Mathea Ford's Blog, page 61

Daily Meal Plan for Chronic Kidney Disease

The hardest part of living with a metabolic disorder is often the drastic changes you need to make to your diet and lifestyle. It can be hard to even get a basic idea of what you can eat, especially when you are inundated with information about what you should not eat. In order to live your healthiest life and to ensure your own comfort while living with chronic kidney disease, it is important to maintain an appropriate diet. Unfortunately, focusing too much on what you cannot have can make changes a lot more difficult, and can lead to feeling disheartened or discouraged.

To help you better understand the types of foods you can and should be eating on a chronic kidney disease diet, here is an example meal plan for one week.

Sunday

Breakfast: Pancakes topped with fresh blueberries and maple syrup.
Lunch: Chicken salad on toast.
Dinner: Grilled or broiled kabobs with shrimp, onion, and various colored bell peppers. Serve over white rice.
Snacks: Sliced bell peppers, celery, and carrot sticks.

Monday

Breakfast: Cream of wheat cereal with cinnamon and honey.
Lunch: Use leftover kabobs to make wraps with fresh cabbage leaves.
Dinner: Grilled chicken with steamed mixed vegetables.
Snacks: Light yogurt, a cup of fresh berries.

Tuesday

Breakfast: Yogurt parfait with granola and berries.
Lunch: Leftover chicken pita sandwich.
Dinner: Salmon and rice pilaf with carrots and peas.
Snacks: Red grapes, unsalted crackers with almond butter

Wednesday

Breakfast: Egg white omelet with onions, bell pepper, and cheddar cheese.
Lunch: Spinach salad with strawberries, almonds, and vinaigrette dressing.
Dinner: Fish tacos with fresh cabbage slaw.
Snacks: Sliced bell peppers, fresh strawberries.

Thursday

Breakfast: English muffin breakfast sandwich with egg whites, turkey bacon, lettuce, and tomato.
Lunch: Tuna salad served over greens.
Dinner: Stuffed bell peppers with ground turkey, rice, garlic, corn, and spices.
Snacks: Fruit salad

Friday

Breakfast: Crepes filled with apples and cinnamon.
Lunch: Pasta salad with low sodium pesto, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber.
Dinner: Thin crust pizza with veggie toppings and light cheese.
Dessert: Baked apple crisp made with fresh apples, granola, and cinnamon.
Snacks: Cucumber slices, fresh strawberries.

Saturday

Breakfast: French toast with bananas, walnuts, and maple syrup
Lunch: Buffalo wings made with low sodium hot sauce.
Dinner: Fish cooked in foil packets with carrots and potatoes.
Snacks: Baby carrots, no salt pretzels

As you can see from this simple meal plan, there are so many foods that you can enjoy even on a kidney-friendly diet. This example daily meal plan can help serve as a template to get you started. Keep in mind that dietary restrictions will vary based on the stages of kidney disease. All of the foods on this list are healthy and generally approved for a chronic kidney disease diet, although you should always talk to your healthcare provider before making any changes to your diet. Once you get used to all of the foods you still can enjoy, you can use this template to build your own daily meal plan.

The post Daily Meal Plan for Chronic Kidney Disease appeared first on Renal Diet Menu Headquarters.

Suggested Reading:

Successful Chronic Kidney Disease Meal Plans
On The Go Lunches for Chronic Kidney Disease
Using A Chronic Renal Failure Meal Plan for PreDialysis Kidney Disease

Understanding Cholesterol and Its Effects on a Healthy Heart

When you think of having a healthy heart, cholesterol is a word that may come up often. This is because having too much cholesterol in your body can be dangerous for your health – and your heart.

It’s also very important that you manage your cholesterol for your chronic kidney disease. Cholesterol can have harmful effects on your renal functions, if too much is present in the blood.

What Exactly is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy, fatty substance that comes from foods we eat. Your body does need some cholesterol in order to perform functions like cell growth and the creation of hormones and digestive fluids. A healthy liver can make all the cholesterol that your body needs to function properly. However, we also get cholesterol from the foods we eat.

There are two types of cholesterol found in the body…

HDL – This is the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. People may refer to it as the “good cholesterol” because it works to pull the excess cholesterol from your body and return it to the liver. The liver can then eliminate this cholesterol from your body.

LDL – This is the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. It is referred to as the “bad cholesterol” because it is the kind that can create plaque in the arteries, which can lead to a host of serious health problems.

Foods that Contain Cholesterol

A primary source of cholesterol in our diet is from animal sources. You can get cholesterol from:

Eggs
Meat
Cheese

Also, consuming saturated fats or trans fat help to raise your cholesterol level. They may raise the “bad” cholesterol while lowering the “good”.

Foods that contain saturated fats or trans fats include:

Dairy products
Chocolate
Fried foods
Processed foods

Check the labels on products before you purchase them to check their fat content.

Other Factors for your Cholesterol Levels

More than just food can affect your cholesterol levels. For one, your age may play a role in the level of cholesterol in your body. People tend to have higher cholesterol as they get older.

Heredity is another common factor. Sometimes high cholesterol levels can run in families, even if you watch what you eat.

Your weight is yet another factor that can contribute to your cholesterol level. Those who are overweight tend to have more cholesterol that those at a healthy weight.

Monitoring your Cholesterol

With your body producing cholesterol and the foods you eat giving you more, it’s possible to have high levels of cholesterol in your body. This is a medical condition that your doctor can determine by doing a lipid panel.

Your blood will be drawn and tested in a lab to determine the amount of cholesterol in your blood. You will likely get three scores: one for your LDL, one for HDL, and one for total cholesterol.

Desired ranges for cholesterol in chronic kidney disease patients include:

200 milligrams of less total cholesterol
Less than 100mg of LDL (bad) cholesterol for CKD patients
Less than 70mg of LDL (bad) cholesterol for CKD and diabetes
60mg or more of HDL (good) cholesterol to protect against heart disease

Dangers of High Cholesterol for CKD Patients

If your cholesterol is found to be high, you must immediately take steps to lower it back to the healthy levels. If not, you can be putting yourself at risk for serious health concerns.

Elevated levels of cholesterol in the blood create plaque in the arteries. The result can be high blood pressure as well as a condition called atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is when the plaque buildup in your arteries hardens and makes it difficult for your heart to effectively pump blood throughout the body. It can lead to a number of even more serious complications, including:

Coronary Artery Disease – When these arteries cannot supply enough blood to your heart, you may suffer a heart attack.
Carotid Artery Disease – When these articles cannot supply enough oxygen-rich blood to your brain, you may suffer a stroke.

On top of the heart related medical conditions that high cholesterol can cause, it can also wreak havoc on your kidneys. This is why CKD patients should always have their cholesterol monitored and work to keep the levels in the healthy range.

When your cholesterol is too high, blood cannot properly flow to your organs, which includes your kidneys. This may speed up the deterioration of your kidney function.

How to Keep your Cholesterol in Check

Aside from having a lipid panel done regularly at the doctor, there other ways you can ensure that your cholesterol is remaining in the healthy ranges.

Diet Changes for Cholesterol

Eat a renal diet low in saturated fats and cholesterol. Also, stay away from trans fats in foods.
Increase your intake of soluble fiber, which is found in fresh fruits and vegetables.
Choose lean meats, poultry, and seafood. Remove any visible fat from meats before cooking.
Avoid frying foods. Instead, prepare them by steaming, roasting, or baking.
Substitute herbs and spices for butter and sauces when adding flavor to your meals.
Purchase fat-free versions of products when possible.
Always read the labels on products when grocery shopping.

Lifestyle Changes for Cholesterol

Exercise at minimum four days per week, 30 minutes per day. Physical activity will help lower your LDL level while increasing your HDL. It will also improve your heart function and help regulate diabetes.
Quit smoking, which can also make it difficult for your heart to work effectively.
Take medications. If your doctor doesn’t see a substantial change in your cholesterol after modifying your diet and adding exercise, you may be prescribed medicine to control your cholesterol level.

As you can see, it is extremely important for those with chronic kidney disease to understand cholesterol and be able to effectively control it for a healthy heart. If not, high cholesterol can cause some serious health issues for you!

 

 

The post Understanding Cholesterol and Its Effects on a Healthy Heart appeared first on Renal Diet Menu Headquarters.

Suggested Reading:

Blood Lipids and How to Keep Them at Healthy Levels with CKD
Lifestyle Changes You Must Adopt for a Healthy Heart
Cardio Exercises for a Healthy Heart

The Link between Constipation and CKD

If you have been suffering from constipation, there may be some cause for concern regarding your kidney function and health. According to a study published by the Journal of The American Society of Nephrology, constipation sufferers are 13% more likely to develop chronic kidney disease than adults who do not have issues with constipation.

And the risk could be increased, depending on the severity of the constipation being experienced.

Medical researchers aren’t ready to say that constipation is a cause of CKD, rather that there is a link between gut health and kidney health.

What is Constipation?

A person is said to have constipation if either of the following are true:

Less than 3 bowel movements each week
Bowel movements containing stools which are hard and/or dry, which makes this difficult to pass from the body

Constipation is a very common gastrointestinal condition that affects over 42 million people in the US alone. Common side effects of prolonged constipation include hemorrhoids and rectal prolapse. Long-term constipation also increases the risk for cardiovascular disease in older adults.

Finding the Connection Between Constipation and CKD

To help determine if there was any link between constipation and chronic kidney disease, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and Memphis VA Medical Center teamed up for a study of over 3 million United States veterans with healthy kidney function. The subjects were examined in 2004, 2006, and then again in 2013.

According to an article in Newswise, the study concluded that, “patients with constipation had a 13% higher likelihood of developing chronic kidney disease and a 9% higher likelihood of developing kidney failure.”

Gut health is important for CKD patients, and not just because of the risks associated with constipation. Researchers also believe that some of the uremic toxins that have been linked to the progression of chronic kidney disease in some patients can originate in the gut bacteria.

How to Prevent Constipation and Promote Good Gut Health

Activities for preventing constipation and improving gut health are similar. You should do the following in order to help reduce the chances of suffering from constipation as well as creating a healthier gut.

Eat a well-balanced diet with beans, fresh fruits, and vegetables included.
Increase your fiber intake. This promotes healthy bowel movements and stimulates the growth of the good gut bacteria. High fiber foods include apples, blueberries, navy beans, pears, and dates.
Consume prebiotic foods. These foods contain fiber or complex carbs that the body itself cannot digest. The bacteria found in your digestive tract break these down and use them for energy.
Avoid skipping meals. Eating throughout the day keeps the food moving through your digestive system. If you skip a meal, this process stops, causing your body to retain the wastes longer than it should. This not only causes constipation but can also mess with the healthy balance of gut bacteria.
Stay hydrated. Getting the recommended amount of 64 ounces (8 cups) of water per day will help keep things moving well through the gut.

As you can see, constipation is a very common digestive issue for many Americans. What you may not have known, however, is that there is a link between this common occurrence and chronic kidney disease. Be sure you are eating healthy and taking the proper precautions to keep your digestive tract and gut healthy in order to reduce the chances of constipation and other medical issues!

 

 

The post The Link between Constipation and CKD   appeared first on Renal Diet Menu Headquarters.

Suggested Reading:

Can I Eat Corn On A Renal Diet?
What to Eat For Renal Disease and Diabetes
How Yoga Can Help Control your CKD

Understanding the Risk of Heart Disease as a Chronic Kidney Disease Patient

With heart disease being the leading cause of death for adults in the U.S., it is imperative that everyone understands the seriousness of this condition. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), “About 630,000 Americans die from heart disease each year—that’s 1 in every 4 deaths.”

And if your already suffer from chronic kidney disease, you are automatically at risk for heart disease. In fact, more CKD patients die from heart disease or related problems than they do from kidney failure.

What is Heart Disease?

There may be some confusion about the term “heart disease” and what it entails. The larger umbrella term is “cardiovascular disease (CVD)” which refers to conditions related to the heart or blood vessels. Heart disease is a subset of CVD, which usually just refers to any condition where the heart cannot properly pump blood throughout the body.

Heart disease significantly increases your chances of a heart attack. The most common form of heart disease is coronary heart disease, also called coronary artery disease. This is when the arteries that supply oxygen to the heart become partially or fully blocked by plaque buildup caused by cholesterol and other materials.

Once you have been diagnosed with heart disease, you will always have it. There are procedures that can help lessen your symptoms or possibly reduce the risk of a heart attack, but preventing the condition in the first place is always key!

What are the Risk Factors of Heart Disease?

There are some conditions that may contribute to your risk of having heart disease. These include:

High blood pressure – Hypertension can weaken the heart and arteries. This makes it even easier for the arteries to be blocked by plaque.
High cholesterol levels – The plaque that builds up in the arteries is created by excessive cholesterol in the body.
Smoking – Tobacco can contribute to the plaque buildup in the arteries and veins. Nicotine helps raise your blood pressure, and the carbon monoxide lowers the oxygen your blood carries to your heart and other organs. Secondhand smoke can be just as dangerous for nonsmokers as smoking.
Diabetes – People with diabetes tend to have a higher fat content in the blood. This can cause damage to the heart and blood vessels as well as create blockages.
Obesity – Being extremely overweight is typically linked to other risk factors for heart disease, including high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
Excessive alcohol consumption – Alcohol elevates your blood pressure and increases your triglycerides, which is a blood lipid similar to cholesterol.
Sedentary lifestyle – Like obesity, being physically inactive is linked to other contributing factors of heart disease.

How are Heart Disease and Chronic Kidney Disease Related?

For one, both heart disease and CKD share primary causes: hypertension (high blood pressure) and diabetes.

So, if you have one issue, you are at a greater risk of developing the other.

High Blood Pressure

Chronic kidney disease can further complicate hypertension because your kidneys cannot work properly to filter excess water, salt, and wastes from the blood. Over time, high blood pressure weakens the heart and blood vessels.

In turn, having high blood pressure makes it difficult to get oxygen-rich blood to the kidneys. This accelerates the decline of kidney function for patients with chronic kidney disease. It’s a vicious cycle that can truly compromise your health.

As stated above, high blood pressure is common cause of heart disease. So it’s easy to see why this condition and CKD are closely related.

Diabetes

With diabetes, you often have too much glucose (sugar) in the blood. This overabundance can damage the blood vessels throughout the body, including in your kidneys. Over time, your kidneys will stop functioning properly due to the excess glucose, causing chronic kidney disease to occur.

As mentioned, diabetes is a common cause of heart disease due to the buildup of plaque in the arteries and the damage that results.

Seeing that these two primary causes are shared by both heart disease and CKD, it’s no real wonder how the two are so closely related. It’s possible to solely have one medical condition or the other, but the overlap between the two has become so great, it is essential that you take care of yourself once you have been diagnosed with one of these disease.

If you have a kidney disorder, you definitely want to make sure you are living a heart-healthy lifestyle!

How to Lower your Risk of Heart Disease

Chronic kidney disease patients want to make sure they take extra care of their health to prevent heart disease and other related medical issues. Here’s how you can do this:

Stop smoking.
Avoid consuming more than one glass of alcohol each day.
Eat a healthy renal diet, following your dietary restrictions set forth by your doctor.
Avoid saturated fats, trans fat, and high cholesterol foods.
Consume a diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables for the healthy vitamins and minerals they provide.
Exercise regularly to maintain a healthy weight and help burn off fat and calories.
Visit the doctor regularly, getting your blood sugar, blood pressure, and lipid levels monitored.
Learn how to relieve stress and help you relax without turning to food, cigarettes, or alcohol.

Hopefully, this extensive overview of heart disease, and the risks that a CKD patient has in having heart issues, sheds some light on how the two conditions are intertwined. Above all, lead a healthy lifestyle that benefits your heart and kidneys to reduce the risks of any further serious medical problems!

 

 

 

 

The post Understanding the Risk of Heart Disease as a Chronic Kidney Disease Patient appeared first on Renal Diet Menu Headquarters.

Suggested Reading:

Complications of CKD that Can Increase your Risk of Heart Disease
Understanding the Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease
Common Risk Factors for Chronic Kidney Disease

Renal Diet Friendly Meals you can Freeze for Busy Nights

Being on a renal diet can sound daunting for those with a busy life. You may think you can’t possibly stick to your dietary restrictions when you are on the go. Maybe you have children – or grandchildren – to raise or you still work full-time among other commitments.

One solution you can use to keep up with your renal diet is freezer meals. Not the processed frozen dinners you buy at the store, but real, healthy meals that you prepare ahead of time and then place in the freezer for those busy nights when you don’t have the time or energy to cook.

With these renal diet friendly freezer recipes, you can stick to your restrictions and not be tempted to hit the fast food drive-thru. It will take just as much time and effort to come home, microwave a plate and sit down to eat.

Renal Diet Friendly Meals you can Freeze for Busy Nights

We have taken the time to develop a list of renal diet meals you can freeze for those busy nights. Cook these over the weekend to prepare yourself for your busy schedule.

Renal Friendly Homemade Sausage Patties – This recipe from Genius Kitchen could be used for a quick breakfast or dinner. With the meat already cooked, you can reheat it while throwing sides together for a quick and healthy meal.

Chicken and Vegetable Bake – This DaVita.com recipe gives you 6 portions! It would be great for dinner a couple nights during a busy week. With meat and produce already in the bake, all you need to do is heat up this dish and serve it alone.

King Ranch Casserole – Casseroles may be the ULTIMATE in freezer meals for busy nights. They are easy to prepare, and you have all the ingredients you need inside the single dish. No sides required!

This renal diet casserole is one of many slow-cooker recipes included in a downloadable Renal Friendly Recipes cookbook from Children’s Dialysis of Central Texas in Austin. Find it on page 5!

Kidney Diet Friendly Chicken Noodle Soup – Our very own chicken noodle soup is perfect for a make-ahead meal! Just prepare the soup and put it in containers in the freezer, than reheat when you’re hungry. These six servings will go far on a renal diet!

Turkey Vegetable Chili – Chili is another favorite freezer recipe for many, so we had to include a renal diet version for busy people! This chili counts as 2 servings of vegetables, making it easier to hit your goals without all that time or effort!

As you can see there are many renal diet friendly freezer meals you can use for your busiest days. We all have those days where we don’t feel like cooking. With a little preparation over the weekend, you can still eat a healthy diet that includes your dietary restrictions without slaving over the stove for 1-2 hours!

 

 

 

The post Renal Diet Friendly Meals you can Freeze for Busy Nights appeared first on Renal Diet Menu Headquarters.

Suggested Reading:

Renal Diet Recipes – Easy Chicken Noodle Soup – Low Sodium and Kidney Diet Friendly
Kidney Friendly Meals for the Whole Family
Great Kidney Friendly Potluck Recipes

Renal Diet Podcast 086: Can You Eat Pasta with Renal Disease?

Renal Diet Podcast 086: Can You Eat Pasta with Renal Disease?

Podcast #86 Released on March 23, 2018

I want to talk to you about eating pasta on a kidney diet because believe it or not it’s actually national noodle month. March is National Kidney Disease Month or Kidney Awareness Month and it’s also National Nutrition Month so as a dietitian, I’m interested in all of those.

So, I wanted to talk to you today about eating pasta on a kidney diet because a lot of times we see here all these weird diets and I shouldn’t call them weird but they’re weird, like low carb, Atkins – all that stuff and those diets might work for someone who is not experiencing a chronic disease and not dealing with a chronic disease but you, if you have kidney disease or you have a family member who has kidney disease, then you’re one of those people that really needs to follow a more traditional diet without trying to eliminate everything because you’re already going to have to manage and minimize some of those things that you already are eating like protein.

Pasta is kind of like its a little bit harder to give you nutritional information on because pastas a variety of things – it’s noodles, it’s egg noodles, it’s rotini, it’s spaghetti – it’s all those things so I can’t tell you specifically depending on the brand you certainly can look at the label but it’s definitely going to be lower potassium, lower phosphorus and potatoes. One cooked spaghetti serving which is usually about a half a cup has about 200 calories 7 mg of protein and 40 grams of carb so actually that’s probably closer to a cup if it has 40 grams of carbs and some fiber and it’s going to be enriched so it’s going to have some extra B vitamins in it. So, if you had about a cup of cooked spaghetti you’re already getting seven grams of protein just purely from the flour that’s in the spaghetti so if you’re protein just purely from the flour that’s in the spaghetti.

If you’re managing the amount of protein that you’re eating you want to be aware that pasta can be a source of protein; it can be good, if you’re on a vegetarian diet, it can be a good source of protein for you there. It’s typically low in phosphorus and potassium and that’s something that a lot of people are watching and it can be low in sodium; you just have to look at the label to be clear. But when you’re doing it, the main thing is to make sure you’re not putting it with things that are high in sodium or high in phosphorus and potassium like red sauce. If you’re going to have red sauce you might want to make your own and that you can make it in a little lower sodium version.

We’re going to have some new spices coming out on the Nickanny’s kitchen line and they’ll be salt free and you can use those to make a good sauce I’m going to have an Italian one eventually. I’m going to have in the Facebook group or in the Facebook page on this page we’re going to have if you are listening on the podcast it’s facebook.com/renaldiet, we’re going to have a poll for you to tell me what the next spice should be. I’ve already decided the first one it’s like a pepper blend with some cumin and chili still thinking of a name but next one, I’m going have a list of about four different ones that you can give me your vote on.

White versions of pasta in your meal. You want to avoid like the whole grains just because they tend to have a little more potassium and phosphorus in them so if you’re really concerned about that you want to stick to the whole grains. Watch out for the sodium content again, just make sure that whatever you’ve got, you’ve looked on the back of the nutritional panel, picked the one with the lowest sodium content and stay away from pastas with added protein. Sometimes, I already said you have about 7 grams of protein in a cup and sometimes they add protein just for vegetarians or people who may want to eat more protein that’s not you so go ahead and watch for that feature because you don’t want to pick those you want to manage the amount of protein whether you’re on a diabetic or a pre dialysis diet and you should definitely eat in moderation just knowing that it’s 200 calories in half in a cup can be a lot of calories if you’re trying to gain weight that can be fine. It can be filling so it’s good; you just have to watch the portions. Really, that’s the main thing that you need to pay attention to.

We have a recipe on the website, Chicken Noodle Soup. It’s the most popular vlog post I will see if I can put a link to it because it is the most popular vlog post on my website and people love it and its got noodles in it. It’s a low-sodium chicken noodle soup and let me see if I can. So, if you want to go over there, you can print the recipe or you can sign up and it’ll send you the recipe in a PDF form. That’s the main thing that I wanted to review today on the blog post that I put in there; there’s also the blog post that talks about pasta in a renal diet kind of goes over everything I talked about that also has some other recipes that are good for people with kidney disease.

The other thing I wanted to talk about today, I’ve been feeling this urge to be grateful and to show a lot of gratitude and I’ve heard that a lot in people around me saying I’m grateful for this or I try to be grateful for things or I find things every day to be grateful for. So, I wanted to talk to you today because I’m going to do a five day challenge on the Facebook page and so between now and Easter is coming up on the 1st of April this 2018, so we have 5 days including today Tuesday Wednesday Thursday five days. Yeah, something like that. Anyway, between now and Saturday, everyday I’m going to post something that I’m grateful for and I would like you to go to the blog post or not to the blog post to the Facebook page and tell me something that you’re grateful for.

I think we’re all grateful for a lot of things and we forget to take a minute to say “I’m really glad that I have this in my life.” Maybe you’re grateful for your grandchildren, I’m grateful definitely for my children I had a very difficult second pregnancy, the first one was kind of tough and the second one was really tough and if you don’t know the story and I probably have never told you, my daughter was born at 27 weeks and she was 1 pound in 40 ounces and yet, I can post a picture of her in the Facebook page but she looks just like a normal sixth grader today and I’m grateful for all that she has and become and I’m grateful that you know we have modern medicine and we had access to that medicine when she was born. So, I remind myself that sometimes I have so much to be grateful for and yet I spend a lot of time thinking about things that I’m not so grateful for so I want to spend the next five days using a lot of my extra energy to show what I’m really grateful for. So, I’m going to post in there I’m going to say something every day that I’m grateful for and I’d like you to add and that’s going to start after this live video I’m going to go in and create that post and so I’d like you to add to it if you can and then last thing for the day is I wanted to just remind you that you have a lot of you have everything within you that you need to overcome whatever difficulties you’re having so if you’re feeling like the kidney disease is really hard or the renal diet is really hard you do have whatever it is you need information but it’s within you that you can do that so I just want to remind you and be your encouragement today that don’t ever forget that you are the one who can make those changes and you’re able to do those things.

 

Email me at podcast@renaldiethq.com for suggestions

Find us on iTunes at: www.renaldiethq.com/itunes

Find us on stitcher radio at: www.renaldiethq.com/go/stitcher

 

 

The post Renal Diet Podcast 086: Can You Eat Pasta with Renal Disease? appeared first on Renal Diet Menu Headquarters.

Suggested Reading:

Renal Diet Podcast 062 – Low Sodium Picnic and Potluck Recipes
Renal Diet Podcast 079 – Easy To Make Casseroles Kidney Disease
Renal Diet Podcast 078 – Vegetarian Meals For Kidney Failure

Can You Eat Pasta on a Renal Diet?

Did you know that March is National Noodle Month? With pasta being a staple in many people’s diet, it’s no wonder the National Pasta Association (yes, that’s a REAL thing) would dedicate a whole month to it!

But, is pasta safe to eat on a renal diet? If you have chronic kidney disease, you may be wondering if you can still enjoy your favorite pasta and noodle dishes while still maintaining your dietary restrictions.

Nutrition Information for Pasta

It’s hard to give you exact details for the nutritional value of pasta, since different kinds and brands will vary. However, as an example…

One serving of cooked spaghetti noodles contains 200 calories, 7 grams of protein, and 40 grams of carbohydrates, and also 2 grams of fiber. The enriched fiber of regular pasta makes it a good source of iron, folate, thiamine, niacin and riboflavin.

Pasta is typically low in phosphorus and potassium. Since most renal diets for chronic kidney disease limit the intake of these minerals, you would be safe to eat pasta without consuming too much of them.

When you are making pasta, you want to be sure you aren’t pairing it with foods that aren’t a part of your renal diet. Heavy meats or sauces can contain too much sodium, phosphorus, or potassium to fit within your CKD dietary guidelines.

Precautions for Pasta in your Renal Diet

Stick with white versions of pasta in your meals. Some whole grain varieties produce wastes in the body that are very difficult for those with chronic kidney disease to process. Choosing white pasta can help with this.
Watch out for sodium content. It’s been said many times on this blog that sodium is NOT good for the kidneys. Before eating a pasta dish, or adding pasta to your meal, check the label to find out how much sodium you will be consuming.
Stay away from pasta with added protein. Some brands offer an “Added Protein” option for their pasta products. It is important that you note this feature if you are on a limited protein renal diet.
Eat pasta in moderation. With your CKD renal diet, moderation is always key. Avoid having pasta for every meal, but it is something most chronic kidney disease patients can enjoy on occasion.

Healthy Pasta Meals for your Renal Diet

If you are looking for healthy ideas for a pasta dish that works with your renal diet, here are a few to help.

Creamy Pasta Primavera – This recipe from DaVita calls for whole-wheat bow-tie pasta, but you can always substitute white pasta if needed.

Easy Chicken Noodle Soup – Our healthy soup is perfect for the cooler winter months. It’s a great low-sodium option that fits in with most renal diets.
Rotini with Mock Italian Sausage – This dish comes from a downloadable cookbook from Kidney.org. There are several good meals here, not just pasta dishes that would follow most renal diets.
Spicy Shrimp Linguine – A delicious renal diet friendly pasta dish shared on The Kidney Foundation of Canada website from a registered dietician!

 

 

 

 

 

The post Can You Eat Pasta on a Renal Diet? appeared first on Renal Diet Menu Headquarters.

Suggested Reading:

Renal Diet Recipes – Easy Chicken Noodle Soup – Low Sodium and Kidney Diet Friendly
Renal Diet Podcast 079 – Easy To Make Casseroles Kidney Disease
Renal Diet Casserole Recipe – Make Your Own Casseroles

Can I Eat Peanut Butter on a Renal Diet?

Peanut butter is a delicious food that many people enjoy on bread, crackers, or just on a spoon straight from the jar. Because it is loaded with protein, some see it as a healthy choice for a snack or even part of a meal – for regular adults. However, if you have been given a renal diet, is it still safe to eat peanut butter?

Let’s find out!

Nutritional Information for Peanut Butter

A serving of peanut butter has about 200 calories, depending on the brand. This may seem high, but the fiber and protein content help offset the calories since they keep your full longer. You could even call peanut butter a useful weight loss food!

Peanut butter also has a variety of nutritious ingredients, including Vitamin E, magnesium, potassium, and Vitamin B6. Studies have shown that regularly consuming peanut butter can help reduce the chance of heart disease and diabetes.

Dangers of Eating Peanut Butter on a Renal Diet

Your dietary restrictions that come with your chronic kidney disease diagnosis will help you determine whether or not you can enjoy peanut butter. Because it is high in potassium and phosphorus, it isn’t a healthy choice for all patients.

However, if you eat peanut butter in moderation, it should be okay. You can use it as an occasional alternative to meat. Just be careful of the nutrition facts when purchasing your peanut butter as well as portioning it out for your meal.

Also, you want to monitor the sodium content of the peanut butter you choose. Not all are created equal, and you can actually find “low sodium” or “no salt added” varieties in the supermarket to help with that restriction.

Peanut butter may be even more acceptable for a dialysis diet, since those patients will need to increase their protein intake. Again, moderation is still important!

Alternatives to Peanut Butter for a Renal Diet

If you are wary of the potassium and phosphorus content of peanut butter, there are some healthy substitutions you can make for the food. Spread jam, jelly, or honey on your bread as they tend to have less phosphorus. Just make sure the sugar content isn’t too crazy!

If you MUST have peanut butter with your renal diet, you can also take a phosphate binder when eating the food. This will reduce the absorption of phosphorus by the body.

The binders carry the phosphorus through your digestive system where it will come out in your stool – rather than getting into your bloodstream and making your kidneys work overtime to filter all of the excess.

As you can see, peanut butter could be a safe alternative to eating meat. However, it may be too high in phosphorus and potassium for some CKD patients. Speak with your doctor or dietician about eating peanut butter with your renal diet, and always exhibit proper portion control with the food!

 

 

The post Can I Eat Peanut Butter on a Renal Diet? appeared first on Renal Diet Menu Headquarters.

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How Does the GFR Work?

The GFR, or glomerular filtration rate, is the marker by which many of your health decisions will be made. Glomerular filtration rate is quite a mouthful and can seem very complicated. The more information you have at your disposal, however, the better able you can be to make the best decisions regarding your health.

So, soak up all the information you can about GFR with these commonly asked questions and answers:

What is GFR?

The glomerular filtration rate is a value that helps determine if you have kidney disease and also what stage of kidney disease you are in. Whatever the value of the GFR is, is checked against a range that determines how many functions your kidneys have.

What is the test to determine GFR?

The GFR is determined via a simple blood test. You will simply have some vials of blood removed just like you do for any routine testing. The calculation to achieve the GFR is much more complicated. You can, however, use a GFR calculator online to help calculate your own GFR value.

How is GFR calculated?

The GFR is determined with an equation that is called the “CKD-EPI Creatinine Equation”. This equation is a way to balance multiple factors along with creatinine levels to determine the level of kidney function.

What factors are included in the GFR calculation?

Your blood creatinine results are the main factor used to determine the GFR, along with age, sex, and race. Factors like race, of course, are not numerical values, thus the reason for such a complicated equation to determine the GFR.

How are the stages of kidney disease determined?

The stages of kidney disease are determined by the value of the GFR. Since the GFR calculates the level of kidney function, this can be used to categorize the stages of kidney disease.

A GFR value of 90 or higher is considered normal, or stage 1
A GFR of 60-89 is considered mild, or stage 2
A GFR of 45-59 is considered moderate, or stage 3A
A GFR of 30-44 is considered worsened moderate, or stage 3B
A GFR of 15-29 is considered severe, or stage 4
A GFR of less than 15 is considered end stage, or stage 5

What are other factors considered for kidney health?

Other risk factors, such as age, gender, and race are considered for the GFR. For overall kidney health, your doctor might also consider your past and family medical history, weight, and other health factors.

This may seem like a lot of information for one little test, but a lot is determined by your GFR. Your overall kidney disease diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment are all likely to be determined by this one calculation. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions about your GFR and how your results affect you.

The post How Does the GFR Work? appeared first on Renal Diet Menu Headquarters.

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How Yoga Can Help Control your CKD

Exercise is important for everyone, but especially so for chronic kidney disease patients. In order to keep your body healthy and your kidneys working to the best of their abilities, you must include regular exercise into your daily routine.

Yoga is increasing in popularity for helping to control CKD. It’s benefits have been known to help curb a lot of issues related to this long-term diagnosis.

What is Yoga?

According to the National Institutes of Health website:

“Yoga is a mind and body practice with historical origins in ancient Indian philosophy. Like other meditative movement practices used for health purposes, various styles of yoga typically combine physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation or relaxation.”

Many people, healthy and with ailments, use yoga to improve their health, wellbeing, and physical fitness. They may also practice yoga to help maintain specific conditions like anxiety or neck or back pain.

Studies have shown that CKD patients that practice yoga have a better chance of improving renal functions than those that only use conventional treatments. For most, it is seen as a safe therapy to reducing the effects or the disease, and may help to improve your quality of life while you deal with chronic kidney disease.

5 Benefits of Yoga for Chronic Kidney Disease

Yoga can help many people with a variety of ailments and conditions. Specifically, yoga helps those with CKD by:

Lowering Blood Pressure: Yoga involves meditation, which helps to calm your body and improve blood circulation. This can be a huge benefit for chronic kidney disease, because the condition and hypertension often go hand-in-hand.
Reducing Stress and Depression: The relaxation techniques in yoga can help you clear your mind and create a more positive outlook on life. While it’s common for CKD patients to experience depression, especially after diagnosis, performing yoga can help to develop coping skills and lower the negative thoughts and feelings.
Decreasing Water Retention: Many CKD patients have issues with swelling and fluid retention, especially as the condition advances and the kidneys are unable to effectively rid the body of water wastes. Yoga helps to get your body moving, reducing the water being stored in your body. For some patients, yoga could even reduce the amount of dialysis needed!
Improving Immunity: It’s common for chronic kidney disease patients to be more susceptible to illness. This is because their immune system is compromised, with the level of toxins left in the body since the kidneys aren’t working effectively. With yoga, you can fight to improve immunity against these wastes, helping to flush them out so your kidneys don’t have to work as hard.
Lowering Blood Sugar Levels: When you practice yoga poses, you are increasing the amount of glucose used by your muscles. This, in turns, help to keep your blood sugar levels low. This is why yoga is so great for diabetics, which is a common cause for impaired kidney function and CKD.

As you can see, yoga is a very beneficial practice for most chronic kidney disease patients. You’ll want to ask your doctor if yoga is right for you, but it is generally a safe way of life that many can benefit from.

The post How Yoga Can Help Control your CKD appeared first on Renal Diet Menu Headquarters.

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