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Renal Diet Podcast 085: Tips for Meal Prepping On A Renal Diet and More

Renal Diet Podcast 085: Tips for Meal Prepping On A Renal Diet and More

Podcast #85 Released on March 16, 2018

This morning, I am really excited to talk about this perfect topic which is a combination with our new spice line. I’m going to give you the chance to go to our website and sign up to be notified to be the first one when we’re ready to release and we’ll be releasing in late April, early May.

I’m currently working on recipes for our new spice line. It’s going to be called Nickanny’s Kitchen and Nickanny’s is the combination of my son’s name Nicholas and my daughter Bethany and it’s kind of spelled a little weird it’s N-I-C-K-A-N-N-Y apostrophe s but easy for you to go over to the website renaldiethq.com/spices and that’ll take you to a sign up for to get on the list for the early adopters and to get to know more about spices and what we’re doing with our spice line. Head on over there sign up I’ll let you know kind of what’s going on, you’ll get a little sneak peek.

Just want to let you know let you be some of the first because I’m so excited it’s salt free. It’s I’m going to have potassium and phosphorus content on the label so that is something that I know you crave and you really want and these spices are made with you in mind. Definitely! So, that all said I’m excited to talk about meal prep being on a renal diet because it goes so well with spices.

You need to follow your diet, right? That’s why I’m a dietitian. I tell you to follow your diet, you know if you follow your diet you get healthier, you get feeling better but sometimes it’s hard because you have lots of things going on.

By taking the time to prep your meals you’re deciding ahead of time what you’re going to do and that takes a lot of the will power and the frustration out of the process and that’s a big thing like “If I have to choose and I don’t have any fruit, I’m going to pick something probably not as healthy for me. If I have fruit there and I know that’s what I was planning on eating is for my snack that’s I’m just going to go grab that and come back and eat it so you continue to eat healthy no matter how hectic life gets, it encourages you to plan ahead.

One of the biggest things is you think about like what you’re going to do for that week and if your kids are doing something in the evening or if you have an event if you have Bingo, if you have whatever like a Quilting Club – all of those things – you can look at and say “Okay, this week I have this coming up on Tuesday I’m going to be really super busy, I need to have a plan for that, I need a prep for that, I need to put food in the crock-pot for that day so everybody has something to eat” and it keeps you from grabbing fast food or grabbing not so healthy for you.

I want to give you some tips for a healthy renal diet and the first tip is that you need to understand your dietary restrictions. Sometimes, I start thinking everybody’s restricted on phosphorus and potassium because I get a lot of questions about that but the truth is, with a renal diet most the time you’re not restricted on those things. You’re usually restricted on sodium, salt and you’re usually restricted on protein a little bit especially if you’re pre-dialysis but other than that, your restrictions are going to vary depending on your stage and where you’re at. You just need to watch the salt, watch the protein and whatever additional restrictions you have. But knowing and understanding those are the key to having a better plan, a better prep.

Okay, planning comes before the prep so I sell kidney diet started kit which is an easy way to get started with meal planning and prep, I also have some meals, recipes, meal plans but planning comes before the prep so before you even start to make some meals to put in the crock-pot or gather recipes or whatever, you need to have a thing like I said what you’re going to do that week and what is going to be happening and know how much time you have to prepare. You’re going to be able to go the grocery store and buy only those items that you need.

Looking for renal diet recipes, you can head over my website, several other places, that cookbook. You can get different options for a real diet. You don’t have to just stick to chicken and rice but know what that is get your shopping list made, make sure it’s kidney friendly.

If you can, there are some grocery stores that offer for free the ability to do your shopping for you, so isn’t that a gift if you have no time or a gift if you are easily exhausted and you don’t want to have to walk through the grocery store, you can put your order in online and go and pick it up. So, plan your meals ahead. Get your shopping list done, get it all put in, get your food ready and make sure that you the day you’re picking up your food is the day that you have time to do the prep. If you save your time and you don’t have to go walking through the grocery store, you got a couple hours to do your meal prep.

Make sure you have those prep items on hand. Get your cookbooks out, print out your recipes, pre-cut, pre-prep things so in the middle of your work if you know you have several recipes that have onion and its chopped onion, you bought enough onion for that. Go ahead and chop all the onion at once and divide it out into different bowls or baggies or whatever you’re going to use so that you can have that ready and it just goes together really quickly. I do that with my recipes when I do my Zestify Your Diet videos, I have everything cut ahead of time put in little bowls and then as you see me put it into the bowl as I’m cooking and stuff. I want you to be ready and be planning ahead. Do your meal plan and then do your meal prep and don’t forget portion control.

When you’re thinking about your meal, your portion control is usually related to your meat item or your protein item so try to make sure that you still have plenty of other food that you’re going to be able to eat with that meal. So, if you’re having a three ounce portion of steak, make sure you have enough rice or vegetables or rice and vegetables, pasta to go with that meal so that you’re feeling full. Make a salad for that day that you can eat with your meal that’s going to help you to feel more full. If you’re not diabetic, add some bread, toast some bread add a little bit of butter to it. You can have a little more fat usually but I can tell you that even if you’re concerned about your weight, this meal prepping and planning will do wonders for your will power and your ability to lose that weight. It’s always dependent on what you put in your mouth but you can make better choices and in those crisis moments when you’re feeling really hungry, you can make a better choice. If you already have it kind of planned out. Don’t forget portion control; don’t forget that you’re going to be limiting some of your meals so make sure you have plenty on the other parts of your meal that you’re ready to do.

Think about ways that you can better flavor your food. Like I talked about this is perfect because our salt free line of spices is coming out soon. You’re used to putting salt on your food and now you’re told you can’t have salt. What can you use instead? Perfect examples are lemon or lime. If you’re having a piece of fish, the best flavoring is lemon or lime. It’s really weird to me but it’s kind of funny. When I go to a restaurant and I get a chicken breast, I typically get lime to put on the chicken breast and then when I get my water, I ask for lemon.

There are two different flavors. A lot of people go “Oh! They’re the same.” They’re not! They taste different! I like to flavor my beverages with lemon and I like to flavor my food with lime. That doesn’t mean you can’t but you certainly should try it. It gives that zing, that zest, that flavor that you’re looking for. Lemon, lime, bay leaf are good to put into sauces and then take out before you serve the actual sauce or you can use bay leaf and turkey that type of thing. Oregano, parsley, that Italian seasoning; those are great. You’ve got balsamic vinegar and a thing I love to do with balsamic vinegar is to put a cup in a saucepan and then cook it for 10 or 15 minutes while it slowly boils out the extra water and it becomes a nice thick glaze sauce. Very strong, very flavorful and delicious on just about everything.

If you like that flavor, try that out peppercorn and dill so you can just put peppercorns into something or you can grind them into food like pepper mills that type of stuff, they’re best if they’re ground fresh but of course if you’ve got black pepper and that’s what you want to use that’s great. There’s dill that gives a certain flavor and dill, you can put into a lot of foods while you’re cooking them as well and it kind of gets into that food as you’re cooking it. You also have like I was talking about the new spice is coming out is going to have cumin and it’s going to have chili powder. Both of those are salt free and they also have a great flavor. Just those are some ideas for you of things that you can use to flavor your foods; you don’t have to but if you’re looking for something you’re just going to have to get past that time when your body is saying “I want salt. This doesn’t taste right because there’s no salt” and actually spend a little time tasting that food and how good it tastes without that extra salt.

Prep your meals on the weekends so you don’t make bad choices with busy schedules. If you’re doing something in the weekday evening, I know my life is so hectic, if you’re a mom or grandma and you helped a lot with things, weekdays are going to be pretty hectic. Now, if you have time during the day on a weekday that might be perfect because maybe nobody’s home and you can have your kitchen. You can mess it up as much as you want, put all the dishes in the dishwasher and be done that’s the other great thing about meal prep is you can dirty a lot of dishes, get them all washed and then you don’t dirty as any day of the week. There are many meals you can make ahead of time, you can freeze them. Those are ways that you can cook foods ahead but also the following foods really work well in prepping for a long period of time or hold good in the freezer so beans and lentils are good; ground meat and especially you want to cook the meat first and then put it into the recipe. Eggs you can use but eggs stay good for a long time in your refrigerator; brown rice, pasta, carrots, cauliflower, kale, beets, apples and bananas.

I know if you have potassium or phosphorus restriction, you’re not going to want bananas but just be aware that those are an option so those can hold well and one thing that I like to do with bananas, once they get a little brown then you’re like “Oh, I got to eat them really fast” but what if you’re not in the mood for bananas, peel them and freeze them and then when you eat them out of the freezer, they taste like banana ice cream. So, how awesome is that eating a healthy food and it tastes really good. So, a little bit of sweetness that comes when it starts to get brown it gets a little sweeter put that in the freezer, you can freeze three, four in a bag we have them in the freezer all the time because we’re always buying bananas and then people don’t need them and you just make them ahead of time then of course you can make them in smoothies or whatever you like to do but those are ways that you can get your healthy you know dose of banana or fruit or whatever and not have a problem later. So, you’re not wasting food.

 

Email me at podcast@renaldiethq.com for suggestions

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The post Renal Diet Podcast 085: Tips for Meal Prepping On A Renal Diet and More appeared first on Renal Diet Menu Headquarters.

Suggested Reading:

Tips for Meal Prepping on a Renal Diet
Are Your Meal Plans Realistic for Kidney Disease?
Weekly Meal Planning for CKD

Tips for Meal Prepping on a Renal Diet

When you have been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, it is vital that you follow the renal diet given to you. If not, you risk your kidney health as well as your overall wellbeing.

Following your renal diet properly helps to lessen the deterioration of your kidney function. It can also help you reduce your risk for other complications, including hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease.

Why Meal Prepping is Beneficial for a Renal Diet

By taking the time to prep for your meals, you will be able to make more educated choices. Researching and planning is important to ensure you don’t go over your dietary restrictions for you CKD.

Meal prepping also ensures you continue eating healthy, no matter how busy life gets. When you have meals prepped ahead of time, you know what you are eating, no matter your schedule. This eliminates the urge to hit up that fast food drive-thru on your way home after a crazy day!

Tips for Meal Planning on a Renal Diet

The following tips are useful for anyone following a renal diet. Your stage of CKD or your restrictions doesn’t matter, as anyone with CKD will benefit from following this advice!

Make sure you understand your dietary restrictions.

You MUST know what you can and cannot eat on your renal diet. You should also know your limits for things like protein, sodium, phosphorus, and potassium. Knowing and understanding your diet ensures you only eat foods that will benefit your body.

If there is any doubt about your renal diet, reach out to your doctor or a registered dietician. These people should help clear up any confusion as well as give you advice on sticking to your renal diet for optimal health when you have chronic kidney disease.

Planning comes before the prep.

Before you begin to get food ready for your renal diet meals, you want to plan out your week. Decide what you can eat, and only stock your fridge and pantry with those items. The less temptations for unhealthy foods in your home, the more you will stick to your renal diet.

Also, it’s a good idea to search for renal diet recipes. Find new foods to try or healthy substitutes for old favorites. Having some variety prevents renal diet burnout…and the chances of you consuming the wrong foods!

Create a renal diet friendly shopping list.

Never venture to the supermarket for renal diet meal prep without a list. Having no real direction when you step into the grocery store is just a disaster waiting to happen! Instead, arm yourself with a list that is cultivated from the research and recipes you found during the planning stage.

Make sure you stick to this shopping list. Since you have researched the best foods for CKD, it is important you only buy these foods.

Have the right meal prep tools on hand.

Once you are home with your groceries, it’s time to get to the meal prep portion of your renal diet activities. You will want to make sure your kitchen is equipped with the right tools for meal prepping. Have your cookbooks or printed recipes out and ready to follow.

Also, have some plastic food containers on hand so you properly store your snacks or the meals you make.

Don’t forget portion control!

Portion control is an essential part of following your renal diet. With so many limitations for the average CKD patient, you want to make sure you aren’t consuming too much of certain nutrients.

For example, it’s common for those with chronic kidney disease to have a limit on their protein intake. This is because protein is difficult for the kidneys to remove from the bloodstream. By limiting this nutrient, you have less excess that your kidneys have to filter.

It’s important that you familiarize yourself with proper portions for the foods you commonly eat. When making a new recipe, check the serving size and quantity so you know how to divide the dish up during meal prep.

Find better ways to flavor your food

You will likely be required to limit your sodium intake once you are diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. Since sodium assists with fluid retention in the body, you want to cut it out of your diet as much as possible.

Instead, go for flavorful options that don’t contain a ton of sodium.

If you just can’t put down the common sauces like ketchup or soy sauce, opt for low-sodium varieties to still meet your dietary restrictions.

Use fresh or dried herbs to season your foods…they can be just a delicious as sodium without all the extra danger!

Dried herbs can be added to many recipes for extra flavor. Or, you can top your dish with fresh herbs to change up the taste a bit.

Some flavorings you can try when on a renal diet include:

Lemon
Lime
Bay leaf
Oregano
Parsley
Balsamic vinegar
Peppercorn
Dill

Prep meals on weekends – so you don’t make bad choices

For those with busy schedules, meal prepping is best when done in advance. Spend a day on the weekend to create and portion meals for your week. This is where those storage containers come in handy!

There are many meals you can freeze ahead of time, reheating them once you are ready to eat. So, on busy nights, you can grab something from the freezer and enjoy it without standing over the stove for an hour.

This may be where you find the most benefit of meal prepping on your renal diet. By having healthy choices on hand, you are much less likely to make the wrong decision.

Foods that are Great for Meal Prepping

Some foods are easier to keep for a week or so than others. When meal prepping in advance, you want to choose those that will not go bad before you can enjoy them.

When meal prepping, consider using the following foods:

Beans and lentils
Ground meat
Eggs
Brown rice
Pasta
Carrots
Cauliflower
Kale
Beets
Apples
Bananas

Meal prep will make your life on a renal diet so much easier. When you plan out your meals and know what you are going to eat, you won’t find it that difficult to follow your dietary restrictions for CKD. You can sign up for more tips through the buttons below. 

The post Tips for Meal Prepping on a Renal Diet appeared first on Renal Diet Menu Headquarters.

Suggested Reading:

Weekly Meal Planning for CKD
Renal Failure Meal Planning
Creating Meal Plans For Those On Dialysis

Cardio Exercises for a Healthy Heart

Staying active is a great way for chronic kidney disease patients to be healthy and reduce the risk of CKD complications. Cardio exercises are especially beneficial, as they also keep your heart strong. Since CKD patients tend to have an increased risk of heart disease, you want to make sure you are doing all you can to lower your risk!

Most cardio exercises are seen as low impact, meaning most CKD patients can participate in them regularly. However, you always want to speak to your doctor before you begin any exercise regimen…especially if you have been inactive for a long period of time.

With the following exercises, you can help to reduce your blood pressure and reduce your risk of heart disease!

Cardio Exercises for a Healthy Heart

Walking

The simplest exercise you can do to keep your heart functioning properly is walking. By moving large groups of muscles in the body, you are increasing your blood circulation without forcing your heart to work harder.

Walking helps to strengthen the heart so that it performs as it should. Burning calories while walking also helps to manage a healthy weight, which is essential to lower your risk for heart disease.

Walk 30 minutes per day, at least four days per week, in order to strengthen your heart. All you need is a comfortable pair of shoes and a flat place to walk, such as a local park or just around your neighborhood.

Swimming

Another very gentle cardio exercise that promotes heart health is swimming. This is better for older patients or those with joint problems, as the water supports your body weight while you are active.

Swimming is also great to burn calories, improve blood circulation and lose any unhealthy weight. Swimming alone can be a workout, but you can also join a water aerobics class to prevent boredom and give yourself a challenge.

Jogging

If you are physically fit enough to take on jogging, it can help strengthen your heart and other muscles in your body. Since jogging burns more calories, you may also lose unneeded weight faster or better maintain your current weight.

Make sure your doctor says it is okay for you to do something more strenuous such as jogging before you begin. Grab a durable pair of running shoes to lessen the pain of exercise, and consider carrying small weights on your jog to work your arms too.

Aerobics

If you have access to local fitness classes, taking aerobics is a great way to get your heart pumping. Though these classes may be too intense for some, most instructors understand that not everyone is at the same fitness level. They promote going at your own pace, so you may stop sooner than other participants.

Contact a local gym to see what classes are offered. Taking this kind of class helps to hold you accountable for exercise, and it can be change up your normal activity to prevent boredom.

As you can see, cardio exercise is important for a healthy heart. Make sure you do no overdo any activity you decide to participate in, and go at a pace that pushes you without being too difficult.

 

 

 

The post Cardio Exercises for a Healthy Heart appeared first on Renal Diet Menu Headquarters.

Suggested Reading:

Lifestyle Changes You Must Adopt for a Healthy Heart
The Importance of Exercise for CKD Patients
Exercise Mistakes To Avoid With CKD

Healthy Eating on the Go with CKD

If you are always on the go, there is no need for chronic kidney disease to slow you down. Don’t feel like you have to stay home or slow down just because of your diagnosis.

However, you may have to make some adjustment to your eating habits when away from home in order to stick to your renal diet. It’s not so simple to just hit up a drive-thru when you’ve got dietary restrictions to follow so your kidneys function doesn’t rapidly decline.

Tips for Healthy Eating on the Go with CKD

Thankfully, eating healthy on the go can easily be done with planning and the other tips I will share below.

Know your dietary restrictions. This one may go without saying, but it’s too important not to mention. Before you plan a trip, make sure you are fully aware of what you can and cannot eat on your renal diet. There should be no doubts, in order for you to choose your meals and snacks wisely.
Always plan for your outings. If you know you have a busy day ahead, you will want to make sure you’ve made proper plans for your eating. Maybe you need to have a filling meal before heading out that will hold you over until you are back home. Don’t leave home on an empty stomach – as that just spells disaster for CKD patients!
Choose healthy snacks you can pack. Keep your purse or vehicle stocked with a few renal diet friendly snack options. That way, when you are feeling famished, you can make a good choice that is also convenient.
Know what you are putting in your mouth. It’s not enough to just think you are eating healthy. You’ll want to read nutrition labels or the nutrition information on a website or menu, if you are eating at a restaurant. Keeping close tabs on your intake of calories, sodium, and other restricted minerals will ensure that you still following your diet even on the go.
Keep your own seasonings on hand. You should not be adding salt to your foods, even when you are out in a restaurant. By putting a small container of salt-free herbs or spices in your bag, you’ll have a flavorful meal even away from home.
Prepare for unexpected trips. It’s always important to know what you will do for food in the event of an unexpected outing. Maybe you have to visit a friend in the hospital or drive across the state for a loved one. “Just in case” plans for your renal diet are always a good thing!
Continue to exercise portion control when out of the house. Just because you aren’t eating at home doesn’t mean you should go overboard. You still have to stick to your renal diet, even if you are busy. Use Ziploc bags or small plastic containers to store proper portions of your snacks. That way, you aren’t tempted to eat too much by having the whole package in your hands.
Research your fast food options. It’s bound to happen eventually…you find yourself out without renal diet food. As soon as your get your CKD diagnosis, start learning more about the restaurants in your area. Find out what you can order at a few different places, so you have healthy options available in a pinch.
Keep water by your side. Sometimes you may feel hungry, when in fact you are just thirsty. Have a water bottle on hand at all times when you are out of the house. Staying hydrated may help with curbing your appetite so you don’t make unhealthy choices on the go.
Use phosphorus binders when needed. If you just cannot find anything healthy to eat while out and about, you can use binders that will limit the amount of phosphorus that enters the bloodstream. Phosphorus is one the minerals you have to greatly restrict with chronic kidney disease, since it’s difficult to remove from the blood and break down.

Packing your Lunch Every Day for Work

One of the times that may get you as far as healthy eating while on the go is lunch at work. If you are used to heading out to your favorite restaurants every day with your coworkers, you are going to want to adjust your habits.

A simple sack lunch is always better than being tempted by a restaurant menu. Having your lunch packed ensures you meet your dietary restrictions for CKD.

Here are a few healthy lunch ideas for on the go:

Make a sandwich with low-sodium lunch meat like chicken, turkey, or pork.
No-salt-added canned tuna
Egg salad – make your own so you know what’s inside
Fruits as sides – a fresh apple, peach, grapes or strawberries
Other healthy lunch sides – unsalted popcorn or pretzels, spice cookies
Don’t forget to pack your phosphorus binders if needed!

Planning and prep are essential if you still want to eat healthy on the go. And you should always strive for healthy eating, especially if you’ve been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease.

It is important to be aware of the foods you are putting in your body at every meal, so you don’t exceed your dietary restrictions and make your kidneys work harder than they should!

Just click on the Sign up button for more Zestify Your Diet recipes for healthy meals on the go. 

 

The post Healthy Eating on the Go with CKD appeared first on Renal Diet Menu Headquarters.

Suggested Reading:

Mindful Eating Tips for Following your Renal Diet
Lifestyle Changes You Must Adopt for a Healthy Heart
Need To Make Some Healthy Changes? Try Eating More of These Items!

Renal Diet Podcast 084: Healthy Eating On The Go With CKD

Renal Diet Podcast 084: Healthy Eating On The Go With CKD

Podcast #84 Released on March 9, 2018

I want to talk to you because it’s hard enough to manage your diet and to watch what you’re eating when you have chronic kidney disease and you’re at home and you can make all your meals and you can control everything. But if you’re out and about doing things like going to your grandkids’ soccer games or traveling in your RV or doing whatever. There’s no need for it to slow you down.

There are things you can do to help improve your diet and I want to talk to you about those today. You are going to probably have to make some adjustments to your eating habits when you’re away from home. In order to stick with your diet, to know what you’re going to have to do is not as easy as just driving up to a drive-thru when you have some dietary restrictions. There are some things that you’re going to need to do so you don’t you know cause worse problems for your kidneys. A few tips and ideas just to get you through this it can be done with some planning.

Number one is to know your dietary restrictions. Do you have to limit salt? Do you have a list of limit potassium? Do you have to limit phosphorus? Do you have to limit protein? You have to limit fluid? All of those things are important to know and it’s also important to know the priority. If you’re a dialysis patient and you need to limit your fluid and that’s the number one priority that’s more important than worrying about you know how much protein or potassium or phosphorus. Talk to your doctor, talk to your nurse, talk to your dietitian about what one of those is the priority.

If you have to choose because sometimes you will have to choose you need to know like if there’s some No No foods out to eat, if there’s some foods that are absolutely no just because you can’t have enough control over them like if you are trying to watch your potassium and French fries. French fries are going to be salty and they’re fried and they have a lot of potassium and there’s no way you can control that so you may have to avoid those. Not saying you do. I’m just saying if you know there’s a food that you may have to avoid, please be aware of that ahead of time.

Plan for your outing so if you know you’re going to have a busy day, then you want to make sure that you kind of identified some things so you’re going to have something to eat maybe before you go out so that you’re not hungry and wanting to eat something. You’re going to identify where you could potentially get like a good snack food item that you can use to eat when you’re out. Is there a bar that you can eat? Is there a fruit? Maybe take a bag of strawberries or some blueberries with you those types of things to take along and to plan ahead keeps you from just grabbing whatever is available.

I know that a lot of times we have questions about what is going to be good for us and if we can take some of those along that’s good thing.

Along those same lines, choosing some healthy snacks that you can pack and take with you keep your bag or your little cooler or something packed with smart snacks like grapes and some maybe some nuts are okay that are unsalted that can kind of pulled you over so you don’t want to have to grab something out of the vending machine at the last minute.

Know what you’re putting in your mouth. You’re going to want to look at nutrition labels or read the label when you’re getting something; you’re going to want to ask questions if you’re at a restaurant. You’re going want to ask them how they prepare something. Even if you’re getting the light version. Even if you’re just getting a chicken breast. Do they add butter? Do they add salt? Do they marinate it? Do they put any special sauce on it in the back? Can they do any of that differently? Those are the questions you want to ask.

Keep your own seasonings on hand. I’m kind of excited because we’re coming out with a line of seasonings but keep your own seasonings where you can get them in your bag so that if you get that plain chicken breast and you ask them but nothing on it you know it’s safe to put that seasoning on that and keeps you from having a bland food or even try to put a little salt on something at the table.

Be prepared for unexpected trips. So, always know kind of what restaurants are safe places to eat that are going to provide you with the best opportunities. Maybe its subway where you can get white bread and you can limit the amount of meat or you can get just a vegetable salad whatever it takes to be able to manage your diet and you’re able to do it you know around where you’re going to be. Those unexpected places, that’s also where it comes and good to have something in your bag to take along.

The other thing we don’t always think about is portion control. So, when you’re home you probably put your amount on your plate, you kind of are used to your plate size. When we’re at a restaurant, the plate size can be a little different or the portion sizes can be larger than what we’re used to. Just be extra aware and even ask.

A lot of times, I go to a restaurant and they’ll have a steak but it won’t have the portion size. You can ask specifically. What is this? Six ounce or four ounces or five ounce whatever and look at the kids menu. A lot of times, the kids menu all have smaller sized portions and most places will let you get those from the kids menu but just watch your portions. Research and find out what are the healthy options in your area and make your family aware of that. It’s not that you can’t ever go to the other places but if you’re picking, know kind of where you can get that salad with this, with the vinegar and oil to put on it so you don’t have any of this extra salt calorie stuff like that. Know where you can get a simple salad, know where you can get a simple sandwich, know where you can get as simple chicken breast and be aware of what you’re going to eat at that restaurant.

You might have gone to the restaurant for the food and that’s good but most of it you went for the camaraderie and people that you’re going to be around and so enjoy that time and don’t let that food get in your way of doing that. Allow yourself that and drink you know if you’re allowed fluid, freely drink plenty of water to help fill you up so you don’t overeat. Keep your water there, keep your water available. It does help to make you feel more full if you drink a couple glasses of water and as long as you’re not limited on your intake, water is going to be a healthy solution for you.

Last of all if you are on them and you need them take your phosphorus finders when you’re eating. Phosphorus finders work best when they’re used with the foods that you’re eating so you can’t just take them later or take them early you need to take them with your meals. It’s going to limit the amount of phosphorus that your body takes in and so having those with you being prepared is the best solution for that.

One of the things that you can do is pack your lunches with you, take it with you so you don’t have to go through the drive-thru; they’ll also save you a little money. Simple packed lunches are better than being tempted by your restaurant menu. Some healthy ideas for lunch when you’re out to take with you. A low-sodium lunch meat on white bread like a chicken, turkey or a pork sliced sandwich meat, no salt added canned tuna and then you could do some crackers with that. Egg salads make your own so you kind of know what’s in there. Fruits like apples, peaches, grapes strawberries with you all the time. Healthy sides like a bag of microwavable popcorn that’s unsalted that you can usually you can find a microwave somewhere. Pretzels that is unsalted. Those types of things that you really can do well to just have with you.

Email me at podcast@renaldiethq.com for suggestions

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The post Renal Diet Podcast 084: Healthy Eating On The Go With CKD appeared first on Renal Diet Menu Headquarters.

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How to Protect your Colon with CKD

MatheaW

I’m not sure if you know, but March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month. What does this mean for chronic kidney disease patients?

No one knows for sure, just yet, but medical studies over the last few years have been working to find a connection between CKD and colon cancer, also known as colorectal cancer (depending on where the cancer starts).

There has been some evidence that suggests colon cancer is greater in chronic kidney disease populations, especially in patients that have had a kidney transplant and now have a longer life expectancy.

Also, a study done in 2005 indicates that diabetes increases your risk of colorectal cancer. Since diabetes is one of the leading causes of CKD, it is no wonder the two medical conditions may go hand-in-hand!

What is Colorectal Cancer?

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of death by cancer in the United States. Every year, over 50,000 people die from this medical condition, and about 140,000 more cases are diagnosed.

Age plays a large part in colorectal cancer. 90% of patients with colorectal cancer are over the age of 50. Symptoms that may determine you have the cancer include bloody stool, stomach pain or cramps that will not go away, and weight loss with no known cause.

How to Protect your Colon

Colon cancer prevention is very similar to what helps to reduce your chronic kidney disease. In order to reduce your risk of colon cancer, it is recommended that you:

Maintain a healthy weight
Eat a well-balanced diet
Be physically active
Avoid smoking
Heavily moderate your alcohol consumption

There are many screenings your doctor can perform to check for abnormalities in your colon. Early detection of this cancer is best in order to beat it.

One of the most common is the colonoscopy, which involves inserting a long, tubular instrument through the rectum and large intestine to examine the walls of the colon.

While it is important to get a colonoscopy every 10 years to keep a check on your colon health, you must know the risks of the screening on your chronic kidney disease.

How to Protect your Kidneys During a Colon Screening

To prepare your body for the colonoscopy or other screening, you must use a bowel-cleansing product. This is so your doctor can have a clear view during the screening.

While most bowel cleansing products used before the procedure are safe, there are some that the FDA warns against for their potential effects on the kidneys. Products that contain sodium phosphate (OSP) are especially dangerous to those with CKD.

It has been found that the phosphate crystals can end up in the kidneys. These crystals are hard on healthy kidneys, causing acute phosphate neuropathy. Just imagine how much damage they could cause on the impaired kidneys of a CKD patient!

Always ensure your doctor knows about your kidney function prior to having a colonoscopy. You want to make sure you are given the right products to prep for the procedure without causing harm to your kidneys.

 

 

 

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Complications of CKD that Can Increase your Risk of Heart Disease

Complications of CKD that Can Increase your Risk of Heart Disease

MatheaW

Studies have shown that those with chronic kidney disease are at a higher risk of developing heart disease. In fact, heart disease is the leading cause of death for CKD patients. Most do not reach end-stage renal failure, but pass due to complications of CKD that affect the heart.

Complications of CKD that Can Increase your Risk of Heart Disease

The following are six conditions that may develop as a result of having chronic kidney disease. These medical issues are very serious and can create problems with your heart, including heart attack, congestive heart failure, or cardiovascular disease.

High Blood Pressure

It is extremely common for those with CKD to also experience high blood pressure, especially since high blood pressure is one of the primary causes of kidney disease in the first place. Prolonged high blood pressure can weaken the heart muscles, leading to heart attack or stroke.

Because of this, it’s important for CKD patients to always monitor their blood pressure. Eating a healthy diet low in sodium and exercising regularly can help to keep your blood pressure in check.

Diabetes

The second common cause of CKD is diabetes, so it’s not unusual to have the two conditions together. With diabetes, your blood sugar levels aren’t regulated properly. The elevated amount of sugar in the blood can start to weaken the blood vessels, which in turn can lead to heart disease and other complications.

Monitoring your blood sugar levels and following a diabetic diet is important to reduce your chances of developing heart disease.

Anemia

Anemia is a common complication of chronic kidney disease, coming about when the kidneys aren’t able to produce enough erythropoietin (EPO). EPO is a hormone that is released into the blood and stimulates the production of red blood cells.

Without enough of this hormone, your body may lack in red blood cells, causing anemia. Anemia can then lead to heart problems for CKD patients, including irregular heartbeat, enlarging of the heart muscles, and heart failure – where the heart cannot pump enough blood for your body’s needs.

Fluid Retention

When the kidneys do not function properly, CKD patients may start to develop fluid retention. This is because the wastes and excess fluid are not being removed from the body, as they should.

This build up in the bloodstream can cause expansion of tissue and weakening of the heart muscles. Congestive heart failure is a common result of prolonged fluid retention.

Electrolyte Imbalance

Your kidneys work to control the balance of electrolytes in your body. Electrolytes include calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, and phosphate. Because your kidneys cannot properly filter the unneeded electrolytes from the blood, an imbalance forms.

Each of these electrolytes can cause a different problem for the heart. For example, too much potassium can cause serious changes in your heartbeat. Too much calcium, called hypercalcemia can also cause problems with your heart rhythm, including palpitations and indications of cardiac arrhythmia.

Atherosclerosis

When there is an excessive build up of plaque in your arteries, you are said to have atherosclerosis. This is caused by high levels of blood lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides) in the body that weaken the blood vessels. This build up can lead to heart attack or coronary artery disease.

As you can see, there are many complications of chronic kidney disease that can increase your risk of developing heart disease and other heart-related conditions. It’s important that you focus on your health and the prevention of the problems to lead a healthy life.

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Renal Diet Podcast 083: Stress Management Tips For CKD and Other Chronic Diseases

MatheaW

Stress Management Tips For CKD and Other Chronic Diseases

Podcast #83 Released on March 2, 2018

I want to talk to you about Stress Management and Chronic Kidney Disease because while they often happen together, they aren’t necessarily the best thing to go together. So I wanted to go over some thoughts and ideas that I have about how you can better manage your stress to help improve your health and wellness and life in general.

Very common seeing for people to do is to say “I’m going to have that lower stress, less stress” whatever point in your life. Either when you find out you have chronic kidney disease or it’s a new year or something happens. That is a great kind of resolution or change that you can make in your life. But we all know that chronic kidney disease adds a lot of stress to your life.

You have financial things, you have society things going on, and you have probably family obligations, your emotional stress. All those things and now you have additional medications additional doctor’s appointments, additional diet restrictions – all that you have to manage as well. That does not decrease your stress level.

The other thing is that you’re now thinking about “Am I going get put on dialysis? How long am I going to manage these restrictions? How can I slow this down?” And you probably already had either diabetes or heart disease or both. All of that together just does not make for a happy comfortable stress-free life.

Let’s talk about how stress can affect you. You can check on the link renaldiethq.com/stress-management-tips-new-year for more information about how you can manage stress.

Stress can elevate your blood pressure, it can cause higher blood sugar levels, it can affect all of your other health problems that you may have and it can make it more difficult for your kidneys to function in addition to the fact that you are already having some difficulty and it can just kind of generally harm you all together if you’re not managing it. It kind of eats away your health a little bit if you don’t manage your stress a little better.

You’re not going to get rid of your stress but some things you can do that can improve your stress levels and decrease them.

Number one thing you can do is exercise. If you’re not exercising, remember you need to talk to your doctor about it but if you are just being active, moving, taking your dog for a walk, walking around your house. Your brain releases those feel-good endorphins when you exercise so this helped reduce your stress just because they’re making you feel a little better.

The point of exercise is it kind of increases your heart rate and teaches your body how to manage the stress of an increased heart rate and so your body learns how to bring it down faster. Then, in a regular experience if you have an increased heart rate when you relax your heart rate will come back down to normal more quickly and that’s always helpful to you.

Number two is diet. Following your kidney diet making sure you feel healthy altogether – eating lower salt, lower sugar, any other restricted items that you may have, fluids or potassium or phosphorus any of that – so managing those and if you watch our Zestify Your Diet series, then you can find great diet meals, recipes for you to use but watching your diet is especially important.

Sleep. It’s not a badge of courage or it’s not helpful to get no sleep. Making sure that you’re getting enough sleep and you know what that is. If your body is used to it and you can get eight hours of sleep a night you should do that even if it means going to bed at nine o’clock at night and getting up if you get up at five in the morning or 6:00 in the morning. There’s nothing wrong with that and you need to kind of test and see “Okay, if I sleep a little longer.” Sometimes that makes you more tired. Maybe, you need a nap in the afternoon. There’s nothing wrong with that either as long as you’re not obviously working but both your mind and your body needs to relax and rest.

Four is music. You can listen to some music and music that calms your nerves like classical music or even music just that you have in your growing up. Music brings us back, respect those happy good memories usually so I think it’s always a good thing to try to incorporate that.

If you have like Amazon Prime and you have an Amazon Music List you can listen to some classical music that’s called focus classical or focus music and it helps your brain to focus a little better but you probably also have like a relaxing music station so any of that is helpful whenever you’re working or doing things.

Number Five: Support. Having someone that knows what you’re going through that you can talk to you about your concerns and issues, things that happened to you things that are frustrating to you. Getting that off your chest being able to talk to somebody about it.

You shouldn’t have to feel like you deal with everything alone but you also need to make sure that the person you’re talking to and the person you’re asking for support is supportive. If they’re negative, if they’re very much like “this is your fault!” This is something you deserve you know all that type of stuff. Those are not helpful comments so I encourage you to get those out of your life because those can cause more stress but if you have someone who is being supportive, listens to you, helps you, gives you a support, ride or whatever you need, just checks in on you via text or email or call. Then, having that can reduce your stress quite a bit.

Number six is setting goals. One of the things that I think is kind of always funny whenever somebody says it is you can’t get somewhere unless you know where you’re going.

If you are going “Okay, I’m going to improve my kidney disease” but you don’t know where you are now and you don’t know where you want to go, it’s really hard to generically improve something. If you have a goal of wanting to improve your kidney failure, what specifically do you want to improve? You want to improve your creatinine? You want to improve your eating habits? Do you want to improve your exercise?

Then, figure out where you are now and figure out where you need to go and then what you need to do to get there.

Seven: Relaxation Techniques. Calming your nerves and your mind and doing some meditation. There are meditation apps, there are meditation websites – all of that. You can relax your mind and kind of calm your brain and that’s part of that music, relaxing music those types of things. Deep breathing yoga can be great for this; Tai Chi can be great for this because when you focus on that activity, you’re letting your mind kind of relax because it does not have to be on point. It is really good to keep your stress levels down and working to manage them.

I want to encourage you that when it comes to stress, you acknowledge it and realize that it is there to think about a time when you’re calm and then next time that you are kind of going a million places.

Another bonus tip I have for you is to schedule things. You may think like “I don’t have that much stuff I don’t need to do a schedule” but when I schedule things into my day then I know they’re going to get done and I don’t worry about like what should I be doing because I already decided this is what I should be doing. I use a Google Calendar and I go in and I’ll say “I’m going to work for, I’m going to do my 30 minutes of exercise, I’m going to do this, and I’m going to write an article, whatever.” So, I have those things lined out for the day and that way I know that what I’m working on is what and so I’m not worried about everything else – I’m not worried, I’m not concerned, I’ve got it all down.

Email me at podcast@renaldiethq.com for suggestions

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

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Stress Management Tips for the New Year

MatheaW

A very common New Year’s resolution for those with chronic kidney disease is reducing the stress level in their lives. There are many sources for stress, but a CKD diagnosis can bring on a wealth of additional stressors you need to manage effectively.

Not only do you have everyday financial, societal, and emotional stresses to deal with, you now have to make sure you are taking your medications, following your renal diet, getting the exercise your body needs, and making all of your doctor’s appointments. Also, the thoughts of mortality and coping with a long-term health condition can be enough to raise your stress levels by themselves.

With so much resting on your shoulders, it’s no wonder that CKD patients have a lot of stress to handle. It’s important, however, that you learn to manage your stress level, as well as your body’s response to the stress.

The Effect of Stress on CKD

We all know that prolonged stress is not good on the body, but for chronic kidney disease, it can really wreak havoc. Stress can contribute to elevated blood pressure, which is already a common issue for CKD patients. It can also lead to higher blood sugar levels, faster heart rate, and an increased risk for heart disease.

Since chronic kidney disease already puts you at risk for heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension, stress can increase your risk to dangerous levels. It can make it more difficult for the kidneys to function, with the amount of glucose in the blood and blood circulation problems. Therefore, stress can actually promote the decline in kidney function in CKD patients, when left unchecked.

How to Manage your Stress Level in the New Year

It may not be possible to completely alleviate the stress in your life. However, you can lower the causes of your stress to create a more relaxed and healthier living for yourself.

Below are some of the most effective ways to reduce your stress to make it more manageable along with your CKD.

Exercise

Staying active may be the most effective way to combat the stress in your life. Not only does it help to create a more positive mindset, exercise benefits your overall health in a number of ways.

When you exercise, your brain releases endorphins, a “feel good” chemical that promotes happiness. Regular exercise can help to offset the negative stress in your life, bring it down to a manageable level.

Diet

Following your renal diet helps to ensure you feel well, physically and mentally. Eating too much sugar, sodium, and other restricted items can weigh down your body, allowing the stress to cause even more problems.

Sleep

It is vital that you get enough sleep each night, if you want your body to effectively cope with stress. Both your mind and body need time to relax and get ready for a new day.

Music

Listening to the right music is a great way to relax and lower your stress level. Studies have shown that music can be a very effective stress management tool. Calm your nerves by playing peaceful tunes as much as possible – on your daily commute, while you shower, and before bed.

Support

One thing that a chronic kidney disease patient must realize to battle stress is that they do not have to deal with everything alone. Find a support system that fosters positive energy, helping you to cope with the issues surrounding your diagnosis as well as the stresses of everyday life.

You may look for other CKD patients in your area, as connecting with others that have similar struggles help you learn to cope and reduce your stress. It’s also a good idea to seek professional help when learning how to deal with stress.

Likewise, now is the time to remove the negative people in your life. You do not need the “support” of those that stress you out and cause more worry than is necessary for your condition. We have to do what is best for us, and if that means restricting contact with those that aren’t truly supportive, it may need to be done to feel better and lower your own stress.

Goal Setting

When you are facing new challenges, goal setting can be your best advocate against high stress levels. Set SMART goals with an end date that you can achieve. Avoid setting yourself up for failure by creating crazy expectations.

Break your larger goals into smaller milestones. Reaching each mini-goal helps develop a more positive outlook, and pushes you to continue staying on track.

Relaxation Techniques

The key to lowering your stress levels in the New Year is learning how to effectively relax. You must calm your nerves and mind so that your body can cope with the outside stressors presented to you daily.

Yoga, meditation, and deep breathing are all great ways to find peace and lower your stress level. Yoga is a very mild and low-impact practice, making it great for many CKD patients.

You must keep your stress levels down to effectively manage chronic kidney disease. There are many ways you can reduce the stress, thankfully, and combining several of the methods mentioned above creates a more relaxed environment for you to live in.

Work to manage your stress levels in the New Year, to promote improved overall health and wellbeing!

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Ways to Keep your Blood Pressure Under Control with CKD

MatheaW

Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a serious medication condition for those with chronic kidney disease. It’s also one of the most common causes of CKD (right behind diabetes). According to the National Kidney Foundation, “More than half the people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have high blood pressure.”

Whether your hypertension leads to your CKD or it’s merely a side effect, it is important that you learn more about the condition in order to control it.

What is high blood pressure anyway?

A healthy blood pressure is 120/80 or anything below. The top number is the systolic pressure, which signifies how hard the heart is beating to push blood through your blood vessels. The bottom number, the diastolic pressure, represents the pressure when your blood vessels are relaxing between beats.

If your top number gets above 139 or your bottom number above 90, you are said to have hypertension. A systolic pressure between 120-139 or a diastolic pressure between 80-89 is known as pre-hypertension.

Dangers of high blood pressure and CKD

High blood pressure is no joke even for healthy people. When your blood has to be pumped harder through your body, your blood vessels must stretch in order to allow the increased flow. Over time, the stretching weakens the blood vessels, including those in the kidneys.

When you have chronic kidney disease, high blood pressure can quicken the deterioration of your kidney function. Therefore, you will want to learn how to control your blood pressure in order to slow the damage being done to your kidneys.

How to Control your Blood Pressure with CKD

 Thankfully, there are many ways you can help to keep your blood pressure under control, even if you have chronic kidney disease.

Monitor your blood pressure. Since high blood pressure often has no symptoms, you will want to keep a check on yours more often than your doctor visits. Purchase a quality blood pressure cuff and check it daily at home.

Record your readings in a notebook so you can later show your doctor any changes. If you notice an increase in either number, especially if it’s over 120/80, be sure to consult with your doctor.

Change your diet. The foods you consume can play a large role on your blood pressure. To help control your blood pressure, you will want to cut back on high-sodium foods. This will also help with kidney function. Cholesterol, saturated fats, and simple carbohydrates (chips, crackers, etc. that turn to sugar in the body) should also be limited in your diet.

Go for a daily walk. Walking is a great exercise for most people with chronic kidney disease. Light exercise helps improve blood circulation, which in turn lowers your blood pressure. Walk for 30 minutes at least four days a week to see the most benefits of being active.

Take medication. Sometimes, it’s difficult to control your blood pressure with the home treatments listed here. If that’s the case, you will likely be prescribed blood pressure medication. There are special medicines for those with CKD called ACE inhibitors that may work great at controlling your blood pressure as well as protecting your kidneys.

 

 

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