatoes, black beans, kidney beans, soybeans, fava beans, garbanzo beans, lima beans, pinto beans, black-eyed peas, split peas, broccoli, mushrooms, and all products belonging to the lentils group.
- Strictly avoid all processed/cured/smoked/cold cut deli meats such as, hot dogs, sausages, ham, corned beef, bologna, salami, bratwurst, blood sausages, and jerky meats for their rich phosphorus content. Among fresh meat and sea food, chicken, turkey, pork, lamb, salmon, tuna, sardines, crabmeat, can be on the higher end for phosphorus content and so, must be carefully consumed.
