Eating better with one kidney

I have a couple of sites I like for low or no sodium recipes.

sodiumgirl.com  Offers humor along w/ her food ideas.

DaVita.com  Focused on kidney disease/dialysis, w/ over 800 kidney-friendly recipes. 

MrsDash.com   Leans heavily on advertisement, but offers recipes and also the detailed nutrient list of all their products. (potassium cloride in the new line of seasoning packets surprised me, had planned to purchase and try the taco mix until I noticed it listed online)

Actually, this time of yr I don't struggle as bad w/ the sodium - fresh vegetables and fruit to the rescue!

sblairc said:

Thanks!

Great, thanks! It's so obnoxious that products labelled "low sodium" really are not low at all, just lower. For example, there is absolutely NO turkey sandwich meat on the market appropriate for living with one kidney. This was my hubs "go to" for packing healthier post-nephrectomy lunches (think home made sandwiches instead of McDonalds) and while better, still not helping him keep the sodium within an appropriate range for him. 

I've come up with a trick for the "taco mixes". Old El Paso brand sells the "taco mix" in large shakers. Instead of following the recipe, I use a sprinkle or two for taste when the meat is still sort of uncooked and then some of the "juice" from a salsa. Keeps the sodium down. 

 

is PHOSPHEROUS. Apparently it is found in a lot of things....such as "seasoned" chicken (which does not mean sprinkled with seasoning). Apparently when it says "seasoned" it is a pretty way of saying "injected with stuff that our bodies should not consume, but - hey - it plumps up the chicken". It is especially found in boxed frozen chicken, processed cheese, etc.

This level (1.5) is in the normal range with people with 1 kidney. That's really a pretty good level of kidney function. If the kidneys are working properly, is there any reason to keep sodium levels so low? I don't mean to discourage anyone who thinks it is. I'd like to understand the reasoning behind it.

I know high sodium can push blood pressure up for people that already have high blood pressure. But does sodium actually damage the kidneys? Does eating extremely low levels of sodium protect the kidney against damage? I've heard we should not overeat protein. That too much protein can damage the kidneys.

Besides sodium and protein, is there anything else we are supposed to keep low/avoid? Alcohol?

My nephrologist told me to not overdo things, but that I could eat normally and not to worry too much about it. Just not to overdo salt and protein, but not that I needed to keep the levels super low. My creatinine is 1.7.

Todd

therapture said:

I just had my 18 month

I just had my 18 month checkup Thursday, and my level was 1.5, slightly up from 1.4 the previous 6 month session. Probably due to the muscle breakdown from my Ironman 4 weeks ago. I know I eat too much sodium so I am going to work on that, as well as cut down a little on the protein. But I am from Texas and I LOVE to bbq brisket and ribs as well as some chicken here and there, so that's kind of hard to do.

Sodium is important.. but... there is so much sodium in all the foods we eat, that cutting down on added salt is a very good thing.  Your Kidney has to filter all the excesses out... excesses of anything is bad, except pure water.  Yes some bottle water have sodium in them as well.  The RDA of sodium is 2,000.  Many canned soups are in the 1,500 range all by them self.  Oh yes, and the label on the can says it serves two people.. right how many of us eat a whole can of soup..?  Restuarant food has way more salt than needed.  If you read labels on everything you buy, you will soon get the idea.   I have shouted loudly in the health food store that the label on some items say "no preservatives" yet they are filled with salt.   Yes, I was asked to leave....  Plus all the processed foods have all kinds of chemicals, that again the Kidney has to filter out.  Fresh chicken almost always has been salted, however some companies are taking notice.

Yes, there are more and more food items that are salt free.  But beware of the lable that says "reduced sodium".. that 1,500 can of soup becomes 750..  yes it is reduced, but still far too high for me.

I found salt free Ketsup that does not have high fructose corn syrup in it

Mrs Dash seasonings

Some frozen veggies

Some meats

Some canned veggies, corn and beans (read the label)

Some soups.

Some soup bases have no added salt

Turst me, you mosat likely get plenty of salt each day.. 

It is easy to ignore your diet, but depending on your age, etc. those of us with one Kidney need to be a bit careful.. way more so for those of us on any kind of treatment.  As our drugs are processed either in the Kidney or Liver.. 

Ask your Doctor.. they should tell you.. and you should be offered a Dietician to help you..  I have had three diet consults.. I learn a lot each time.

Ron

GSRon said:

Sodium is important.. but...

Sodium is important.. but... there is so much sodium in all the foods we eat, that cutting down on added salt is a very good thing.  Your Kidney has to filter all the excesses out... excesses of anything is bad, except pure water.  Yes some bottle water have sodium in them as well.  The RDA of sodium is 2,000.  Many canned soups are in the 1,500 range all by them self.  Oh yes, and the label on the can says it serves two people.. right how many of us eat a whole can of soup..?  Restuarant food has way more salt than needed.  If you read labels on everything you buy, you will soon get the idea.   I have shouted loudly in the health food store that the label on some items say "no preservatives" yet they are filled with salt.   Yes, I was asked to leave....  Plus all the processed foods have all kinds of chemicals, that again the Kidney has to filter out.  Fresh chicken almost always has been salted, however some companies are taking notice.

Yes, there are more and more food items that are salt free.  But beware of the lable that says "reduced sodium".. that 1,500 can of soup becomes 750..  yes it is reduced, but still far too high for me.

I found salt free Ketsup that does not have high fructose corn syrup in it

Mrs Dash seasonings

Some frozen veggies

Some meats

Some canned veggies, corn and beans (read the label)

Some soups.

Some soup bases have no added salt

Turst me, you mosat likely get plenty of salt each day.. 

 

It is easy to ignore your diet, but depending on your age, etc. those of us with one Kidney need to be a bit careful.. way more so for those of us on any kind of treatment.  As our drugs are processed either in the Kidney or Liver.. 

 

Ask your Doctor.. they should tell you.. and you should be offered a Dietician to help you..  I have had three diet consults.. I learn a lot each time.

Ron

And speaking of the lastest research.  The cover story of the latest issue of Time magazine exonerates (finally! after 40 years!) eating butter and other saturated fats.  This is something I have been advocating for several years now.

Cook in saturated fats (i.e. butter; ghee; coconut oil; tallow; etc.)  These are the only fats that cannot be oxidized when heated - and, as the latest research continues to reveal - they are good for you; contrary to the "popular understanding".

Never, ever cook in vegetable oils (i.e. corn; canola; sunflower; safflower; etc.).  These poly-unsaturated fats can be easily damaged by heat and light - releasing free radicals that can play havoc with cell DNA and membranes.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil is terrific on salads or in sauces, etc.  But try not to cook in it either.  Since it is mostly a mono-unsaturated fat it is the least offensive of the unsaturated fats.  But why take a chance?