☀️ Summer Wellness: Staying Cool with CKD-friendly Recipes & Tips!

Breakfast: Berry-Licious Smoothie Bowl

Why It's Kidney Friendly

Berries are lower in potassium than many other fruits, and Greek yogurt offers a protein boost, making this a kidney-friendly summer breakfast.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup of mixed berries (strawberries, blueberries)

• 1 cup of Greek yogurt

• 1 tablespoon of honey

• Toppings: chia seeds, a few fresh berries

Directions

1. Blend Greek yogurt, mixed berries, and honey until smooth.

2. Pour into a bowl and top with chia seeds and fresh berries.

3. Serve chilled.

Nutritional Info (per serving)

Lunch: Refreshing Caprese Salad

Why It's Kidney Friendly

Mozzarella is lower in phosphorus than many other cheeses, and tomatoes provide a taste of summer, making this a refreshing lunch option.

Ingredients

• 1 cup of sliced fresh tomatoes

• 1/2 cup of fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced

• Fresh basil leaves

• 2 tablespoons of balsamic reduction

• Salt & pepper to taste

Directions

1. Layer alternating slices of tomatoes and mozzarella on a plate, adding a basil leaf between each.

2. Drizzle with balsamic reduction and season with salt and pepper.

3. Serve chilled.

Nutritional Info (per serving)

Dinner: Lemon Herb Grilled Chicken with Zucchini

Why It's Kidney Friendly

Chicken is a lean protein source, and zucchini is a low-potassium vegetable that's perfect for a light, summertime dinner.

Ingredients

• 1 chicken breast

• 1 medium zucchini, sliced

• 2 tablespoons of olive oil

• 1 tablespoon of mixed herb seasoning

• Juice of 1 lemon

Directions

1. Marinate the chicken breast with olive oil, herb seasoning, and lemon juice.

2. Grill the chicken until cooked through.

3. Grill the zucchini slices until tender.

4. Serve warm.

Nutritional Info (per serving)

Featured Kidney Patient Question

Every week, we're featuring a question we received from one of you and we address them. Hopefully they help some of you as well. Make sure to send us your questions on [email protected]!

Question: Greetings, in many of your recipes, they ask for tomatoes, spinach, lentils and other beans. This is just a few but I thought these few are not to be eaten. Also, I am confused when it has been said low fat dairy products are good choices but dairy has a lot of phosphorus. One column says nuts and seeds are good for high protein, one says to avoid due to phosphorus. Please help me understand and if my thoughts are in error. Thank you for your many helpful articles.

Answer:

Yes, it can absolutely be confusing. Different dietary plans for kidney disease seem to give conflicting advice, and honestly, a lot is dependent on individual health, the stage of CKD, the presence of other conditions (such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, etc), and also the patient's lab results, like their blood levels of potassium, phosphorus, calcium, protein and others.

Let's try to bring some clarity:

1. Tomatoes, spinach, lentils, and beans: These foods are indeed rich in potassium and phosphorus, which are often restricted in advanced stages of kidney disease. However, they are also high in fiber and other important nutrients. So, for individuals in the early stages of CKD without hyperkalemia or hyperphosphatemia, they may be tolerated well and can be part of a healthy diet. It really depends on the individual's nutrition needs and blood levels.

2. Low fat dairy products: While dairy does contain phosphorus, low fat dairy is often recommended for the protein, calcium and vitamin D it provides. Plus, not all the phosphorus in dairy is absorbable, hence the impacts may not be as big as expected. However, if an individual's phosphorus levels are high, reduction of diary intake might be advisable.

3. Nuts and seeds: They are good sources of plant protein, healthy fats, and fiber, but are also high in phosphorus. However, bear in mind that phosphorus from plant foods is not as well absorbed as that from animal sources. Thus, in moderation, nuts and seeds can be incorporated into a renal diet unless phosphorus control is a major issue.

Really, the key take-home message is that individualization is essential when creating diet plans for CKD. There is no one-size-fits-all diet. Every patient is unique and has different dietary needs based on their specific health status, nutritional requirements, lab results, and disease progression.

Having regular blood work and working with a dietitian or healthcare provider knowledgeable about kidney disease will allow adjustments to the diet as needed over time. It is their job to keep an eye on these details and adjust your diet to ensure your nutrient intake is helping, not harming, your kidney health.

I hope this information helps to clarify matters for you, but I urge you to seek a referral to a dietitian if you haven't done so already. Given your concerns, a dietitian who specializes in kidney health can be an invaluable resource.

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Coach Ginny's Kidney Dietitian's Expert Tip for the Day

This is a corner where I share my tips, tricks, and suggestions based on knowledge and wisdom from my consultations and engagements with kidney patients over the past 5 years!

Featured Kidney Research Facts & Applications

It is our goal to fight online misinformation for CKD patients. Hence, we will feature only research-based knowledge from highly respectable medical journals and distill them as easy-to-apply tips for you.

Understanding Self-Care Behavior in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients

Today, we’re delving into an important study that examines the various factors influencing self-care behaviors among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Conducted by Jung-Won Ahn and colleagues and published in 2022, the study titled "Factors Associated with Self-Care Behavior in Patients with Pre-Dialysis or Dialysis-Dependent Chronic Kidney Disease" provides insights into how different characteristics affect the ability of CKD patients to manage their health effectively.

Key Findings from the Study:

• Study Overview: The research involved analyzing data from 278 CKD patients in South Korea, including those both pre-dialysis and dialysis-dependent. The study assessed how general and medical condition-related characteristics, physiological indices, and health literacy levels influenced self-care behaviors.

• Significant Influencing Factors:

  • Demographic Characteristics: Age, employment status, and cohabitation status significantly affected self-care behavior. Older patients, those not currently working, and those living alone exhibited different self-care practices compared to their counterparts.

  • Medical Condition: The number of comorbidities and specific health indicators such as serum hemoglobin, calcium, and creatinine levels, as well as the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), were critical factors influencing self-care behavior.

  • Health Literacy: A higher level of health literacy, particularly the belief in actively managing one’s health, was strongly associated with better self-care behaviors. Patients who felt more capable and knowledgeable about their health conditions were more proactive in managing their disease.

What This Means for CKD Patients:

Understanding the factors that influence self-care behavior is crucial for developing personalized strategies that can help CKD patients manage their health more effectively. Here are some actionable steps based on the study’s findings:

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