CKD stage 3 diet

Posted by ellerbracke @ellerbracke, Apr 22 7:20am

Hello! My husband was diagnosed with CKD stage 3 about 6 weeks ago. I have lists of sodium and potassium values for most common foods, also got some renal diet cookbooks from the library, as well as from Amazon, and do a lot of checking out recipes online.
I tried to find a renal dietician, but there isn't one. Physician(s) nor hospital outpatient services have anyone to recommend, either. Of course, once you progress to the dialysis stage, there's a personal dietician available. But not before, at least here.
So: muddling through. Most, if not all recipes I''ve seen are heavy on boiling stuff, especially vegetables. I get that for carrots, beans, etc., but I've yet to find a reason why I shouldn't roast them in the oven, with olive oil, garlic, etc. Does the cooking method really make a difference?

Also: almost every recipe for CKD diet is super low in calories. Great for someone overweight, but with a BMI of 21.6 my husband does not need to lose weight. But instead of bulking up with healthy vegetables I'm stuck with increasing carbs (rice, pasta), since vegetables contain quite a lot of potassium.

Lastly: leaching potassium out of potatoes: online recommendation is small pieces, lots of warm water, rinse and replace frequently, room temperature. Specially bought cook book by renal dietician says cold water, fridge, overnight (which internet says is the least effective method). Any comment? This is for potatoes destined to be roasted, not mashed.

Sorry to carry on, but there's so much conflicting information going on. Perhaps someone who has dealt with this for a while has some hints or advice.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Kidney & Bladder Support Group.

What a wonderful support you are ! I know this can seem very stressful and overwhelming at times.
I've lived with CKD for 5 years. While I certainly oay attention and watch what I eat, I have learned to not focus to much on it, as well. I learned it was more about keeping hydration good , not overdoing sodium,
no sodas and limitng high oxalate foods for me like spinach , or highly processed food which have a lot of everything and chemicals, preservatives in them, etc. But it wasn't eliminating them at this point, it was really a focus on moderation. So having a potato once or twice a week was OK but not everyday. I eat red meat occasionally,
have more chicken, tuna etc. The very strict diets are for higher levels of ckd where the kidney function is very poor . Our bodies have reduced kidney function as we age just naturally, but we still need some of the nutrients in the foods. Unless of course your dr has identified high levels in testing that are requiring a reduction of a specific one. Has your doctor indication specific high levels? I have CzjD but my levels are stable.
The biggest focus was no ibuprofen type meds and keep hydration with water .
I appreciate your support anddedication to create healthy meals. I hope you can find a balance you are both comfortable with.

REPLY
@lbrockme

What a wonderful support you are ! I know this can seem very stressful and overwhelming at times.
I've lived with CKD for 5 years. While I certainly oay attention and watch what I eat, I have learned to not focus to much on it, as well. I learned it was more about keeping hydration good , not overdoing sodium,
no sodas and limitng high oxalate foods for me like spinach , or highly processed food which have a lot of everything and chemicals, preservatives in them, etc. But it wasn't eliminating them at this point, it was really a focus on moderation. So having a potato once or twice a week was OK but not everyday. I eat red meat occasionally,
have more chicken, tuna etc. The very strict diets are for higher levels of ckd where the kidney function is very poor . Our bodies have reduced kidney function as we age just naturally, but we still need some of the nutrients in the foods. Unless of course your dr has identified high levels in testing that are requiring a reduction of a specific one. Has your doctor indication specific high levels? I have CzjD but my levels are stable.
The biggest focus was no ibuprofen type meds and keep hydration with water .
I appreciate your support anddedication to create healthy meals. I hope you can find a balance you are both comfortable with.

Jump to this post

Thank you for words of support, and moderating the initial over-reaction (mostly by my husband, not so much me). He's more of an all or nothing person, so he's baking his own salt-free bread since he can't live without bread!
I forgot to mention that we have always, even before diagnosis, eaten very healthy. Restaurants maybe once every 3 months, fast food same frequency. Other than maybe 2 thin-crust pizzas (veggie or tomato, not pepperoni) and 2 rotisserie chickens per month, as well as cold cuts (1/2 lb. thin sliced lasts 2 people a week for lunch!!!), and store bought quality bread, pretty much everything I have already cooked from scratch, and mostly fresh. Frozen spinach, frozen corn, but that's about it. AND low salt, anyway.

So I'm really limited as to how much I can/should change..... other than eliminating the good stuff: tomatoes, potatoes, kale, swiss chard......
I'm hoping for steady or improved lab results in a few weeks, and then maybe my better half will let me ease up a tad!

REPLY

You're my hero ! 😃
I love how you have his back! Hoping tests are stable!

REPLY

@ellerbracke I just lost the reply I was typing. Dang, I hate Mondays!

Here is a link to find a renal dietician in your area: https://www.renalnutrition.org/home

As @lbrockme said, moderation can be a key for you. Good hydration, mindful eating watching sodium/calcium/ phosphorous/potassium/additives. Moderate exercise, restful sleep. Does your husband know what the cause of his Stage 3 situation is? It might be medication side effects, lifestyle, genetics, or contributing health concerns.

As you peruse the discussions here in the kidney and bladder support group, you will see that diet is a common theme! Take some time to look through and gather information that will work for you.
Ginger

REPLY

Does he have high blood pressure? My bp is low so my nephrologist wants me to eat more salt. Hyrdation is key!

Is he 3a or 3b?

My eGFR isn't great (36-51) but my doc does a Cystatin C which is more reliable, and steadier- less affected by other factors than the creatinine based eGFR is.

REPLY
@lbrockme

What a wonderful support you are ! I know this can seem very stressful and overwhelming at times.
I've lived with CKD for 5 years. While I certainly oay attention and watch what I eat, I have learned to not focus to much on it, as well. I learned it was more about keeping hydration good , not overdoing sodium,
no sodas and limitng high oxalate foods for me like spinach , or highly processed food which have a lot of everything and chemicals, preservatives in them, etc. But it wasn't eliminating them at this point, it was really a focus on moderation. So having a potato once or twice a week was OK but not everyday. I eat red meat occasionally,
have more chicken, tuna etc. The very strict diets are for higher levels of ckd where the kidney function is very poor . Our bodies have reduced kidney function as we age just naturally, but we still need some of the nutrients in the foods. Unless of course your dr has identified high levels in testing that are requiring a reduction of a specific one. Has your doctor indication specific high levels? I have CzjD but my levels are stable.
The biggest focus was no ibuprofen type meds and keep hydration with water .
I appreciate your support anddedication to create healthy meals. I hope you can find a balance you are both comfortable with.

Jump to this post

@lbrockme what is CzjD?

REPLY

I meant CKD,
Totally what I get for typing on a phone!
Sorry, Forgive me!

REPLY

To answer some of the questions: high blood pressure, yes, but well controlled with medication. Otherwise healthy, active: fitness center or tennis 5 times/week, still does all his own lawn maintenance: mowing (riding, but emptying bagger), weed-eating, some wood splitting, using chain saw for manageable shrubs and trees -
and he will be 82 in a few months. So kidney decline mostly age-related. I'll see if I can track down the latest lab results. No diabetes, so this does not come into play with diet Yet, at least. Today he spent 1 1/2 hours spreading baled pine needles. So did I, but at the spry age of 75 I did it for 3 hours.

REPLY

CKD stage? Is confusing...I was id'd as having CKD stage 3 a or b ,can't remember .....and also pre-diabetic...and the receipes are confusing....so this is what I did...I took the diabetic diet and cross referenced it with all the no-nos of bad things for kidney and eliminated those foods...I decided have only 12oz of allowed protein @ wk spread across 3 different days (4oz serving each time)The rest of my meals are salads of allowed vegts using olive oil. I use 2TBs of 35% cream in my coffee....but only have 2 coffees per day. No Booze. Instead of salt I use finely chopped celery...1 stalk of celery @ day otherwise. 3 Fruits @ day,..1 half grapefruit(counts as 2) and 1 apple or 1 c. Blueberrie/blackberries. And so on...lots of water...trying for 80oz. Rather than bothering to deal with measuring restricted vegts I just eliminate them totally. Easier and less stressful on my brain and time as I am usually trying to work(paint) One thing I do every morning which is very helpful is to take my first coffee in my garden quietly as I feed the squirrels, chippie and birds and sort of mediate and thank the Ancestors and Mother Earth for their help. I could go on but diets are very personal things and I don't to bore everyone. I am 85. Thank you for listening.

REPLY
@fromthehill

CKD stage? Is confusing...I was id'd as having CKD stage 3 a or b ,can't remember .....and also pre-diabetic...and the receipes are confusing....so this is what I did...I took the diabetic diet and cross referenced it with all the no-nos of bad things for kidney and eliminated those foods...I decided have only 12oz of allowed protein @ wk spread across 3 different days (4oz serving each time)The rest of my meals are salads of allowed vegts using olive oil. I use 2TBs of 35% cream in my coffee....but only have 2 coffees per day. No Booze. Instead of salt I use finely chopped celery...1 stalk of celery @ day otherwise. 3 Fruits @ day,..1 half grapefruit(counts as 2) and 1 apple or 1 c. Blueberrie/blackberries. And so on...lots of water...trying for 80oz. Rather than bothering to deal with measuring restricted vegts I just eliminate them totally. Easier and less stressful on my brain and time as I am usually trying to work(paint) One thing I do every morning which is very helpful is to take my first coffee in my garden quietly as I feed the squirrels, chippie and birds and sort of mediate and thank the Ancestors and Mother Earth for their help. I could go on but diets are very personal things and I don't to bore everyone. I am 85. Thank you for listening.

Jump to this post

I'm 83 1/2, non-diabetic, have high blood preassure I'm careful about all the time. I recently went off meat, don't drink booze, drink almost 6quarts of water a day. It's easier to go meatless, then try and get all the veggies in while eating meat. my GFR improved immensely in a week going meatless. I feel I have much mor freedom with my diet without meat burdening my kidneys. I've added much mor grains, nuts, seeds and fruits.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.