The Protein Rule Changes When Dialysis Begins

One of the biggest misconceptions about kidney disease is this:

“Doctor, my kidneys are weak, so I should avoid protein forever.”

The Protein Rule Changes When Dialysis Begins

The truth is…

The right amount of protein depends on whether you are on dialysis or not.

BEFORE DIALYSIS — CONTROL PROTEIN TO PROTECT THE KIDNEYS

Before dialysis — control protein to protect the kidneys

Protein is essential for building muscles, repairing tissues, and keeping your body healthy.

However, when your kidneys are not working well, they cannot easily remove all the waste products produced after protein is digested.

Eating too much protein may increase the workload on already damaged kidneys.

This does not mean you should stop eating protein.

In fact, eating too little protein can lead to malnutrition and muscle loss.

After dialysis starts

The goal is to eat the right amount of high-quality protein.

The key message

Many patients can obtain a significant part of their protein from plant-based sources such as dals, lentils, chickpeas, beans, and pulses, along with carefully planned portions of egg, fish, or chicken, depending on the stage of kidney disease and your doctor’s advice.