Marika Wamback, BSc. R.D. Renal Dietitian -- Did you know that February is Heart Health Month?  Since February is usually associated with love, flowers, chocolates, and hearts for Valentine’s Day, it is also associated with keeping a vital muscle and pump system in tip top shape! The heart is a muscle in the body that operates like a pump; pumping blood to every single part of the body through arteries and veins.  Blood carries oxygen, nutrients, fluids, and electrolytes, all of which are vital for survival.  These nutrients are also essential for a healthy heart.  Without them, the heart cannot function optimally, reducing pumping and blood flow.  Or, it must work harder, increasing stress on the heart. Unfortunately, heart disease is the primary cause of death with kidney disease.  It…

Lauren Phillips, MS, RD, LDN Renal Dietitian __ Keeping nutrition related laboratory values straight can be an overwhelming task even for the most seasoned people with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) or End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). The following is a quick reference guide to a few of the most common nutrition related laboratory values. Albumin – maintaining albumin within goal helps the immune system fight infection and inflammation, build muscle, and improve healing time after surgeries/injuries. Possible causes for low albumin include inflammation, liver disease, infection, malnutrition, fluid overload, and surgery. This will usually appear on your lab report as albumin. On your lab report, the goal for albumin is generally 3.5-5.5 g/dL. If your albumin is out of range, talk with your nephrologist and dietitian about what might be…

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 (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 High blood pressure and diet: What’s the connection? Kidney patients often experience elevated blood pressure, also known as hypertension. Your doctor may prescribe medication to treat your blood pressure, but your food choices can be just as important as taking your medication. Salty and highly processed foods often provide more salt (sodium) than we need in our diets, which can increase blood pressure readings. High blood pressure can put excess stress on blood vessels, including those that lead to the kidneys and other vital organs. Sodium Guidelines The American Heart Association recommends eating no more than 2,300mg of sodium per day, with 1,500mg per day or less being ideal. The National Kidney Foundation recommends 2,500mg to 3,800 mg of sodium daily for patients on…