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Stephanie Legin, RD, LDN Renal Dietitian Sugarcane was introduced to the Caribbean by Christopher Columbus in 1493.  Since then, the sugar industry flourished and sugar has become a major factor in the growth of the food industry. This has resulted in  the overconsumption of added sugars in the American diet. Carbohydrates Carbohydrates (CHO's) are an essential nutrient to human life.  There are two categories of CHO’s; complex and simple.  Complex CHO’s actually contain carbohydrate plus  fiber.  Most of our CHO consumption should be from complex CHO’s. Simple ­CHO’s  contain no fiber and are responsible for the sweet taste in many foods.  Sugar is a simple CHO and has 4 "empty" calories per teaspoon, which means it contains no nutritional value.  Due to its negligible nutritional content, simple sugar should be limited…

Stephanie Legin, RD, LDN Renal Dietitian -- Who doesn’t love to indulge in some sweet treats now and again?  For people with chronic kidney disease (CKD), choosing a renal friendly treat is important. There are many sweet options out there, but some can be too high in phosphorus and potassium, which are limited and/or restricted on the kidney diet. Many popular candies contain chocolate and nuts, both of which contain phosphorus and potassium. Since people with kidney disease may have trouble removing excess phosphorus and potassium from their blood, it can be dangerous. Too much phosphorus can cause a person with kidney disease (especially later stages) bone and heart problems, low blood calcium, and the hardening of tissues. That is why it is important to look for candies that have <160 mg phosphorus per serving. Potassium…

                  Ann Haibeck, RD, LDN Renal Dietitian Decoding Unsaturated Fats Unsaturated fats are generally healthier than saturated fats and trans fats; the National Kidney Foundation and American Heart Association recommend consuming mostly unsaturated fats. These types of fats are more likely to reduce inflammation and promote heart health than saturated fats. Unsaturated fats can be categorized as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Polyunsaturated fats can further be classified as omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids. So what do each of these mean for your health as a kidney patient? Monounsaturated Fats Kidney patients are known to have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease when compared with people without kidney disease. Monounsaturated fats are known to decrease LDL cholesterol (“bad” cholesterol), thereby lowering the risk…