Why you need to restrict your fluid intake
In renal failure, your kidneys may produce little or no urine. If you drink more fluid than you pass out in urine then the fluid builds up inside your body and can cause:
- an increase in weight
- breathlessness
- raised blood pressure
- ankle swelling
These symptoms may be uncomfortable, but they can also be dangerous.
Your fluid intake should be restricted to _____ ml/day and will depend on your urine output.
Fluid intake is individual, so do not be guided by other patients.
What counts?
All drinks, including:
- tea, coffee, juice, squash, milk and supplement drinks
- milk on cereal
- ice cubes
- drinks consumed while on dialysis or when taking medications
Count any foods which are liquid or melt, for example:
- Savoury: soup, gravy, white sauce, cheese sauce or pepper sauce
- Sweet: custard, ice-cream, yoghurt, milk puddings or jelly
| One pint | 570ml |
|---|---|
| One litre | 1000ml |
| One teacup | 150ml |
| One mug | 300ml |
| One small glass | 180ml |
| One can of drink | 330ml |
| One tablespoon of sauce or one ice cube | 15 to 30ml |
| Small bowl porridge | 90ml |
| 100g jelly (small carton) | 85ml |
| 100g ice cream | 60ml |
| 75g custard | 60ml |
| 125g yoghurt (small carton) | 100ml |
Example
A fluid restriction of 750ml:
- three cups of 150ml tea
- two half cups (75ml) of water with medicines
- remaining 150ml could be used for milk on cereal or puddings
Helpful hints to help you keep within your fluid restriction
- Salt and salty foods will make you thirsty so try to avoid them.
- Use a small cup for drinks which holds no more than 150ml.
- Measure out the volume of liquid you are allowed using a marked jug.
- Spread your daily fluid through the day.
- Take drinks between meals not with meals.
- Take drinks which quench your thirst. Very sweet or salty drinks will not do this.
- Sip your drinks, do not gulp them! Try a straw with cold drinks to slow you down.
- Have a variety of different flavoured drinks.
- Try to suck small ice cubes if you are thirsty (count each ice cube as 15ml) – these can be flavoured with squash if you prefer.
- Try rinsing your mouth with a mouthwash or ice cold water, but do not swallow it.
- You do not need to count the water used to cook pasta or rice. Ensure they are drained well before eating.
Salt or salty foods
These will make you thirsty, so avoiding them will help you keep within your fluid restriction. If you add salt during cooking, try to gradually reduce the amount used so that your taste buds adapt and you get to the point where you do not add any salt. Instead of adding salt you can try using alternative flavourings in your cooking which will not affect your thirst, such as:
- spices
- pepper
- garlic
- herbs
- lemon juice
- vinegar
Avoid salt substitutes, for example Lo salt, Suolo or Saxa So Low, because these can be very high in potassium.
It is best to limit the number of takeaway and processed foods you eat, as these often contain a lot of salt. Instead, where possible, try to cook homemade meals or choose lower-salt ready meals. When shopping you can check and compare food labels:
- high salt content: more than 1.5g salt (or 0.6g sodium) per 100g product
- low salt content: less that 0.3g salt (or 0.1g sodium) per 100g product
| Try these lower salt foods | Instead of these higher salt foods |
|---|---|
| Try these lower salt foods Fresh and frozen meat, homemade pies and burgers | Instead of these higher salt foods Cured or processed meat such as bacon, ham, tinned meat, sausages, burgers, salami, pork pies, meat pastes, pâté |
| Try these lower salt foods Fresh unsmoked fish, tinned fish in oil or water | Instead of these higher salt foods Tinned fish in brine, smoked fish, salt fish |
| Try these lower salt foods Soft natural cheeses, yoghurt, cream | Instead of these higher salt foods Processed soft or hard cheeses, hard cheese, feta cheese, salted butter |
| Try these lower salt foods Breads, biscuits, pasta, rice, other cereals, porridge oats | Instead of these higher salt foods Salted savoury crackers |
| Try these lower salt foods Experiment with herbs, spices, vinegars, lemon juice | Instead of these higher salt foods Bottled sauces, ketchup, soy sauce, Pot Noodles, packet soups, gravy granules, stock cubes |
| Try these lower salt foods Look for ‘reduced salt’ food labels and green traffic light symbols for salt on food packaging | Instead of these higher salt foods Pizza, salted snacks, crisps, salted nuts, pretzels, many ‘fast foods’ and ready meals |
If you have any questions, please contact your renal dietitian on 01223 216665.
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CB2 0QQ
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https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/contact-us/contact-enquiries/