Sodium and Kidney Disease

Sodium and Kidney Disease What is sodium? Sodium is a mineral found in food and all Did You Know? types of salt. We need a very small amount 1 teaspoon (5 mL) of of sodium for body water balance. However, table salt has 2325 mg of most people eat more sodium than they sodium. need. Where does sodium come from? How much sodium should I eat each day? • Processed foods: salt and other sodium additives are found in most packaged You should limit sodium to 2300 mg or less and prepared foods at the grocery store. each day. Aim for less than 600 mg for a Most of the sodium we eat comes from meal and less than 250 mg for a snack. processed foods. • The salt shaker: added in cooking and at Why do I need to limit sodium? the table. • Natural content: small amounts of sodium With kidney disease your kidneys do not is found naturally in most foods. balance sodium and water well. If you eat too much sodium you may have: How can I eat less sodium? • High blood pressure • Thirst • Do not add salt to your food. • Puffy hands, face and feet • Do not add salt during cooking. • Too much fluid around your heart and • Use fresh or frozen (without salt) meat, lungs, making it hard to breathe chicken, fish, seafood, eggs, vegetables • Cramps during hemodialysis and fruits. These are naturally low in sodium. By eating less sodium, you can help control • Make your meals with fresh ingredients. these problems. • Avoid high sodium foods such as: − Ham, bacon, salami and other deli Some medications used to protect the meats kidneys and lower blood pressure work − Pickles, olives, relish better when your diet is lower in sodium. − Teriyaki, fish or soy sauces the northern way of caring BC Renal • BCRenalAgency.ca Developed by the Renal Dietitians of British Columbia • September 2019 − Canned or packaged soups What to Order − Seasoned packaged or instant rice/ noodles • Sandwiches: Choose vegetables, roasted − Bouillon cubes (OXO®, Bovril®), meat or poultry, egg, hard cheese, or fish. Marmite®, Veg-mite® Avoid ham, processed meats, processed − Salted snack foods (chips, pretzels, cheese and pickles. nuts, crackers) • Pasta: Many pasta sauces are high in • Read food labels. Limit foods with sodium salt. Do not choose dishes with salty or salt listed as one of the first few items such as ham, Parmesan or Romano ingredients. cheese or olives. Ask to have the • Cook with herbs and spices instead of Parmesan on the side and add it sparingly. salt. • Cook at home more often. Restaurant • Pizza: Most pizzas are high in salt. Better meals are higher in sodium than home choices are vegetarian pizzas made cooked meals. with real mozzarella cheese and fresh vegetables. Can I use salt substitutes? • Hamburgers: Choose tomato, onion, lettuce and hard cheese. Avoid No; do not use salt substitutes. Salt processed cheese slices. Use only small substitutes such as Co-salt™, Nu-salt™, No- amounts of ketchup, mustard and relish. salt™ or Half-Salt™ are very high in potassium and can be dangerous for people with kidney • Fish and chips: Ask for unsalted fries. disease. Try lemon or vinegar instead of salt and ketchup. Should I use low-sodium or reduced- • Curries: Ask for foods made without salt. sodium products? Avoid salty chutneys or relishes. Be aware that many foods that are labeled • Asian Foods: Some Chinese, Filipino, “low sodium” or “reduced sodium” may Japanese and Korean foods are high in contain a salt substitute such as potassium sodium. Choose plain rice and dishes chloride. This can be dangerous for people that include vegetables with meat, fish, with kidney disease. Make sure you check tofu or chicken without breading or batter the ingredient list. on them. Avoid soups and limit added sauces like soy or teriyaki. How can I eat less sodium when eating out? Did You Know? • Ask if the restaurant prepares their foods in advance or after you order. Do they 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of soy sauce take special requests? Ask if they can has 1029 mg of sodium or more! cook your food with less, or no salt. • Ask for gravy, sauce and salad dressing on the side. Use only a small amount. BC Renal • BCRenalAgency.ca Developed by the Renal Dietitians of British Columbia • September 2019 High Sodium Vs. Lower Sodium Food Choices Eat Less Better Choice (high in sodium) (low in sodium) Snack Foods Salted: Unsalted: • Crackers • Crackers • Rice Cakes • Rice cakes • Corn/Tortilla chips • Corn/Tortilla chips • Potato chips • Popcorn • Popcorn • Pretzels • Pretzels • Nuts and seeds • Nuts and seeds Meat and • Ham, bacon, salted pork • Fresh beef Other Protein • Hot dogs, sausage, salami • Pork Foods • Pastrami, corned beef, cold • Chicken, Turkey cuts, deli meats, bologna • Fish, Seafood, “No salt • Spam™, Klik™ added” canned fish • Lox, pickled herring, • Eggs anchovies • Natural peanut butters • Vegetarian products: • Beans, Lentils processed hot dogs, patties, • Tofu nuggets, etc. Cheese and • Buttermilk, • Milk Milk • Cottage cheese • Cream cheese • Parmesan • Soft plain goat cheese • Blue cheeses • Brie • Feta cheese • "No salt added" cottage • Processed cheese slices cheese • Cheese spreads • Block (hard) cheese such as Swiss, cheddar and mozzarella Vegetables • Canned vegetables and • Fresh and frozen vegetables tomatoes • "No salt added" canned • Frozen vegetables with vegetables sauces • Unsalted canned/jarred tomato products BC Renal • BCRenalAgency.ca Developed by the Renal Dietitians of British Columbia • September 2019 Eat Less Better Choice (high in sodium) (low in sodium) Pickled Items • Pickles • Cucumbers or other • Relish vegetables in vinegar • Olives • Lower sodium pickles • Sauerkraut (without potassium additive) Soups • Canned and packaged soup • Homemade low-sodium soup • Instant noodles Pre-prepared • Frozen microwave dinners • Frozen microwave dinners (packaged) with more than 600 mg of with less than 600 mg Foods sodium per portion/meal sodium per portion/meal • Frozen prepared foods • Canned spaghetti, ravioli or chili • Packaged macaroni and cheese (Kraft Dinner™) • Hamburger Helper™ Seasonings • Table salt, sea salt, kosher • Fresh and dried spices and salt, garlic salt, onion salt, herbs such as: celery salt, seasoning salt • Garlic, Garlic powder such as VegeSal™, Lite salt, • Ginger Lemon Pepper™ (with salt) • Onion, Onion powder • Meat tenderizers such as • Pepper Adolph’s™ • Parsley • Flavour enhancers (MSG), • Chives • Bouillon cubes (OXO™, • Cilantro Bovril™) • Dry mustard • Marmite™, Vegemite™ • Wasabi • Sushi vinegar Sauces and • Barbecue sauce, steak sauce • Homemade or low-sodium: Salad • Soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, • Sauces Dressings oyster sauce, fish sauce • Salad dressing • Bottled salad dressings, • Salsa • Ketchup, prepared mustard • Vinegars relish • Canned or bottled salsa • Sushi vinegar BC Renal • BCRenalAgency.ca Developed by the Renal Dietitians of British Columbia • September 2019 Sodium Increases When Food is Processed! Cucumber Cucumber Dill pickle ½ cup = 1 mg with 1 tsp salad dressing 1 medium = 526 mg = 180 mg Tomato Tomato sauce Tomato soup 1 small = 5 mg ½ cup = 614 mg 1 cup = 649 mg Pork Bacon Ham 3 ounces = 56 mg 4 slices = 331 mg 3 ounces = 1124 mg BC Renal • BCRenalAgency.ca Developed by the Renal Dietitians of British Columbia • September 2019.

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