Mathea Ford's Blog, page 71

Kidney Friendly Soup and Stews

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The cold weather months tend to make people want to eat hot, comforting foods. Soups and stews are certainly a mainstay of winter fare. They are especially great because most soups and stews can be made with very little effort or time. You can use a crock pot or a large pot on the stove, or whatever method you prefer to prepare your meals.

If you are not under any fluid restrictions, soups or stews are an easy and delicious way to eat healthily. Most of your favorite soups and stews can be updated to healthy versions that are good for kidney patients. The majority of soup recipes simply involve adding your favorite meats and vegetables to some broth, seasoning, and letting it simmer. It is really that easy.

Here are a couple easy kidney-friendly soups and stews you can try:

Chicken Noodle Soup

Ingredients:

¼ pound cooked chicken, shredded

¼ cup unsalted butter

3 stalks of celery, chopped

3 carrots, chopped

1 large yellow onion, chopped

2 (32 oz) containers of low sodium chicken broth

2 cups egg noodles, cooked to al dente

Directions:

Sauté all of your veggies in the butter until the onion is translucent. Add in chicken and broth, simmer for 30 minutes. Add in noodles and then simmer another 5 to 10 minutes before serving. 

Beef Stew

Ingredients:

Lean beef stew meat, about 2 pounds.

3 stalks of celery, chopped

5 carrots, chopped

1 potato, chopped and soaked to remove excess potassium

1 large yellow onion, chopped

3 garlic cloves, chopped

1 cup sliced mushrooms of your choice

1 (32 oz) container of low sodium beef broth

1 cup dry red wine

5 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon salt-free table seasoning (like Mrs. Dash)

Directions:

Coat beef pieces in flour and seasoning mixture. Using half of your olive oil, brown the beef in a large pot and then remove the meat and set to the side. In the same pot, sauté all vegetables except the potatoes and carrots in remaining olive oil over medium-high heat until onion is translucent. Reduce heat and add in red wine. Stir and let simmer for 5 minutes, then add in the cooked beef. Add broth and then bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, covered, for an hour. Then and add in the potatoes and carrots. Simmer uncovered for an hour. Season with additional salt-free seasonings, herbs, and spices as desired.

Try these delicious kidney-friendly recipes in your own kitchen tonight. You can also make easy substitutions to your own favorite recipes to make them kidney friendly. Just remember to focus on fresh ingredients, low sodium broth for your base, and no added salts. As always, remember to discuss any dietary changes with your doctor before trying anything new.

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Suggested Reading:

Renal Diet Recipes – Easy Chicken Noodle Soup – Low Sodium and Kidney Diet Friendly
Fall Comfort Foods for Renal Disease
Low Sodium Foods – How Do I Make Chicken Broth From Stock For A Renal Diet?

Kidney Safe Valentine’s Treats

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It seems like every time you turn around there is another sweet holiday, which usually amounts to just another excuse to eat extra treats – especially for Valentine’s Day. When you have a chronic health condition, all of these treats can actually be dangerous. You can still have treats if you can find versions or substitutions that are safe for your condition.

With chronic kidney disease, you need to watch out for excess sodium first and foremost. Since metabolic diseases like renal disease are usually accompanied by other chronic illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension, you should also be careful about your sugar intake. Also be sure to be cognizant of preservatives, potassium, phosphorus, and hidden chemical additives.

Here are some ideas for Valentine’s treats that you can enjoy even with chronic kidney disease:

Berries and Cream

Considering how sweet they are, berries have a surprisingly low sugar content. They also are packed full of good stuff like vitamins and antioxidants. Perhaps most importantly, they taste amazing. Especially when topped with a generous dollop of sugar-free whipped topping.

Baked Treats

You can bake your own healthier versions of brownies, cookies, and cakes. Simply make substitutions where necessary to cut down on the sugar and other ingredients that you need to be vigilant about. You can use Splenda instead of sugar. Often, you can even cut the amount of sweetener you use in half and replace some of it with unsweetened applesauce.

Cherry Cobbler

You can make a simple no-sugar-added version of cherry cobbler without much effort at all. Simply pit and halve cherries and place them in a casserole or baking dish. Make a crumble by cutting a couple tablespoons of cold butter into oats and a flour. Sprinkle it over the top and bake at 350 degrees until the topping is golden brown and the cherries are hot and juicy. This goes great with a scoop of low sugar vanilla ice cream.

Rice Crispy Treats

Rice crispy treats are a great option for people with kidney disease because they do not have much in them that could hurt you. Do be aware of the sugar if you are also diabetic, and remember to eat them in moderation of course.

Candies

Sugar-free candies are always an option and are often recommended for kidney disease patients that are having trouble with fluid restrictions. You can find sugar free versions of just about every hard candy you can imagine.

Kidney disease does not mean that you cannot enjoy a treat now and then. The key, as always, is moderation and finding the right substitutions for foods that are no longer safe for you to eat. Discuss this list of treats with your healthcare provider to be sure you are choosing the best foods for your kidney safe diet.

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Suggested Reading:

Frozen Treats for Chronic Kidney Disease Patients
How to Plan Kidney-Safe Meals the Whole Family Can Enjoy
Easy Recipes For a Kidney Safe Diet

Lesser Known Facts about Chronic Kidney Disease

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Chronic kidney disease is a mystery to many people. Unless you or someone very close to you have been diagnosed, it is unlikely that you know a whole lot about this chronic disease. A few people know the basics, that chronic kidney disease (also called renal disease) is the graduated failing of the kidneys. The rest of the facts about this disease are much lesser known. 

Here are some lesser known facts about chronic kidney disease:

Not Uncommon

Chronic kidney disease is not as uncommon as many people think it is. An estimated 661,000 people in the United States alone have been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. Roughly 1 in 3 people are at risk for developing kidney disease, and millions of people already have kidney disease and don’t know they have it.

Metabolic Disorder

Chronic kidney disease is one of a group of conditions that are “metabolic disorders”. These are all conditions that affect the metabolic systems of the body and are all linked. An example of this is how kidney disease and heart disease are linked- kidney disease patients are actually more likely to die of related illnesses like heart disease than kidney failure itself.

Linked To Other Chronic Illnesses

There is a strong connection between kidney disease, diabetes, and heart disease. Often, one of these diseases causes the others like a chain reaction. Kidney disease, for example, is a common result of chronic high blood pressure.

Stages of Disease

There are five stages of kidney disease. The stages range in the progression from no symptoms at all to complete renal failure. The treatment of kidney disease greatly changes with the progression of the illness. Typically, treatment starts at stage 1 with fairly simple dietary changes, and then progresses with stricter dietary changes and medications, and ends in dialysis or kidney transplant. 

Can Be Delayed or Slowed

There is no cure for chronic kidney disease and damage to your kidneys can not be reversed. You can, however, slow the progression of chronic kidney disease through proper management, especially dietary restrictions. 

Diet is Most Important

Although there are many factors in the treatment of chronic kidney disease that are all important, diet is perhaps the most important. This is because it is your diet that can either progress or delay your illness. The right dietary changes can slow, or potentially even halt, the progression of chronic kidney disease.

These are all lesser known, but very important, facts about chronic kidney disease. Use this information to start a conversation with your healthcare provider about how you can treat your disease. This conversation could help you avoid end-stage renal failure and help you live a healthier and more comfortable life.

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Suggested Reading:

Understanding the Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease
Diet Changes by Stage of Chronic Kidney Disease
How Quickly Will My Chronic Kidney Disease Progress To Dialysis?

Alcoholic Beverages and Renal Disease

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Especially during the holidays, it is common to raise a glass to celebrate the past year and the one ahead. If you have chronic kidney disease, you might be worried about how alcohol could affect your health. Before you imbibe too much, or before you deny yourself that glass of eggnog, you should learn the rules about drinking with renal disease.

Overall, the answer to whether or not you can drink alcohol when you have renal disease is yes. There is more to it, however, as what you drink and how much you drink are important. If you have any other health conditions is also important, as many chronic health conditions are connected.

The Rules of Drinking with Renal Disease

Stage of Illness

If you are in the earlier stages of renal disease, it is considered safe for you to consume alcohol. If you are in the later stages of renal disease, especially if you are on dialysis, it may not be recommended for you to have alcoholic beverages. Your nephrologist may allow it, but it will need to be counted towards your total daily fluid intake. 

Medications

Talk to your doctor and pharmacist about drinking alcohol with your prescribed medications. It may be unsafe to drink with certain prescriptions. Some medications can cause your blood alcohol levels to rise too quickly, which could end up being dangerous.

Ingredients

Aside from wine and beer, pay attention to the ingredients in your alcoholic beverages. Some mixed drinks may have ingredients that are not healthy for kidney disease patients. A “Bloody Mary”, for example, is likely to be high in sodium and potassium, both of which can be unhealthy for kidney disease. You are better off sticking to wine or light beer.

Amount 

The amount you drink is also very important. One or two drinks is usually the maximum recommended amount to drink per day. One drink typically means 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or one shot of liquor (1.5 ounces). 

Other Health Conditions

As many chronic health conditions are linked, you should also consider any other health conditions you have when determining whether or not you should drink alcohol. Diabetes, high blood pressure, and liver disorders can all relate to chronic kidney disease and are more susceptible to side effects from alcohol.

You should always talk to your doctor before making any changes to your diet or lifestyle, or if you are unsure about drinking alcohol. While it is typically deemed safe for most renal disease patients to have a drink or two, your specific health condition may require special attention. Once you have the all clear, go ahead and raise your glass to toast the days ahead.

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Suggested Reading:

Alcohol and Kidney Disease – Can I Have A Beer?
Risk Factors for Renal Disease
Avoiding End Stage Renal Disease

Best Holiday Dishes for Chronic Kidney Disease

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Whether you are hosting a holiday dinner party or planning on bringing a dish to share, it is always a good idea to have a few holiday dish ideas on hand. Knowing what to cook, especially when cooking for others, can be a challenge for people with chronic kidney disease. 

Here are some ideas for the best holiday dishes for chronic kidney disease:

Roasted Turkey

Skip the brine and the fryer. Get back to basics with a delicious, simple roasted turkey. Rub poultry seasoning and herbs such as parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme under the skin of the turkey. Brush the top of the turkey with melted unsalted butter and cover with aluminum foil. Baste every so often with low sodium turkey stock and the pan drippings. Remove the foil for the last 30 to 45 minutes to allow the skin to brown.

Tip: The wrapping on your turkey should tell you how long you need to roast your turkey. Typically, it is around 20 minutes per pound at 350 degrees for a defrosted frozen turkey. The internal temperature should reach 165 degrees. Always let your turkey “rest” for 30 minutes before carving.

Cranberry Sauce

Although the canned stuff won’t kill you, homemade cranberry sauce is always impressive, delicious, and surprisingly healthy.

Ingredients:

1 12-ounce bag of fresh cranberries, rinsed

1/2 Cup honey

1/2 Cup water

1/4 Cup fresh orange juice

1 teaspoon of orange zest

In a saucepan, combine the cranberries, water, and honey over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring frequently, for about ten minutes or until all of the cranberries have popped and the mixture becomes gelatinous. Stir in the orange zest and orange juice.

Tip: You can also use maple syrup or agave syrup instead of honey. These are all good substitutions for processed sugar.

Vegetarian Autumn Wild Rice (Recipe adapted from Davita.com)

Ingredients:

Non-Stick Cooking Spray

2 Tablespoons Raisins

1/2 Cup Wild Rice, uncooked

3/4 Cup Brown Rice, uncooked

2 Cups Apples chopped

¾ Cup Carrots, shredded

1/4 cup Celery, chopped finely

1/4 cup Red Bell Pepper, chopped

1/4 Teaspoon Dried Whole Sage

1/4 teaspoon Cracked Black Pepper

2 Cups Low Sodium Vegetable Broth (The best kind is Imagine Brand Low Sodium Vegetable Broth)

1/4 Cup Fresh Lemon Juice

Instructions:

Cook wild rice and converted rice in the normal way using the veggie broth as the liquid along with the sage and pepper. If you have a rice cooker the ratio is 1 cup liquid per 1 cup of dry rice. If you like your rice moister you can add up to ½ cup more liquid per Cup of rice.

If you are cooking it on the stovetop the ratio is 1 ½ cups liquid to 1 cup dry rice, simply bring the liquid to boil add rice and cook on simmer with the lid on until liquid evaporates and rice is cooked through. About 40 to 50 minutes.

Combine Raisins and 1/4 cup of hot water and let stand for five minutes, then drain off the water.

While the rice is cooking coat a large skillet with nonstick cooking spray, heat over medium-high heat until hot. Add the apple, celery, green pepper and carrot; sauté until crisp-tender. When the rice is cooked, throw into the pan with the apple mixture, stir in raisins, juice of 1 lemon and let stand five minutes before serving. 

There are more recipes just like these, including healthier versions of all of your favorite recipes, available to you just about anywhere. Your local library and the internet both have excellent resources for finding delicious kidney safe recipes that would be perfect for your holiday feast. Show any recipes that you are unsure about to your doctor or nutritionist to make sure you are making the best choices this holiday season.

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Suggested Reading:

The Importance of Diet for Stage 3 Kidney Disease
How To Leach Potassium out of Vegetables
Food Questions to Ask Your Doctor after Being Diagnosed With Chronic Kidney Disease

Your Questions About Metabolic Syndrome

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Metabolic syndrome is a term that you might have heard a few times, especially at your doctor’s office. Like many other medical terms, it sounds a bit scary. Hearing these words spoken, especially regarding your own health, can be worrisome.

Here are some commonly asked questions about metabolic syndrome:

What is metabolic syndrome?

Metabolic syndrome is a term used to describe the occurrence of multiple chronic health conditions at once.

What specific health conditions are most common?

Metabolic syndrome is usually met with hypertension, high blood sugar, abnormal cholesterol, and sometimes chronic kidney disease. Often these are also accompanied by obesity, specifically excess body fat around the waist. 

Who is at risk?

Anyone who has one or more of the common health conditions: hypertension, diabetes, abnormal cholesterol, and renal disease is at risk for metabolic syndrome. You are more at risk if you are overweight, smoke, and if you regularly eat a poor diet.

What causes metabolic syndrome?

Metabolic syndrome can be caused by many factors, including lifestyle and genetics. Ultimately, metabolic syndrome is a cyclical condition, as one condition can be the cause of another. Diabetes, for example, can ultimately lead to renal disease, especially when not treated properly. This is because all of the systems of the body are connected. In the case of diabetes, insulin resistance can tamper with the production of enzymes and hormones that are essential to the kidney, which in turn can worsen kidney function. 

What are the ultimate risks with metabolic syndrome?

People with metabolic syndrome are more at risk for serious cardiovascular problems. People with metabolic syndrome who are not already diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are severely more at risk of developing the condition.

Is metabolic syndrome common?

Unfortunately, metabolic syndrome is very common, especially in the United States. It is estimated that almost a third of the population has metabolic syndrome. The numbers for people that have type 2 diabetes are astronomical above 80%.

What are the symptoms?

Overall, metabolic syndrome itself does not have symptoms. Some of the occurring conditions may have symptoms, but in many cases they are only noticeable after the diagnosis has been made. In most cases, risk factors are the first indicators of a problem, specifically the occurrence of type 2 diabetes and a high waist circumference. 

What can I do about metabolic syndrome?

Like any chronic illness, metabolic syndrome isn’t something that just goes away. You can increase your health, longevity, and well-being by living a healthier lifestyle. Following doctors’ orders, eating a healthy diet, and getting regular exercise are all keys to living the healthiest and most comfortable life possible.

Talk to your doctor if you are worried about your risk for metabolic syndrome. He or she can talk you through your particular risk factors and what you can do to maintain the healthiest lifestyle possible for you. 

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Suggested Reading:

Risk Factors for Renal Disease
The Chronic Illness Connection
Common Questions about ESRD

Fall Comfort Foods for Renal Disease

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The cooler weather tends to drive people to warm, hearty, bone sticking foods that have been aptly named “comfort foods”. They are called comfort foods because they warm you from the inside out, creating a sense of fullness in your stomach as well as your heart. Many comfort foods are reminiscent of your childhood, something maybe your grandmother would make on cold evenings to chase away the chill. 

Living with renal disease does not mean that you have to skip out on all of your favorite comfort foods. It simply means that you may need to make a few adjustments to your current favorite recipes or find new recipes to love. Your fall comfort favorites are here to stay.

Chicken Pot Pie

Ingredients:

1 cup each of your favorite fresh or frozen chopped veggies- corn, carrots, potatoes, peas, green beans, mushrooms, etc.

2 tablespoons of olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

3 celery stalks, chopped

1lb skinless chicken breast (baked or boiled and then shredded or cubed)

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup low or no sodium chicken broth

1 cup low fat milk

Herbs and spices to taste: parsley, tarragon, and sage are good choices

Store bought pie crust OR biscuit topping using Bisquick and water.

Heat oil in a large sauté pan. Add in onion and celery and cook over medium heat until translucent. Sprinkle in flour as you are stirring, slowly adding in the milk. Add in your vegetables and the chicken and then mix in the broth. Allow to simmer while you complete the next part.

Prep your casserole dish by spraying it with non-stick spray. If you are using pie crusts, you can choose to have a crust on the top and bottom or just the top. If you would like the crust on the bottom, go ahead and lay out your crust dough over the bottom of the dish. For the biscuit topping, mix together 1 cup of Bisquick and 1 cup of water.

Pour your mixture into the casserole dish. Top with pie crusts, making a few slits for steam to escape, or drizzle your Bisquick topping and spread it out in a thin layer over top of the pie mixture.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes.

Beef Stew

Ingredients:

2lbs lean beef stew meat cut into bite-sized pieces

Olive oil

1 large yellow onion, chopped

2 cups chopped carrots

2 large white potatoes, peeled, chopped and soaked

3 celery stalks, chopped

1 cup mushrooms, sliced or chopped

2 garlic cloves, chopped

1 cup dry red wine (for example, a pinot noir)

4 cups low sodium beef broth

1 teaspoon of no-salt-added herb mixture (Mrs. Dash)

2 tablespoons flour.

In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat a little olive oil over medium heat. Sauté onions and celery until translucent, then add garlic and mushrooms. Add in carrots and then stir in red wine. Allow to a simmer. Coat beef in flour mixed with half of the spice mixture. In a separate pan, heat some olive oil and then brown the beef on all sides before adding it to the vegetable mixture. Add the rest of the seasoning and the broth to the pot and bring to a boil. Let simmer for one hour, then add the potatoes. Allow to simmer for another hour, stirring occasionally. 

Both of these recipes are delicious examples of just how much you can still enjoy comfort food recipes on a renal-friendly diet. These recipes warm you from the inside out, and they make enough to share with the whole family. You can also make substitutions in your own favorite recipes to make them renal friendly. Talk to your nutritionist about what ingredients you should omit or substitute to make your favorite comfort recipes healthy for you.

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Suggested Reading:

Low Sodium Foods – How Do I Make Chicken Broth From Stock For A Renal Diet?
Great Kidney Friendly Potluck Recipes
Renal Diet Recipes – Easy Chicken Noodle Soup – Low Sodium and Kidney Diet Friendly

Surviving the Holidays with Chronic Kidney Disease

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The holidays are a time of celebration and family togetherness. For some, the holidays are also a time of great stress. Many people find the holidays stressful for plenty of reasons, but your particular stress might stem from not knowing how to survive the holidays while living with chronic kidney disease. You are certainly not alone in this.

First, slow down and take a breath. Your holidays do not need to be any more stressful than usual just because of chronic kidney disease. There are a few things you can do to help navigate the holiday gatherings while maintaining your healthy and kidney-friendly lifestyle.

Here are a few tips for surviving the holidays with chronic kidney disease:

Don’t Skip Meals

A lot of people like to skip breakfast or lunch (or both) when they know they have a big meal coming later. While it is tempting to keep your belly empty in preparation for filling it to the brim, you really should stick to eating your regular, healthy meals. Skipping breakfast especially can mess with your blood sugar, making you feel hungrier than you really are. Not only that but if you are very hungry you might be less likely to make good decisions come meal time.

Portion Control

Holiday meals are often thought of as a free for all where you stuff yourself senseless. With your kidney-friendly diet, however, you need to make smarter choices. 

Here are a few ideas to help you with portion control at a holiday buffet:

Use a smaller plate. You are more likely to choose wisely and eat less overall if you are loading it all onto a smaller serving tray.

Look, then choose. Before you start the buffet line, go ahead and look over all the choices. Choose your favorites that you have to have, plus the healthier options, and then skip the rest. Knowing what is available ahead of time can help you make these choices.

Wait it out. Before going back for another round, wait for at least ten minutes. You might find that you are fuller than you thought. 

Take Your Meds

If you are on phosphate binders or other medications, make sure that you take them accordingly. Set reminders on your watch or phone if you need to, or enlist the help of a family member if you are especially forgetful. 

Be Choosey

Look through the offerings and try to make the healthiest decisions. Your best bets are to skip casseroles and fried foods whenever possible. If you just have to have some of your Aunt’s famous green bean casserole, go ahead and splurge, but just have a small amount. You can also trim some fat and sodium by not eating the skin on the turkey or trimming the excess fat on roast beef.

Make Your Own

If you aren’t hosting, you can still bring a dish or even a few, to help fill out the table and ensure there are some kidney friendly options for you. You can make just about any of your favorite dishes kidney safe.

Have A Glass and Relax

If you’re still feeling stressed out with all this advice, try sipping on a nice glass of wine. It is the holidays, after all.

Use this information to help navigate the stresses of the holidays. Surviving the holidays with chronic kidney disease isn’t too different from surviving without it, the main difference is that you have a doctor or nutritionist to give you ideas about how to make the best choices. So go ahead and enjoy your holiday, hopefully with a little less stress.

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Kidney Disease Friendly Vegetarian Meal Ideas

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Living with kidney disease usually, means big changes to your diet and lifestyle. What you eat affects your health, especially your kidney health, more than you might realize. This is because everything you eat and drink is broken down and processed through your kidneys.

Eating a vegetarian diet can be beneficial for people with kidney disease. There are many benefits to a vegetarian diet, including less protein in the urine, improved lipids in the blood, and a slow in the progression of damage to the kidneys. Many people are concerned that a vegetarian diet would not include enough protein to be healthy, but actually, there are plenty of plant-based proteins. Plant based proteins are actually easier for your body to process, and can help create less kidney tissue damage.

There are lots of easy and delicious vegetarian meal ideas that are great for kidney disease. For all of these recipes, you can use fresh or frozen vegetables. If your doctor or nutritionist does not object, you can sometimes use canned ingredients if you make sure to drain and rinse them really well. For canned beans, you can even soak them to extract extra sodium.

Easy Meal Ideas

Vegetarian Chili

Chili and soup are some of the easiest vegetarian meals. They make great delicious comfort meals and take almost no effort at all to cook.

Start by chopping up and prepping your ingredients. Some great additions are onions, bell peppers, garlic, and different kinds of beans such as kidney beans, pinto beans, and navy beans. If you don’t have any dietary restrictions for potassium and your doctor says it is okay, you can also add tomatoes. Whatever vegetables you like can be added to your chili. You can even crumble up tofu into your chili or use meat substitute ground “beef”. 

Now all you have to do is to add all of your ingredients into a big pot or slow cooker. Add in your favorite chili spices like cayenne pepper, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and oregano, all added to your taste. Let everything simmer for a few hours or all day for even more flavor. 

Fajitas

Another delicious and easy vegetarian meal is fajitas. You can use any of your favorite vegetables, but the best ones are onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, broccoli, and cauliflower. Serve with flour tortillas and cilantro rice and beans.

Prep your ingredients by chopping them and slicing them into strips. Simply heat some olive oil in a large pan and throw your vegetables in the pan. Sautee the veggies until they are cooked to your liking and then season with chili or cayenne pepper, paprika, onion and garlic powder, and cumin. 

Make cilantro rice and beans by simply mixing cooked white rice with cooked black beans and some fresh chopped cilantro.

Pesto Pasta with Roasted Asparagus

A deliciously simple pasta dish takes little to no time to come out impressive. For this dish, chop some asparagus into one-inch pieces. Toss them in a small amount of olive oil and lay them out on a pan. Roast in an oven preheated to 500 degrees for about ten minutes. You can add in other vegetables that you love also.

For the pesto sauce, you will need a handful of fresh basil, two cloves of garlic, and about half a teaspoon of lemon juice. Use a blender or food processor to blend the ingredients together and you have your sauce.

Toss your vegetables, pasta, and sauce together and enjoy a light and refreshing, delicious pasta.

These three simple recipes are not only delicious and kidney-friendly, but they can be modified to use your favorite ingredients, spices, and other additions. You can use these recipes every night with a few changes and never grow bored of your kidney safe vegetarian diet. 

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Renal Diet Menu Headquarters - Renal Diets That You Will Love!

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Hydration and Chronic Kidney Disease

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Diet and lifestyle changes are one of the most prescribed treatments for any condition, especially chronic kidney disease. What you eat is a big part of how you can make yourself better or worse, because everything you take into your body is eventually processed through your kidneys. What many people do not realize is that your diet also includes your fluid intake, not just food.

Why Hydration Is Important

Your body needs hydration to survive. In fact, if you were stranded on a deserted island without food or drinkable water, you would dehydrate faster than you would starve. Island or no, dehydration can affect anyone and can even be quite severe. Dehydration can cause cognitive issues, headache, dizziness, increased heart rate, urinary problems, and a host of other potentially dangerous side effects.

How Hydration Effects Your Kidneys

The main job of the kidneys is to filter out excess fluid, waste, and byproducts from your blood and expels them through your urine. Dehydration can make this job near impossible. When you are dehydrated, there are excess proteins and minerals that can build up in your system and actually even crystalize. This is where most kidney stones are formed. 

Staying properly hydrated can help your kidneys work as they were intended to, or at the very least not make it too difficult for them to function.

How to Keep Yourself Hydrated

You can keep yourself properly hydrated through drinking fluids and eating foods that have a high water content. Most fresh fruits and vegetables are full of natural fluids. You should also sip on water constantly throughout the day, and always pay attention to thirst cues. Avoid soda whenever possible, and stick to water or water-based drinks like tea.

You can also help keep your body hydrated by eating a healthy kidney safe diet. Lots of fresh produce (or even fresh frozen) and lean protein make for a balanced diet that is full of the vitamins and minerals that your body needs and not a lot of extra stuff that can hinder kidney function. Canned and processed foods, for example, are so full of sodium, chemicals, and other harmful ingredients that they can actually hurt you.

Hydration and End Stage Renal Disease

If you find yourself in the later stages of chronic kidney disease or in end-stage renal disease, you may find yourself in a new position. In many cases, end-stage renal disease means that you have to limit the amount of fluids that you eat and drink. This can sometimes be even harder than drinking enough.

How to Monitor Your Hydration

In the event that you are put on a fluid restrictive diet, know that there is fluid in just about everything you eat. So you have to pay attention to more than just how many beverages you drink. Any time you eat some soup or even an apple, you need to tally that towards your fluid intake. The best thing you can do to make things simpler for yourself is to keep a food diary.

Hydration is an important part of treating any chronic illness, especially chronic kidney disease. Whether you are trying to ensure that you drink enough fluids to help your kidneys function properly, or monitoring your intake due to end stage renal disease, proper hydration is of the utmost importance.

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Renal Diet Menu Headquarters - Renal Diets That You Will Love!

Suggested Reading:

Kidney Friendly Hydration Options
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When Are Fluid Restrictions Necessary with Chronic Kidney Disease