Today I received a question about the best cereals for a person in stage 3 chronic kidney disease (CKD) to eat. Instead of sending my answer to only one person I thought I would share it with all of you as well.

Some good hot cereal choices include cream of wheat, Malt-o-Meal, grits, and even oatmeal a few times a week. (Stick with the cook and serve cereals instead of the higher sodium instant ones.) Many diet guides place oatmeal in the limit or avoid list because it does contain more phosphorus than the other hot cereals listed.

For ready-to-eat cereals look on the Nutrition Facts label and select the brands lowest in sodium and phosphorus. Lower sodium choices help with blood pressure control. Many cereals give the % Daily Value for phosphorus rather than milligrams. Try to go with those containing 10% DV or less. In general, cereals with added nuts or whole grain tend to have higher amounts of phosphorus.

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One of the biggest helpers with learning about and following a kidney diet is a good kidney diet cookbook. Several years ago I posted the National Kidney Foundation kidney cookbook list for you to use as a guide. 

Here’s a link to the latest version: http://www.kidney.org/professionals/CRN/cookbooks.cfm. I also want to tell you about some of the recipe books for dialysis and chronic kidney patients that I have in my collection.

At the top of my list is my own renal cookbook called Read more…

January is a great time to make positive lifestyle changes. If you have chronic kidney disease (CKD) or are a dialysis patient, consider resolutions around eating better to keep your nutrition up and manage potassium, phosphorus, sodium and fluid the best you can.

Among the DaVita resources, several tools are available to help you stay on track. There are Diet and Nutrition articles, kidney-friendly cooking videos and my favorite, DaVita Diet Helper.  All of these resources can help you stick with your 2010 kidney diet resolutions.

Sign up for DaVita Diet Helper an online kidney meal planner. This one-of-a-kind planner uses your diet prescription for protein and potassium to create several weeks of kidney-friendly meals including recipes, what to serve with the recipe and what to snack on in between meals. Read more…

The period between Christmas and New Years is a great time to wind down, reflect and gear up for the year ahead. I always like to take some ‘self’ time to think about upcoming events, schedules, goals and yes—a few New Year’s resolutions.

So after the family and guests have gone on Christmas day and in-between planning the New Year’s bash, set aside a few hours each day to contemplate on being healthy with chronic kidney disease in 2010. Here are a few suggestions to get you started:
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Milk is high in phosphorus

Where do you go for information on phosphorus? People on dialysis receive education from their renal dietitian and healthcare team at the dialysis center. Their phosphorus level is checked frequently and phosphorus binders may be prescribed with meals help keep phosphorus levels lower.

Coming soon DaVita is launching a new fun way to learn about phosphorus. It’s called the Phosphorus Challenge and includes online games, polls, quizzes, points and social networking to connect you with others learning about phosphorus. Read more…

A recent study by DaVita dietitian Debbie Benner, MA, RD and collaborators reveals that changing to nocturnal dialysis may make it easier for dialysis patients to eat enough protein and keep phosphorus normal. A poster about the study was recently presented at the American Society of Nephology national meeting in San Diego. Read more…

Trick or Treat?

Halloween candy is a treat so you may need some Halloween tips to help you stay in control of your kidney diet when tempted by all those extra sweets. Don’t be tricked into letting your potassium, phosphorus, blood sugar or waistline increase! Read more…

(This post is part of a series looking at foods to include in a kidney diet)

Mustard is  an excellent kidney friendly diet condiment.  So many seasonings and condiments are loaded with fat and sodium.  One teaspoon of yellow mustard contains only 25 to 65 mg sodium.  (Do check labels because some brands are higher.)  Potassium and phosphorus are low at less than 7 mg a teaspoon.  Mustard paste and mustard sauce, oriental versions of prepared mustard, are similarly low in sodium, potassium and phosphorus. Read more…

I’ve been running across lots of information on vitamin D lately. It turns out that many people are deficient in vitamin D. Doctors are starting to check vitamin D levels and prescribe vitamin D3 supplements. Have you had your level checked yet? If you are indoors most of the time or use sunscreen when you go outside, or live in the north you may be at risk for vitamin D deficiency. Low levels have been linked to cancer, diabetes, heart disease and kidney disease. You have a 26 percent greater risk of dying if you are deficient in vitamin D.
There are several sources of vitamin D. Read more…

When you were first diagnosed with chronic kidney disease one of your first questions may have been ‘What can I do to save my kidneys so I don’t need dialysis?’ Blood pressure control, managing glucose for diabetics and adjustment in dietary protein intake can make a difference in kidney disease progression according to the research.

High Protein Foods

If you eat lots of protein and have CKD, you may want to make a few changes because a high protein diet is hard on your kidneys. On the other hand, a diet too low in protein is even worse for you. When you don’t eat enough protein, your muscles begin to break down. A blood protein called albumin begins to fall. People starting dialysis with low albumin levels are more likely to be hospitalized or die within the first 3 months compared to those with normal levels (4.0 mg/dL or greater). Following a low protein diet may buy some time before Read more…