Recalibration

An excerpt from my book on chronic kidney disease:

So I always have to remember my diet. My eating habits are really important to my GFR and kidney health. No, the kidney’s don’t regenerate, but if I want to maintain my GFR for longer, diet might help. 

Yesterday, I had a big pizza. Normally, I modify my diet but I ate four pieces, half of the pizza was mostly veggies: artichoke hearts and such. I scraped off some of the unhelpful but delicious tomatoes, but should have removed half of the pepperoni, bacon and such from the meat half. As it was, I pigged out on both.

I marveled later that my stomach did not protest, but then my bowels started emitting bad smells. Overnight, I experienced profound dehydration; maybe it was caused by all the sodium, I’m not sure. My tongue felt like a dry cloth, and I realized there’d been a penalty to the overeating after all. I realized I’d sinned, I’d insisted on my own way. When I saw the pizza, which was larger than my wife had intended to order, I should have evaluated it. Again, If I’d removed some of the ingredients, and predetermined to only eat half or even three quarters of the treat, I’d surely have felt better afterwards.

Sin is a particular thing. You can’t just regret the sin and hope it will not be repeated. You can’t just plead with God to remove the sin habit. You have to pray continually, maintain an additude of intentionality. I recently realized my overeating was impacting more than my kidneys and my marriage, I realized it was holding me back in my relationship with God. I was reading a book with a small group of men from my church called Fundamentals for Men: A Handbook for Him by Vince Miller. The teaching was so fundamental that I was determined to try and not have more than my share at mealtimes and to minimize snacking.

I then went to a men’s retreat I’d attended the prior year and had a much better time than in the past. I attribute part of that to my resolution about food. But sometimes I still forget myself when it comes to being moderate with my eating when I am having an approved feast at mealtime. 

The pie was from Pizza My Heart, an old favorite. I do like Round Table, but we hadn’t had the popular PMH in a long time, so I was excited. Normally when I eat at Pizza My Heart, I get one slice, and a Greek salad and iced tea. That way I can enjoy some greasiness without overdoing it, and their Greek salad is delicious. It has all the good fixins, like feta cheese and Greek olives and vinegar-laced dressing.

Of course it isn’t just a little stomach discomfort that is the worry, it is wondering if my GFR is going down and I’m going to need dialysis or transplant sooner.

Again, the main thing with food and CKD is to have a balance: a little bit of animal protein, some grains25, a half-cup of acceptable veggies, and a half cup of acceptable fruits. Avoid too much potassium, sugar, sodium and phosphates (no Coca-Cola: bummer).

If I eat too much of good foods, or more than a little of bad, I have trouble in the short term and/or in the long term. But if I want to feel my best, I need to be intentional, and not wake up to symptoms that are painful and alarming…this will also nurture my relationship with God. And there are many rewards to be had from keeping that precious rapport fit and trim, including many successes and open doors that did not otherwise seem to be attainable…  

ꭥ

“Do you like honey? Don’t eat too much, or it will make you sick! … If you have found honey, eat only enough for you, lest you have your fill of it and vomit it.”

— Proverbs 25:16

25Whole grains may contain higher amounts of potassium and phosphorus per serving compared to refined grains, however, phosphorus in plant-based foods is not absorbed completely. Most whole grains contain less than 200 mg of both potassium and phosphorous per ½ cup serving and therefore can be included in any of the following kidney conditions and treatments:

…Whole grains may offer additional benefits for those with kidney disease by helping with bowel regularity, blood pressure control, cholesterol levels, and blood glucose control. Talk with your kidney dietitian to learn more about how to incorporate whole grains into your eating pattern.

-National Kidney Foundation