Mathea Ford's Blog, page 67
January 22, 2018
What Low Potassium Fruits Can I Grow In My Garden?
Low Potassium Fruits Are Healthy
Low Potassium Fruits Can Be Grown Easily
Eating More Low Potassium Fruits Helps Your Kidney Diet
Renal Diet Menu Headquarters - Renal Diets That You Will Love!
Suggested Reading:
A Renal Diet Food List For Your Garden
What Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Should I Choose This Summer for Pre Dialysis Kidney Failure?
Low Potassium Foods: Create A Fruit And Veggie Plate For Your Next Party
January 8, 2018
Understanding Common CKD Dietary Restrictions
When you are put on a renal diet for chronic kidney disease, you will likely have restrictions for a few different minerals. It’s important that you understand exactly why you should limit these nutrients. The following article will discuss the most common dietary restrictions for CKD and why it is vital that you limit your intake of each.
Protein
The protein we consume is broken down into amino acids that our body uses for a number of functions. When we eat too much of a specific amino acid, the excess should be filtered from the bloodstream.
For those with chronic kidney disease, this isn’t always possible, since animo acids are difficult to break down if you don’t have properly functioning kidneys. Too much protein in the body can cause nausea, vomiting, weakness, itching, and changes in taste. It may also increase the rate at which CKD progresses through the stages.
Because of this, many CKD patients are restricted in the amount and types of protein they can eat. The proper restrictions will be based on the stage of CKD that you are in. Limiting your protein intake to about 0.36 grams per pound of body weight is a great place to start.
Lowering your protein intake generally helps decrease other levels of CKD dietary restrictions, including potassium and phosphorus. Make sure that most of your protein is coming from high-quality sources that offer the best amino acids, including chicken, fish, eggs, seafood, and soy.
Sodium
Sodium is likely one of the first minerals that your doctor will restrict when you are diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. It’s essential that even healthy people moderate their sodium intake to help prevent issues in the future.
When your kidneys cannot properly filter the wastes out of the blood, it’s easy for sodium to build up in the body. Excess sodium may cause swelling, puffiness, high blood pressure, or fluid around the heart and lungs.
Finding alternative ways to flavor your food is the best first step in limiting your sodium intake. You should also avoid the common high-sodium foods, including potato chips, salted nuts, cured foods, lunch meats, and processed foods.
Potassium
When your kidney function begins to diminish, it can be difficult to keep the potassium in your body at a healthy level. When CKD sufferers have too much potassium, they may develop hyperkalemia, a very serious condition, which can cause heart damage. Symptoms that may indicate a higher than necessary level of potassium include nausea, heart palpitations, numbness or tingling, and fatigue.
Foods high in potassium include bananas, avocado, raisins, spinach, Brussel sprouts, and potatoes.
Phosphorus
Phosphorus can be a difficult mineral to remove from the blood, especially as your kidney function decreases with CKD. Important for strong bones, high levels of phosphorus in the body can increase production of your parathyroid hormone (PTH).
This hormonal increase contributes to a release of the calcium and phosphorus in your bones, causing them to weaken. Too much phosphorus in the body can also create dangerous calcifications in your heart and blood vessels.
When your levels of phosphorus are checked, it’s not uncommon for CKD patients to be restricted to 800-1,000 mg of the mineral each day. Foods high in phosphorus include chocolate, cheese, legumes, nuts, seeds, milk, and yogurt.
These common CKD dietary restrictions should be followed in order to lower the work placed on your kidneys. Your doctor will be able to give you exact restrictions based on your level of kidney function. Hopefully, this information helps you understand why the restrictions are needed!
Want to make things easier on yourself? Let us do the meal planning for you! Learn more here.
Renal Diet Menu Headquarters - Renal Diets That You Will Love!
Suggested Reading:
Renal Diet Restrictions Predialysis
Common Foods and Phosphorous
Chronic Kidney Disease Requires A Better Diet
January 1, 2018
Common Questions about CKD
Chronic kidney disease is a serious medical condition. With proper diet, planning and treatments, however, it can be managed effectively. Still, it’s normal to have questions about CKD, since you would want to know the ins and outs of the diagnosis.
The following are some of the most common questions that patients ask their doctors about CKD.
What is chronic kidney disease?
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive medical disorder in which the kidneys lose the ability to function properly. The condition typically comes on in five stages, and the advancement of stages varies between patients.
As the patient’s condition worsens, the ability of the kidneys to filter waste from the blood is lessened. In its final stage, known as end stage renal disease (ESRD), the patient requires dialysis or a kidney transplant in order to live.
What are the causes of CKD?
Most (about 2/3) of the cases of CKD in the U.S. are caused by two primary factors. The first is diabetes – as high blood sugar levels can be damaging to the kidneys over time. High blood pressure is the second, and when not treated, it can cause damage to your blood vessels…including those in the kidneys.
What are the symptoms of CKD?
Many chronic kidney disease suffers don’t have symptoms in the earlier stages. It can be a “silent” disorder until profound kidney damage has occurred.
Signs you may be suffering from CKD include high blood pressure, severe fatigue, loss of appetite, muscle cramps during rest, changes in amount of urine, sleep problems, swelling in the feet and ankles, and trouble concentrating.
How is CKD diagnosed?
Your doctor will begin by doing a personal and family health assessment. Your doctor will take note of your symptoms, and may ask if you suffer from high blood pressure. A physical exam is also performed, checking for signs of blood vessel issues.
To accurately diagnose chronic kidney disease, a series of tests may be given. These include a blood test to check the creatinine and urea levels in the blood, a urine test to check for abnormalities that may indicate CKD, and an ultrasound to check the kidneys’ size and structure.
Is there a cure for CKD?
While there is no cure for chronic kidney disease, there are treatments that can help you manage and treat the condition. The method of treatment prescribed to you by your doctor will depend on the underlying cause of the CKD.
You may be given medicine to reduce blood pressure, cholesterol, and swelling. It’s also common to be placed on a renal diet that is low in protein when you are suffering from CKD. Lower levels of protein allow your kidneys a break from working so hard to filter wastes.
What happens in the final stage of CKD?
If you progress to the last stage of the condition, known as end stage renal disease (ESRD), your kidneys have reached complete and permanent failure in working for your body. The result may require dialysis, which is the process of using a machine to remove wastes and fluids from the blood.
A kidney transplant may also be an option for some patients with ESRD. You will also need to take medication with a kidney transplant, to prevent your body from rejecting the organ.
Hopefully these common questions about chronic kidney disease shed some light on the condition for you. As always, consult with your doctor or read through the rest of our blog here if you need more information!
Did you just receive news that you (or a loved one) has Kidney disease? Don’t let confusion or overwhelm worry you. Click here to check out the Kidney Diet Starter Kit now.
Renal Diet Menu Headquarters - Renal Diets That You Will Love!
Suggested Reading:
Common Questions about ESRD
Common Symptoms of Chronic Kidney Disease and What They Mean For Meal Planning
Commonly Prescribed Medications for Chronic Kidney Disease
December 25, 2017
Tips to Setting CKD-Friendly New Year’s Resolutions
Like everyone in the world, chronic kidney disease sufferers make goals for themselves when it comes to living healthier. As far as New Year’s resolutions are considered, did you know that 85% of people have forgotten, failed, or otherwise given up on those goals by February?!
Don’t get too discouraged, however. Those with CKD do need to make their health a priority, and a great New Year’s resolution may be the perfect way to end a bad habit or create good ones.
Read on to find out more about how you can set a CKD-friendly New Year’s resolution you will actually stick to!
Choose one big problem.
Assess your renal diet and other activities. When it comes to chronic kidney disease, and health in general, where do you struggle the most. Is it your fluid intake? Lowering your consumption of sugar or other diet restrictions?
Break the main goal into smaller goals.
Create yourself a series of steps you must achieve in order to meet the larger goal. This will allow you to feel proud of yourself as the milestones are reached. Plus, it’s easier to tackle 3-4 small tasks than it is one large, daunting task!
If fluid intake is your resolution, start monitoring how much you are drinking each day. Slowly increase the amount until you are drinking the optimal amount for your situation. The slow increase of a few ounces a day will make it easy for you to reach your goals, rather than expecting yourself to do jump to drinking 3-4 more glasses of water than usual in one go.
Another example, is lowering the intake of your renal diet restrictions. Maybe you want to do this by cooking more meals at home. Start small; finding an easy CKD-friendly recipe you can make yourself. Gradually locate more recipes to try, keeping a cookbook of the ones you enjoy. Over time, you’ll notice you are eating more at home than dining out on unhealthy foods.
Have a clean plan to reach your goal.
Now that you have the goals in mind, how do you plan to reach them? For fluid intake, you can keep a refillable water bottle handy. Better yet, get three and keep them all filled at the beginning of the day. Once you’ve emptied them all, you know you’ve gotten enough water.
Seek support and accountability.
No one ever said you have to work on your New Year’s resolution alone! Reach out to your family and friends, asking them for support while you work to better yourself and your health.
Ask them to refrain from bringing over soft drinks, juices, and other beverages because you want to stick to water. You can also ask them to refrain from inviting you out to dinner or bringing around desserts that you should not be eating.
Find an accountability buddy so you can share your success, failures, and struggles with your CKD-friendly new year’s resolution. Talk to them at least once a week, seeking advice or praise for your process.
Don’t let one bad day ruin it.
No one is perfect. Most people will have a little slip every now and then when working on their goals. As a chronic kidney disease patient, it’s important that you learn to view every day as a new chance to reach your New Year’s resolution.
Just because you caved and had a piece of pie doesn’t mean you should continue to eat the rest of it. Brush off the error and keep charging ahead to better health.
Not sure what to eat on a CKD meal plan? Let us do the meal planning for you! Learn more here.
Renal Diet Menu Headquarters - Renal Diets That You Will Love!
Suggested Reading:
Tips for Navigating Fluid Restrictions
Hydration and Chronic Kidney Disease
Kidney Friendly Hydration Options
December 22, 2017
Herbed Sausage Stuffing Low Sodium Low Carb Recipe Meals
You love to eat the stuffing at meals, especially around the holidays but you know it’s got a ton of carbs and can be high in sodium. Not this stuffing. You get a generous portion and you can eat a lot of it. Try this out with your next meal and see if you don’t love it. And download the recipe at our website to see the actual nutritional content. This recipe might have a lot of cauliflower, but it’s delicious and tasty and easy to make. You can eat a big portion and still have lots of room left for other food and drink.
If you would like the actual recipe, enter your name and email below. I will send you the recipe immediately, and you will be notified whenever we have a new recipe. (Which is weekly). Feel free to opt out anytime from the recipe emails.
Renal Diet Menu Headquarters - Renal Diets That You Will Love!
Suggested Reading:
Cheesy Bacon Turkey Wraps Perfect For Pre-Dialysis Or Dialysis Kidney Disease Low Sodium Meals
Delicious Sweet Red Apple Slaw Vegetarian Side Dish Low Sodium For Kidney Failure
Cauliflower And Goat Cheese Soup Vegetarian Healthy Low Sodium Meals ZYD
December 18, 2017
Healthy New Year Tips for CKD (with checklist)
The New Year is a great opportunity for everyone to start fresh. For chronic kidney disease patients, this is a time to do a health evaluation. It’s also the perfect time to prepare yourself – and your body – for a healthier year.
Read on to discover how you can set yourself up for a healthy New Year when you have CKD!
Schedule a Physical
Start your new year off right with a visit to the doctor. You want to make sure there are no new developments in your health. Request labs be done to ensure your levels are all looking good. This appointment is the perfect time to ask any questions or concerns you have about CKD or having a healthy year.
Get your Flu Shot
It is recommended that everyone get a flu shot to prevent catching the illness during the cold winter months. Patients with chronic kidney disease are even more susceptible to the flu, so they really need to get a flu shot at the start of the New Year – assuming they didn’t get it before Christmas.
Choose a Healthy New Year’s Resolution
The best way to make changes for your health in a new year is to set a resolution. This is a goal you will work on for the next 12 months; so don’t feel like you have to master it the first week of January.
Examples of good New Year’s resolutions for CKD include:
Drinking more water
Cooking more renal diet friendly meals at home
Quitting smoking
Exercising more often
Limiting your sugar intake
Get your Blood Sugar Checked
Diabetes is a common condition that goes hand in hand with CKD. For this reason, it’s important to schedule an appointment in January to have your blood sugar levels checked. While there, you’ll also want the doctor to check your weight and blood pressure. All of these numbers need to be in check when you are suffering from CKD.
Monitor your Mental Health
It’s possible for CKD patients to suffer from anxiety or depression. There is a lot to learn, and the diagnosis itself can be overwhelming. This is especially true during the cold months, when the “winter blues” can even affect normal healthy people.
Talk to your doctor if you have been feeling down or overly anxious. Take a look at your stress levels, and find ways to manage it that do not involve comfort eating (this would make it difficult to stick to your renal diet).
Evaluate your Medications
At the start of a new year, it’s a good idea to get with your doctor and go over your current prescriptions. Discuss how well they are working for you. Get lab work done, and review the results with your doctor. It’s good to check up on the medicines you are using at least once a year, to remove any that aren’t necessary or substitute ineffective ones for ones that may work better.
Take a Hard Look at your Diet
Your doctor probably gave you a renal diet meal plan when you were diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. Maybe you have followed it to the letter, never straying or giving into a craving. However, many patients find that as time wears on, they may slip back into old eating habits.
Consider your current eating habits and make changes where needed. You should be eating three balanced meals per day, with one or two snacks mixed in. Make sure you are following your diet restrictions set forth for your situation.
If you don’t really know what you are eating, start keeping a food diary. Write down everything you eat or drink for one week. Logging everything you consume will make it easier to know if you are sticking with your diet plan or not.
If you haven’t been sticking to your renal diet, start now. Begin looking for healthier meal and snack ideas online. Recipes that are low in sodium, potassium, and phosphorus are best for CKD. Increase your water intake while monitoring your overall fluid levels. Avoid letting coffee, tea, and juices take up too much of the fluids you are consuming each day.
Boost your Activity Levels
Exercise is an extremely beneficial task that you should be doing for at least 30 minutes each day. For CKD patients, staying active can be helpful to lower stress levels and blood pressure. It also helps to lower your risk of obesity and heart disease.
Start slow, especially if you aren’t used to being active. Walking is a great activity to begin with, increasing your speed and distance a little each week.
Check on your Support System
You don’t have to battle your CKD diagnosis alone. Think about the people in your life who have been supportive. Thank them for being there, and let them know how appreciative you are to have their help.
On the flip side, think about the people in your life who have not been so supportive. Those who bring over unhealthy foods, ask you out for drinks too often, or don’t see the importance of the lifestyle changes you are trying to make. It may be the time to rid your life of your negative influences, so that you can lead a healthier life managing your CKD.
As you can see, starting the New Year off on the right food is vital for a healthy year. Make sure you get all of your health under control and start fresh on any struggles you have been dealing with regarding your chronic kidney disease.
Be sure to download your checklist below.
Renal Diet Menu Headquarters - Renal Diets That You Will Love!
Suggested Reading:
Eating Healthy Can Affect Your Renal Disease
Renal Diet Headquarters Podcast 010 – 10 Tips To Heart Healthy Living
Tips for Navigating Fluid Restrictions
December 11, 2017
What to Eat and What Not to Eat with CKD: Produce
Eating fresh fruits and vegetables are typically beneficial for healthy people, but if you suffer from chronic kidney disease, you may need to avoid certain produce.
The exact foods you should eat and not eat are to be determined by your doctor. Renal diet restrictions are different for everyone, due to the differences in the stages of CKD. How well your kidneys are functioning will decide if your body can handle certain foods.
However, this article will provide you with general guidelines about what produce you should and should not eat if you have chronic kidney disease.
What Fruits & Veggies to Eat with CKD
Red Bell Peppers: Low in potassium while also an excellent source of many nutrients, including vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin B6, folic acid and fiber.
Onions: Low in potassium and a great source of chromium, which helps your body metabolize carbohydrates, fats and protein. Onions are also rich in quercetin, a powerful antioxidant that helps to lower your risk of heart disease and many forms of cancer.
Cabbage: Low in potassium but high in vitamin K, vitamin C, fiber, and folic acid. There are many ways you can prepare cabbage for a renal diet, including making coleslaw or a topping for fish tacos.
Green Beans: Low in sodium and potassium, and they can assist with proper urine flow to rid the body of toxins. Patients in later stages CKD may need to limit their consumption of green beans, but it can be a beneficial food for those in earlier stages.
Strawberries: Excellent source of vitamin C, manganese and fiber. They also contain several antioxidants, which help protect body cell structures and prevent oxidative damage.
Pears: Low in potassium and phosphorus, and an excellent source of iron. Pears also contain agents that stimulate the formation of red blood cells to fight anemia in CKD patients.
Blueberries: Low in potassium and phosphorus but an excellent source in many nutrients, such as Vitamin C, manganese, and fiber. Their natural compounds assist with reducing the signs of aging and inflammation.
Apples: Low in phosphorus, yet an excellent source of fiber. Apples can also help to relieve constipation, reduce cholesterol, and protect against heart disease and cancer.
Red Grapes: Low in phosphorus and potassium, and high in flavonoids, which assist with proper blood flow and protect against heart disease, cancer, and inflammation.
What Fruits & Veggies Not to Eat with CKD
It is important to avoid foods that are high in potassium, phosphorus, or sodium when suffering from chronic kidney disease. The following is a list of fruit and vegetables you want to avoid in your renal diet:
Potatoes (white and sweet)
Spinach
Artichoke
Carrots
Beets
Brussel sprouts
Tomatoes
Bananas
Oranges
Melon
Apricots
Prunes
Dates
Watermelon
Hopefully these produce guidelines will help you choose the right fruits and vegetables to eat within your renal diet. As always, it’s important to understand what stage of CKD you are in when creating a meal plan for your body.
Want to make things easier on yourself? Let us do the meal planning for you! Learn more here.
Renal Diet Menu Headquarters - Renal Diets That You Will Love!
Suggested Reading:
Foods For A Healthy Kidney Diet
White Bread or Whole Wheat Bread on a Kidney Diet? Which Is Best?
Blueberry Renal Diet-July is “National Blueberry Month”
December 4, 2017
How Avoiding Processed Foods Can Help with CKD
With processed foods so readily available in grocery stores and gas stations, many people eat them without a second thought. However, eating too many processed foods when you suffer from chronic kidney disease can have dire consequences.
It’s best to avoid processed foods altogether, especially as a CKD patient. Wondering why that is? Take a look at the benefits of foregoing processed foods!
Lower your Sodium and Sugar
Processed foods are made to last a long time on the shelf. Because of this, they are filled with unhealthy additives that increase your sodium and sugar. This is potentially dangerous for someone that is in the later stages of CKD, or who is also suffering from diabetes. By avoiding these foods, you can better manage the sodium and sugar you are consuming on a daily basis.
Opting for Real Foods Instead
When you skip the processed foods, you will be eating more whole foods. Creating meals and using recipes so you know exactly what you are putting into your body. This knowledge will help you stay healthy and decrease the risk of further complications or conditions due to a poor diet.
Plus, when you eat these healthy foods, you can prepare them in ways that won’t deplete them of their benefits. Processed foods, on the other hand, are cooked in ways that focus more on shelf life than they do nutrition. Just because you have fruits or vegetables in your processed foods doesn’t mean you are getting any of the good nutrients from them once they’ve had chemicals added.
Better Renal Diet Maintenance
Since your renal diet is very important when you suffer from CKD, avoiding all processed foods will help you maintain a healthy balance in the foods you eat. You will be avoiding the bad additives and staying within your goals for potassium, sodium, and phosphorus. You can ensure you are eating the more beneficial foods for your condition – and staying away from those that can be dangerous!
Avoiding the Addiction
There are many chemicals and preservatives in processed foods that can become downright addicting to some people. If you don’t find yourself craving the foods, you may just like the ease and convenience of foods that have been processed.
All of this makes it more difficult for you to make healthy choices of whole foods when you are hungry. By eliminating processed foods from your diet, you will also get rid of any addictions to these unhealthy items.
Kicking processed foods completely from your diet is extremely beneficial for those with chronic kidney disease. Choosing a diet full of fresh meats, fruits, and vegetables is much better for your health. It also helps you to avoid any harmful chemicals and additives.
With a processed free renal diet, you know just what you are consuming so you can stay within healthy ranges for sodium, sugar, and phosphorus that is difficult for your kidneys to break down.
Want to make things easier on yourself? Let us do the meal planning for you! Learn more here.
Renal Diet Menu Headquarters - Renal Diets That You Will Love!
Suggested Reading:
Top Foods to Avoid for Chronic Kidney Disease
Foods for All Stages of CKD
Weaning Yourself from Processed Foods
November 27, 2017
How to Navigate Holiday Get Togethers with CKD
It’s common for families to have holiday get togethers to spend time with one another. These often involve preparing and eating a big meal – which can seem daunting for someone suffering with chronic kidney disease.
Have no fear, however, as it is absolutely possible for you to navigate the dinner table at a holiday get together…even if you have CKD. The following tips will help you enjoy your meal with still eating sensibly for your condition.
How to Navigate Holiday Get Togethers with CKD
Know your dietary restrictions
Depending on the progression of your CKD, you want to be fully aware of the restrictions on your diet. For example, if you are further along in the process of this condition, you will want to reduce your protein intake at holiday dinners. You will also want to keep a close check on your sodium intake.
Don’t be afraid to ask
If you aren’t sure how something was prepared, or if it contains an ingredient you should stay away from, just ask! It’s better to find out what’s inside the holiday dish before you eat than to risk your own health. Your loved ones will understand your need to know more about the foods you are eating.
Bring your own dishes
To play it completely safe, someone with CKD may wish to bring his or her own meal to a holiday get together. At the very least, you may want to bring low-sodium or low-potassium side dishes that you can pair with other items brought by family members. By preparing your own foods, you can be sure you are staying within the restrictions of your renal diet.
Eat before the get together
Having a renal diet friendly meal shortly before you attend a holiday get together can help you stay healthy and well. That way, you can ensure you are eating the right foods for CKD. If you do plan to eat at the holiday dinner, having something before hand helps you cut back on what you eat at the event…thus reducing your chances of eating something you shouldn’t.
Use portion control
It is vital that you exercise proper portion control when navigating a holiday get together with chronic kidney disease. As you fill your plate, take smaller portions of foods that aren’t renal diet friendly. Make up for the small amount by eating larger portions of foods that are okay to eat with CKD. This balance makes sure you are full without damaging your health.
Plan your meal before you start
If you are attending a holiday get together with a large food spread, you want to take a survey of everything available before you begin creating your plate. This allows you to skip dishes you don’t really want in favor of those that you look forward to at the holidays. Picking and choosing allows you to stick to your renal diet!
Eat slowly
Your stomach typically needs 15 minutes before it realizes you are eating. By taking the time to enjoy your meal, you will feel full before you gobble up everything. Sip your beverage between bites and have conversations during the meal to slow down your eating. You’ll find you are full before you have the chance to eat too much bad foods for your CKD.
With these tips, you should be able to navigate a holiday get together without affecting your chronic kidney disease. Overall, focus more on the time you are getting to spend with loved ones, and less on the food at the event.
Want to make things easier on yourself? Let us do the meal planning for you! Learn more here.
Renal Diet Menu Headquarters - Renal Diets That You Will Love!
Suggested Reading:
Surviving the Holidays with Chronic Kidney Disease
Best Holiday Dishes for Chronic Kidney Disease
What to Eat on Thanksgiving with CKD (with Info Sheet)
November 20, 2017
What to Eat on Thanksgiving with CKD (with Info Sheet)
For those with chronic kidney disease, a large family meal like Thanksgiving dinner may seem daunting. Gone are the days you can simply fill your plate with anything and everything on the menu.
While you do have to watch what you eat on Thanksgiving, it’s definitely possible to enjoy the meal and the holiday with your loved ones. This guide will help you make the best selections for your plate on Thanksgiving – and possibly other holiday meals too!
Thanksgiving Main Course
Most families serve the traditional turkey on Thanksgiving Day. You are in luck, as turkey is a healthy meat option for CKD patients! Before the meal, ask whoever is preparing the turkey to roast it. Deep-frying, brined and other preparation options aren’t as renal diet friendly.
When you make your plate on Thanksgiving, be sure to peel the skin from the turkey. Also, if you are on a low-protein diet, limit the amount of turkey you eat to 3-4 ounces.
You can even enjoy it with a little gravy (be sure to limit this, to stay under your fat consumption for the meal) to enhance the flavor, as long as it is homemade rather than packaged. To make a better gravy that fits in your CKD dietary restrictions, use pan drippings and thicken the sauce with cornstarch. This keeps your sodium down versus gravy made from a pack.
Thanksgiving Side Dishes
You must exercise caution when choosing your side dishes at Thanksgiving dinner. Many fruits and vegetables that are commonly served may be too high in potassium for you, depending on your CKD dietary restrictions.
It may be best to bring your own side dishes to the meal, if you are afraid you won’t find much that meets your current renal diet. You can also have a bite or two of the not-so-friendly foods while eating more of the better choices.
Green beans are a great choice, and one that you will probably find in your Thanksgiving Day spread. Since they are low in potassium, they can offset any of the smaller portions of the restricted foods you choose to eat.
Boiled cabbage is another excellent choice for CKD suffers. It is also low in potassium, and it’s also full of many helpful nutrients to keep your body healthy.
Cranberry sauce, a popular side for Thanksgiving, is also good for you to eat during the meal, even if you suffer from chronic kidney disease.
A typical ¼ cup serving of cranberry sauce has 35 mg sodium, 17mg potassium, and 6mg phosphorus.
That shouldn’t be too bad for most CKD sufferers! Plus, these tangy berries help prevent infection in the GI tract and bladder by protecting the lining of these organs from harmful bacteria.
Sweet potatoes are a favorite for many Thanksgiving guests. If you leach the potatoes before you cook them, you will lower their potassium content to make them more renal diet friendly.
Leaching simply involves peeling and dicing the sweet potatoes and soaking them in a pot of lukewarm water for 4 hours. Drain the potatoes after soaking and replace with fresh water for cooking.
Garlic cauliflower is yet another healthy Thanksgiving side dish for those with CKD. Cauliflower is a great alternative to traditional mashed potatoes.
Roast or steam the vegetable, mash it, and add in some garlic for flavor. Along with being low in potassium and sodium, garlic can help reduce inflammation.
Thanksgiving Desserts
This may be the place of the meal where you have to use the most caution when choosing what to eat. Those with chronic kidney disease need to limit their sugar intake, especially if you battle diabetes along with your CKD.
Apple pie is usually a safe choice for a CKD diet, especially if prepared naturally and without a lot of added sugar.
Cranberry Pie is another good choice, for the health benefits of cranberries mentioned above about the cranberry sauce.
Fresh fruit is always the best selection for a dessert, but be sure to avoid those high in potassium. Stick with apples, berries, pineapple, cherries, peaches, and pears.
You can always bring along your own dessert to ensure you have a sweet treat that won’t risk harm to your dietary restrictions.
This guide should help you decide what to eat – and what to avoid – when you are attending a Thanksgiving Day meal. Try not to focus too much on the food. Make mindful choices and enjoy the company and activities of the day more than the meal!
Renal Diet Menu Headquarters - Renal Diets That You Will Love!
Suggested Reading:
Holiday Eating on a Renal Diet
Holiday Eating With Non Dialysis Kidney Disease
A Low Potassium Diet – 3 Tips To Make It Easier To Follow
