Last updated on June 15th, 2023
Hydration is an essential part of staying healthy. Seniors in care communities are often at a greater risk for dehydration because as we age our bodies hold less water, and may also be less likely to sense thirst. Hydration helps to promote brain function, intestinal comfort and kidney health. A good dining program can support both hydration and kidney friendly diet.
Why Proper Hydration is Essential to Better Kidney Health
Kidneys are responsible for functions that keep the body in balance, like removing waste and fluids, filtering blood, controlling red blood cell production, making vitamins that control growth, releasing hormones that help regulate blood pressure, and regulating red blood cells and nutrients in the body.
Water is key to helping kidneys remove waste from the blood. Water can also help keep blood vessels open so that blood can easily travel to the kidneys and give them essential nutrients. But if someone is dehydrated, this process doesn’t run smoothly. Drinking water often can also help reduce the risk of kidney stones and urinary tract infections.
Research also shows that water can benefit those with nephrolithiasis, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and polycystic kidney disease (PKD).
Special Diets for Those with Kidney Disease
When the kidneys are damaged, they can’t do those jobs properly. And research shows that more than 50% of seniors over the age of 75 are believed to have kidney disease. When it comes to hydration, it’s also important to not give a person on dialysis too much or too little fluids. Having too many fluids in the blood can make a resident’s dialysis treatment more challenging. For senior residents who actually need to cut back on fluids because of dialysis treatments, avoid giving them foods with high water content. These types of foods include soups, ice, and some fruits and vegetables. Your dining team must understand which types of diets are best for those with kidney issues.
What a Good Renal Diet Looks Like
First, let’s go over what those with kidney disease should eat. Seniors with kidney issues should avoid excessive potassium, sodium, and phosphorus. The kidneys have a hard time filtering out too much of any of those minerals, so they should be limited in a renal diet. It’s important to work with each resident’s doctor to figure out how much of each mineral the person should have in their diet because each person with kidney disease is different.
Some typical foods that are great for people with kidney disease include:
- Cauliflower – Cauliflower is low in potassium and it’s full of vitamin C, folate, fiber, and other good-for-you nutrients. Plus, it has many uses. Your kitchen could roast it, put it in a curry, use it as a rice substitute, stir-fry it, or turn it into pasta or pizza crust!
- Egg whites – Egg yolks are very high in phosphorus, but the whites aren’t. Make some egg-white omelets or frittatas for a healthy, kidney-friendly breakfast.
- Strawberries and blueberries – Both types of berries are full of fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins. Serve them in salads, cereals, smoothies, or as a healthy dessert option.
- Olive oil – Olive oil is low in sodium, potassium, and phosphorus and is a healthy alternative for cooking or for making salad dressings and dips.
- Fish – Fish is high in omega-3 fatty acids, and according to the National Kidney Foundation, these fatty acids can “decrease risk of abnormal heartbeats, decrease triglyceride levels and slightly lower blood pressure.” Some of our favorite omega-3 rich fish include salmon, mackerel, sardines, and sea bass.
- Herbs, lemon juice, and garlic – Because residents with kidney issues need to limit their salt intake, your kitchen should rely on other foods to “season” meals. Tasty herbs like basil and dill can add a lot of flavor where salt is lacking. The same goes for lemon juice and garlic. Don’t be afraid to explore different combinations of herbs and citrus juices when you’re coming up with new menu items.
Keeping Communities Hydrated
We’ve all heard the guideline that people should drink eight glasses of water per day, but that’s not totally true. People should drink the amount of water that’s right for their individual body (clear or light yellow urine is a good indication that someone is properly hydrated). Talk to a doctor or dietitian to figure out exactly how much water residents should be drinking each day.
To promote good hydration across your community, make access to water extremely easy for residents. Set up water stations with plain and fruit-flavored waters. You can also get creative and serve fun drinks that have a lot of water in them, like agua frescas. Here’s one of our favorite agua fresca recipes to serve:
Aguas Fresca
Ingredients
4 cups water
2 cups fresh fruit, cleaned, seeded, and cut into medium chunks (select ripe melon, watermelon, pineapple, papaya, mango, cucumber, or peach) – additional fruit for garnish (optional)
Fresh lime juice, about ½ cup, and lime wedges for garnish (optional)
Chilled Simple Syrup (1 cup sugar + 1 cup water, microwave to warm water and stir until sugar melts)
Method
- Combine water and fruit in a blender. Blend until smooth.
- Pour into a large pitcher. Add lime juice, stir.
- Chill, covered, at least 6 hours or overnight.
- Before serving, taste a small amount. Adjust to desired sweetness with simple syrup.
- Serve well chilled. Traditionally, aguas fresca is not served over ice, but can be as desired.
- Garnish with fresh herbs (cilantro, mint, basil) and slices of the fruit used or lime wedges.
For something extra special, rub a lime wedge around the rim of a frozen pint glass and dip into a small plate sprinkled with Tajin Clasico spice blend, then pour Aguas Fresca into class being careful not to hit the rim.
What Your Dining Team Needs to Know About Kidney Health
Your dining team must focus on a good diet and hydration for your residents with kidney issues. It’s also important that these meals and drinks are tasty so residents want to eat them and are motivated to stay healthy.
If you’d like help from some dining experts, contact Culinary Services Group here. We can help your team come up with healthy, tasty menus for your residents with kidney issues (or any other health conditions. We understand that good nutrition is essential to the well-being of all of your residents, and we know how to make healthy food taste delicious!
