Good Sources of Protein for Dialysis Patients

Provided by DaVita® Dietitians

Dialysis treatments remove protein waste from your blood. A low-protein diet is no longer needed to control protein waste buildup because this is accomplished by dialysis. A higher protein intake is needed to replace protein lost during dialysis and to help keep you well nourished and healthy. Below are some foods that are good sources of protein when you’re on dialysis.

Poultry

• Chicken
• Cornish game hen
• Turkey

Red meat

• Beef
• Lamb
• Veal

Fresh pork

• Pork chop
• Pork roast

Seafood

• Clams
• Crab
• Lobster
• Scallops
• Shrimp

Eggs

• Egg whites
• Liquid egg substitute

Fish

• Fresh or frozen fish (cod, halibut, salmon, sole, swordfish, trout)
• Unsalted, canned fish (tuna)

Your dietitian can help you create an eating plan that provides enough protein to meet your kidney diet prescription. Protein added to your diet will help enable you to losing muscle mass and support your body by having the resources to help fight infection.