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FAQs
I'm new to this, help!
(Find a Renal Dietician in your area HERE. Scroll down about halfway and choose TeleHealth or In-Person.)
I totally understand how frustrating it can be when you can't find clear information on how to prevent your CKD from progressing. The best way to help slow down or even pause progression is by managing your diet in a way that's tailored to your specific needs.
Whether you're just starting to learn about the kidney diet or you're already familiar with it, you’re in the right place. Here are some tips I love to share with people right away:
🌟Consult with a renal dietitian: They will help you determine your restriction numbers by reviewing your GFR, medications, labs, activity levels, etc., to establish your maximum daily intake and nutrient limitations. For CKD stages 3, 4, or 5, you may need to monitor potassium, sodium, phosphorus, and protein. If you have diabetes, carbohydrates are also essential to consider. In the late stages, fluids may also come into play.
🌟There’s no “good” or “bad” food: What matters most is the amount and combination of foods you consume. While lower-nutrient foods can be okay in the short term, a varied diet is best in the long run to maximize both nutrition and meal enjoyment.
🌟Here’s how numbers are defined or broken down according to eGFR.
Stage 1: 90+ plus other indicators
Stage 2: 60-89
Stage 3a: 45-59
Stage 3b: 30-44
Stage 4: 15-29
Stage 5: anything below 15
🌟Use your restriction numbers as a guide. If your phosphorus limit is 900 mg per day, for example, you can include foods with phosphorus until you reach that limit. Your restriction numbers help you set daily maximums, which are important to meet—under eating can lead to other health issues! Don’t forget to leave room for snacks and desserts, too.
🌟General protein guidelines: A common recommendation is about 3 to 4 ounces per meal, which adds up to 12 to 16 ounces a day. However, your specific protein needs may differ based on your CKD stage, if you are on dialysis, and other health issues.
🌟The Kidney diet is unique for each person: Kidney disease diets are not one-size-fits-all. The first step is determining your nutritional maximums for meals and snacks so you can reach your daily goals. Tailoring your diet to your individual needs is essential to avoid complications from other health issues and ensure you're getting the right nutrition.
🌟Expect a lot of advice from others, but remember, everyone’s journey with kidney health is unique. What works for one person may not work for another and could even be harmful. Stay focused on your specific dietary needs and other health factors is key.
😊 My nutritional program, book, and classes can guide you through this process step-by-step if you want to skip all the wasted time sifting through the conflicting information, and just start eating right, based on your specific needs.
“What can I eat?”
“What can I eat?” is usually the first question people ask. The kidney diet can seem impossible with all the conflicting information and (harmful) options available. The best way to help slow down or pause progression is by managing your diet.
Right off the bat - Expect a lot of advice from others, but remember, everyone’s journey with kidney health is unique. What works for one person may not work for another and could even be harmful. So, by managing your diet, what we mean is, ignore all the stuff you hear from everyone one else because the kidney diet must be tailored to your specific and unique needs and situation.
First, to tailor your diet, you need your restriction numbers. To get these, you need to see a renal dietician. They will help you determine your numbers by reviewing your GFR, medications, labs, activity levels, etc., and establish your maximum daily intake and nutrient limitations.
For CKD stages 3, 4, or 5, you may need to monitor potassium, sodium, phosphorus, and protein. If you have diabetes, carbohydrates are also essential to consider. In the late stages, fluids may also come into play.
Second, you are going to read and hear a lot of crap. Here’s the reality -There’s no “good” or “bad” food: What matters most is the amount and combination of foods you consume. Let me explain… If your phosphorus limit is 900 mg per day, for example, you can include any food with phosphorus until you reach that 900mg limit. Your restriction numbers help you set daily maximums, which are important to meet—under-eating can lead to other health issues!
What is the difference between a renal dietician and nutritionist
If you’re looking for help with your kidney diet, here’s the difference between a renal dietitian and a renal nutritionist:
• Renal Dietitian: A renal dietitian is a healthcare professional with medical training in kidney nutrition. They can help you manage your diet based on lab results and medical needs, working closely with doctors. They’re qualified to adjust your diet specifically to slow down kidney disease progression, especially if you’re in advanced stages or on dialysis. Insurance may even cover their services.
• Renal Nutritionist: A renal nutritionist focuses on helping people make kidney-friendly food choices and build healthy habits.
They’re great if you’re looking for guidance on what to eat and how to cook for kidney health, especially in early stages of kidney disease. While they aren’t typically involved in medical management, they provide valuable support for maintaining a healthy kidney diet.
In short: if you need medical-level adjustments to your diet, go with a renal dietitian. If you’re looking for lifestyle and meal guidance, a renal nutritionist could be a good fit.
Why can't I just use kidney-friendly recipes?
When it comes to eating for CKD, the first thing we usually do is find recipes. That's perfectly fine as long as you are sure the recipes you are using are not supplying too much or too little of those nutrients you need to monitor.
I always bring to people's attention (cos we learned the hard way) that most recipes out there are geared for stage 3, and within stage 3, there is a considerable gap between upper 3A and lower 3B. Therefore, we need to make sure the recipes we choose fit us.
When we started this journey, I stuck to lower nutrient-rich recipes, thinking it was safe. Instead, my hubby began presenting symptoms, and it was due to his nutritional intake being too low. Had we not corrected that, he would have developed another health issue, simply from not eating to his maximum limitations.
I'm not saying this to worry you; I want to inform you that things aren't as easy as finding recipes, but it's where we start!
So, please keep that in mind :-)
Check out the Recipe Reliance Trap Video on my Media page for a more in depth explanation.
Why you shouldn't trust advice & much of the information you find online.
Let's start with this... "my doctor said..." I hear this a lot! Although I cannot tell you to ignore that advice, I CAN tell you that
Many doctors are great with the medical side but NOT with the nitty-gritty of nutrition.
Advice from others is always appreciated, but it's important to remember that something that works for one person might not work for someone else. It could even be harmful.
What I've found is most people who talk about how they raised their eGFR significantly, are people who were previously pounding their kidneys to death. When they made changes, their kidneys had a breather and "came back up for air" (raised a stage).
This does NOT mean that what they did is the answer; it means they stopped beating their kidneys and started being nicer to them. They WILL stabilize and settle into a stage.
While it's great that people have found what works for them, it's important to note that nutrient restrictions can vary from person to person. This is precisely what my CKD nutritional program teaches - how to successfully manage your kidney diet based on your specific needs and health concerns.
👎 No magic pills 👎 No cure-all supplements 👎 No “natural fixes”
⚠If you’ve seen ads claiming to “cure” CKD with a secret herb or natural supplements—and maybe even felt tempted—you’re not alone!
But here’s the truth: managing CKD isn’t about a miracle fix (they don’t exist). It’s about learning what truly works for you.
We focus on sustainable and educational nutrition tailored
to your unique health needs. We guide you in creating a diet that’s designed to
help slow CKD progression, keep your kidneys happy, and empower you along the
way—no gimmicks, just real results.
Instead of risking your health with quick-fix solutions
(which do not work), learn how to manage your diet from a CKD nutritionist and
chef who’s committed to your kidney health.
Can I take Vitamins or Supplements with kidney disease?
Before starting any supplements, it is crucial to consult with your doctor or dietician, as they can have varying effects on your kidneys. For instance, fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E, and K will accumulate in the body, leading to harm. Water soluble vitamins, such as Vitamin C, usually come in amounts that far exceed our daily needs. Our kidneys now must filter out the excess – more stress. If you’re low on specific vitamins or nutrients, talk with your doctor about the best options for you.
You can get supplements, vitamins, and mineral pills tailored to your specific needs. These supplements would provide only what your healthcare provider knows you need. As a result, you may need a prescription to order them since they will not contain specific nutrients that you would find in over-the-counter (OTC) products.
This way, there is no danger of unwanted nutrients building up in your body and causing harm. Your insurance can also reimburse many vitamin and mineral pills when they are ordered with a prescription.
Always ensure that your doctor or dietician recommends what you take and that you are being monitored.
I am going to go a step further here and highly suggest that what your doctor recommends, you research that too!
Yes, I have had too many clients tell me their doctor recommended something that turned out to be harmful.
I know... it feels like we really are on our own.
By the way, yes... fiber is fine.
What we know as healthy eating, Is NOT CKD healthy!
I hate to burst that bubble, but it's surprising to know that fish & seafood are naturally high in potassium, and the majority are also very high in sodium.
This can be a problem for people with CKD as traditional healthy eating habits may not work for them. Learning about healthy CKD eating based on individual needs is essential to ensure proper nutrition.
Focusing on fruits and vegetables is going to raise your potassium intake very quickly. Nearly every food on the planet contains potassium and fruits and veggies are some of the biggest.
Yes, water is great, water is healthy, but drinking too much is going to put a strain on our kidneys and that means progression.
Vegan and Vegetarian diets are often recommended. This must be done carefully if you choose this path.
Gluten free and low carb are very workable for CKD when you understand how to gauge the nutrition and find the balance.
Many people doing these alternative kidney diets end up severely deficient in other vital nutrients, leading to more health issues, or they are quickly going over in other nutrients.
Yep, it's about understanding your safe intake limits.
Yes, you absolutely can be a carnivore. Again, it's about understanding our safe intake amounts.
Whole grains, beans, and nuts are actually some top options for the kidney diet.
Dairy can absolutely be had, we just need to keep our intake lower and understand how to safely work it into our daily intake.
It can be incredibly frustrating to be told you cannot have so many foods you rely upon. In each of these cases, the key is to work with me so I can help you navigate your dietary restrictions and find creative ways to incorporate your favorite foods into your kidney-friendly diet.
With the right guidance, you can still enjoy a variety of foods while managing your kidney disease.
What it all comes down to is this:
We MUST understand what healthy CKD eating is, and what that means for YOU.
Can you help me with Labels?
From fresh fruit to ground meat, non-dairy items, grain-based foods, to additives. Yes, additives!
Many symptoms could be caused by them. I experienced vision problems, thinking I was going blind. Removing products with a common potassium additive resolved it in two weeks.
The food industry can be tricky, using limited information and strange names for ingredients. It's crucial to know what's in your food to ensure it's safe and not causing progression.
Here’s some tips:
>>If you're limiting phosphorus intake and a food label indicates that one serving contains 15% of the daily value for phosphorus, you'll need to calculate what that translates into milligrams and how that fits into your daily limit. This requires some basic math skills but is essential for ensuring you stay within your dietary guidelines.
>>If a label shows phosphorus as a percentage, depending on your stage, 15 to 20% may be too high for you.
>>When buying fresh meat, purchase the 4- or 5-ounce portions instead of the 8- or 12 portions. It helps keep you closer to your serving amounts without weighing or cutting later, and it is easier to freeze the commonly used 1/2-pound portions.
>>Store-made bakery items are usually high in sodium; they often use potassium and/or phosphates for preservatives and stabilizers.
Labels shouldn't feel like decoding a secret message, but the food industry sometimes makes it seem that way.
And those percentages—11% calcium, 3% iron—what do they even mean? I can help you with that.
We cover all of this in our sessions together in the CKD nutritional program.
A portion of all sales are donated to American Kidney Fund. Linda also donates to Puerto Rico Rise Up.
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