NKF Healthy Tips!!!

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Four Ways to Eat Healthier if You Have Kidney Disease

The nation’s sports fans are focused on the Final Four in April, but for those with chronic kidney disease, National Food Month is an opportunity to learn about the first four dietary nutrients to monitor with these tips from the National Kidney Foundation.

1. Protein

Getting the right amount of protein is important to your overall health and how well you feel. Your body needs the right amount of protein to:

• Build muscles
• Repair tissue
• Fight infections

Your doctor may recommend that you follow a diet that has controlled amounts of protein. This may help decrease the amount of wastes in your blood and may help your kidneys to work longer.
Protein comes from two sources. You will need to get some protein each day from both of these sources:

• Animal sources: eggs, fish, chicken, red meats, milk products and cheese
• Plant sources: vegetables and grains

2. Sodium

Kidney disease, high blood pressure and sodium are often related. Therefore, you may need to limit the amount of sodium in your diet. One tactic to accomplish this is to learn how to read food labels so you can make lower sodium choices when you shop for foods. Sodium is a mineral found naturally in foods. It is found in large amounts in table salt and in foods that have added table salt such as:

• Seasonings like soy sauce, teriyaki sauce and garlic or onion salt
• Canned foods and some frozen foods
• Processed meats like ham, bacon, sausage and cold cuts
• Salted snack foods like chips and crackers
• Most restaurant and take-out foods
• Canned or dehydrated soups (like packaged noodle soup)

3. Potassium

Potassium is an important mineral in the blood that helps your muscles and heart work properly. Too much or too little potassium in the blood can be dangerous. One of the kidney’s jobs is to regulate the amount of potassium in your body and eliminate excess in the urine. When your kidneys begin to lower in function you may need to assist them by monitoring potassium in your diet. Foods that contain higher amounts of potassium are fruits and vegetables.

4. Phosphorous

Your kidneys also have the job of removing excess phosphorus from your blood. A high blood phosphorus level may cause your skin to itch and your bones to lose calcium which increases the risk for breaks. If you have CKD stage 3-5, eating fewer foods that are high in phosphorus, is very important and will help lower the amount of phosphorus in your blood.
Phosphorus is found in large amounts in the following:

• Dairy products such as milk, cheese, pudding, yogurt and ice cream
• Dried beans and peas such as kidney beans, split peas and lentils
• Nuts and peanut butter
• Beverages such as hot chocolate, beer and dark cola drinks