Posts tagged diet

Protein and Stages One Through Four of Kidney Disease

518 days
by in Exercise

Over 26 million Americans have chronic kidney disease with many millions more at serious risk of developing it. Early detection is vital to keep the disease from progressing from kidney disease to complete kidney failure. The major cause of death for people who have CKD is heart disease usually related to chronic and uncontrolled hypertension. Chronic kidney disease and high blood pressure are linked with one another: hypertension causes CKD and CKD causes hypertension. Excessive amounts of protein in the urine, medically known as proteinuria suggests the presence of CKD (Source: The National Kidney and Urologic Disease Information Clearinghouse)

Risk factors for kidney disease include diabetes, hypertension, family history and being African American, Hispanic, Pacific Islander or Native American. Doctors start suspecting kidney disease with the following warning signs: increased urination, fatigue, decreased appetite, nausea and/or vomiting, swelling of the hands and feet, itchy skin, numbness, drowsiness, trouble concentrating, darker skin color and muscle cramps. Diagnosis is completed by several tests which may include urine albumin and serum creatinine. Blood pressure tests might suggest kidney damage especially in those who are young or have no other risk factors for hypertension.

CKD tends to develop slowly though, and may have no initial symptoms at all. A person can have both chronic kidney disease and acute kidney disease at the same time. Acute kidney disease is a rapidly progressive loss of renal function with a decrease in urine, body fluid disturbances and electrolyte imbalances will develop and may be caused by a number of other conditions. Acute kidney disease can be more serious than chronic kidney disease because it starts so suddenly, often without any kind of warning before hand. All possible symptoms of kidney disease should be checked by a doctor so that appropriate treatment can be started before the disease can get started.

Chronic kidney disease can be affected by the diet, especially protein intake. When protein is digested and used by the body, it creates waste products. In a healthy kidney, these waste materials are filtered and removed by millions of cells called nephrons. An unhealthy kidney will be unable to filter protein waste which is then backed up into the blood stream. For this reason, the doctors recommend protein intake be decreased especially in the first four stages of the disease. However, stage five will mean a change in the entire diet which is completely opposite of the diet for the first four stages of the disease.

The five stages of chronic kidney disease is based on glomerular filtration rate (GFR), or the amount of blood that the kidneys can filter. Normal, healthy kidneys filter 18 gallons of blood per hour, filtering over half of all of the fluid taken into the body and eliminating about two quarts of urine every day (Source: MacLean, 1993).

- In Stage I of the disease, GFR is 90 or above which is normal, but there will be an abnormal amount of protein in the urine.

- Stage II has a GFR of 60-89.

- Stage III, GFR equals 30-59

- Stage IV, GFR equals 15-29.

- Stage IV is the last stage before dialysis becomes necessary.

During this stage of the disease, excessive amounts of protein will cause nausea and/or vomiting, weakness, a loss of appetite, possible changes in taste and itchiness. At this point, it is important to get good control of the blood pressure and control the amount of protein in the diet. (Diabetics must also maintain blood sugar control).

In the first three stages of chronic kidney disease, the protein intake should be around 12-15% (a commonly accepted amount for most diets). For instance, a typical vegan diet consists of about 10-12% protein (Source: Mangels, PhD, RD).

Once a patient reaches Stage IV of chronic kidney disease the protein intake should drop to ten percent which can, not only be hard to reach but can lead to deficiencies as well and should only be done with the direct advice of the doctor and under a nutritionist's guidance (Source: Davita.com).

Protein comes from two sources in the diet: animals and plant based. Animal protein is the most common source of the nutrient in most diets, however it may increase the level of protein waste products in the blood stream, a serious problem for already struggling kidneys. Some of the most common sources of protein may also increase levels of phosphorous in the system to an unsafe level. These include milk, yogurt and cheese. Several plant proteins also increase this mineral and includes dried beans, peas, nuts and seeds.

Vegetarian protein may slow the progression of chronic kidney disease, within reason. The primary goals of a plant based diet:

- To get appropriate protein needs while minimizing waste products building up in the bloodstream.

- To maintain sodium, potassium and phosphorous balance.

- To make sure there is good nutrition so that optimal health level can be reached and maintained.

(Source: Brookshyer, RD, CSR)

Protein is needed in the body, even in light of chronic kidney disease. Next to water, it is the most plentiful substance in the body and even though it is restricted, it is still necessary. Protein is used to create and maintain lean muscle mass, it is also necessary to regulate digestion, sleep, and ovulation as well as playing an important role in the central nervous system.

Protein also plays a role in keeping fluid levels in balance which is very important especially if there is nausea and vomiting. If the kidneys are not functioning well, there might be a fluid restriction imposed as well as a limit on protein.

Why Protein Supplements Might Be Beneficial

Drinking a protein shake or a liquid protein supplement shot might be easier on the body than trying to eat a meal would be, especially if the patient is feeling ill. Supplements also have more easily digestible protein than other options which may in turn lead to fewer protein wastes in the blood stream. A good protein supplement:

- Should have the right amount of protein to be within the established diet

- Should have high quality protein and other nutrients

- Should be free from other ingredients that might be considered harmful in the diet

- Should be palatable, in appealing flavors

One option, Profect from Protica is a liquid protein supplement shot which is 25 grams of protein, 100 calories and zero fats and carbohydrates. It provides 100% of the daily supply of Vitamin C and 10% of the B Vitamins. Profect or other protein supplements should be discussed with the doctor before they are added to the diet. Diabetics, especially have some concerns that they must keep in mind when choosing a protein supplement in addition to the protein restrictions that they must follow. There are some brands of protein supplements that are specifically designed for the diabetic.

Protica Research (Protica, Inc.) specializes in the development of Capsulized Foods. Protica manufactures Profect, IsoMetric, Pediagro, Fruitasia and over 100 other brands, including Medicare-approved, whey protein bullets for dialysis patients. You can learn more at Protica Research - Copyright

Healthy Skin – The Top 5 Foods to Get It

519 days
by in Fitness

Many problems with the appearance of your skin, such as dryness, wrinkles, and acne, stem from nutritional deficiencies. The most effective and safe way to beautiful, healthy skin, is to maintain a healthy diet - avoiding the wrong foods as well as eating the right ones. Your skin is one of the most obvious indicators of your health. Expensive creams and other remedies are often unnecessary with a healthy diet.

Here is a list of the top 5 foods for healing skin problems and maintaining great looking skin.

1. Green Tea: Antioxidants reduce inflammation and protect cell membranes, and green tea is full of them. Green tea can even help reduce the risk of skin cancer by reducing sunburn damage, and it's full of polyphenols that eliminate cancer-causing free radicals. Those same polyphenols reactivate dying skin cells.

2. Salmon: Some of the best sources of omega-3 are flaxseed, walnuts, salmon and other fatty fish. Essential fatty acids such as omega-3 are the key for healthy skin. These fatty acids help protect cell membranes from harmful substances by allowing nutrients in and waste products out. They also reduce inflammatory agents that cab cause skin damage.

The result of consuming enough of the right fatty acids is smooth, supple skin, but unfortunately the typical American diet doesn't include enough. The goal ratio of omega-6 fatty acids to omega-3 fatty acids is 1:1, but our diet's ratio is usually closer to 20:1. Eating more salmon (and other oily fish) can help.

3. Blueberries: Many experts consider blueberries to be the best source of antioxidants. The phytochemicals and antioxidants in blueberries neutralize free radicals that damage your skin.

4. Carrots: A lack of vitamin A can lead to dry skin and carrots are an excellent source of this vitamin, as well as those important antioxidants. Vitamin A helps maintain your skin's cells.

5. Water: Water is also essential to young, healthy-looking skin so drink plenty of it! Water in coffee, tea and other caffeinated beverages does not count! Pure, clean water rejuvenates your skin's cells by hydrating them and eliminating toxins.

While you're consuming all these healthy foods, you should avoid some others. Stay away from sugar, white flour, and saturated fats. Fried foods are especially bad since they can actually cause acne and other skin conditions by trapping oil and bacteria beneath the skin. You are what you eat. And if you eat the good foods listed here (and avoid some of the not-so-good ones), you and your skin should be healthy and beautiful.

Natalie MacBride wants to look and feel good just as much as you and has been researching the most healthy and natural ways of achieving that. You can find her at Easy Natural Beauty.

The Dukan Diet – Slim Down Rapidly And Have Protein On Thursdays

526 days
by in Fitness

The Dukan diet, devised by French health care provider Dr Pierre Dukan, has been popular in France for the last decade. Put out in The UK in May 2010, that meal plan claims that dutiful adherents are going to face fast weight loss and keep it off for good, while still being able to eat the foodstuff they love. Though you will find there's catch. Dieters may consume nothing but amino acid meals on Thursdays. In the meanwhile check Plan to lose weight site for more dieting information.

The 4 Phases of the Dukan Meal plan

The diet is divided into 4 phases: attack, cruise, consolidation and stabilization. The attack and cruise phases focus on reducing your weight quickly, at the same time as the consolidation and stabilization phases are concerned with keeping up mass and keeping away from putting any fat dropped back on.

Shedding pounds Rapidly with the Dukan Meal plan

During the initial two phases of your Dukan diet, huge weight-loss is expected.

Phase 1: Attack Phase - Protein-only meals are allowed. That is, meat, fish, eggs and non-fat dairy products. There's no butter and even oil, the whole lot of excess fat should be trimmed from meat, and all skin removed from poultry. Quite a few pounds can be dropped quickly during the attack phase. Dieters can choose to stay in said phase for between 1 and ten days, based on how many pounds they wish to lose.

Phase 2: Cruise Phase - Protein-only days are with amino acid and vegetable days. A wide variety of veggies are allowed in infinite such as asparagus, aubergine, broccoli, cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, leeks, mushrooms, peppers, salad leaves, spinach and tomatoes, however not starchy veggies for instance potatoes and lentils. Dieters ought to carry on and drop around two pounds each week while in this phase, and should stay in it till their preferred weight is achieved.

Having the Mass Off by Having Just Amino acid on Thursdays

During the third and fourth phases of the Dukan diet, more foods are allowed though mass is anticipated to stay the same.

Phase 3: Consolidation Phase - Foods for instance bread, pasta, cheese and fruit are reintroduced, and all vegetables and protein could be eaten each day. No more weight is dropped during the consolidation phase; the objective is to preclude dieters regaining the weight they lost during the preceding phases and to keep up their current weight. For every one pound of weight lost, five days must be spent in this phase to constantly keep those pounds off. Low Carb site can provide more on weight loss and dieting to you.

Phase 4: stabilization Phase - No foods are off limits. However, for 1 day each week, each week from this day on, only protein can be eaten. Dr. Dukan advises this day be a Thursday. The idea is that protein-only Thursdays normalize the deficiency of food limitation on the various days of your week, while allowing the weight loss achieved in the preceding phases of the diet to remain maintained.

All through the entire diet, a tablespoon of oat bran is allowed every day. (this is a sort of soluble fiber that is good for easing related to high-protein diets.) Dieters are in addition encouraged to drink lots of fluid and go for a brisk walk every day.

Weight Loss Carbohydrates site can also be dedicated to Weight Loss Good ideas, you will find lots of information on our site.

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