Dietician and Wellness Resources

We believe in making your kidney care journey personal, not just treating kidneys

Dietician

Associates in Nephrology works closely with a local dietician that can provide patients with assistance in designing kidney healthy diets.  Inquire with your physician if they recommend working with a dietician.

Speaking with a Kidney Dietitian can help with:

  • Slowing kidney disease progression

  • Optimizing nutrition and preventing malnutrition

  • Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight

  • Blood pressure control

  • Improving diabetes management

  • Determining the right amount of protein to eat 

Meeting with a dietitian can be especially helpful if you also have other health conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart failure where it is even more important to integrate a healthy diet into your lifestyle to help prevent complications.  It can feel overwhelming to keep track of so many changes, and a dietitian can help you identify what works best for you.

Nutrition

Nutrition is key to managing kidney disease and your overall health.  Learn about kidney-friendly foods, so you can stay healthy with kidney disease whether you are at home or dining out.

It is important to limit your sodium (salt) intake to less than 2300 mg per day (about 1 teaspoon of salt from all the food and drinks you consume each day).  This recommendation is very important if you also have high blood pressure.  Your physician may advise an even lower target depending on your other health conditions.  This means a lot more than not using a saltshaker, but also limiting foods with high levels of sodium listed on their nutrition facts label.  Some foods that don’t taste salty can have a surprising amount of sodium when you check their nutrition facts label.

Based on the results of your blood tests, your physician or kidney dietitian may advise you to change how much potassium, phosphorus, and/or calcium you might be getting through your diet.

Additional information about eating healthy with kidney disease, including many recipes can be found by visiting National Kidney Foundation.

Exercise and Lifestyle Recommendations

Now is a great time to make healthier lifestyle choices, such as considering how much exercise you regularly exercise as exercise is especially important for people with kidney disease.  Remember, it’s okay to start slowly – taking short walks is a great way to begin.

If you smoke or use tobacco products, strongly consider stopping.  Smoking can speed up the kidney disease process and increases your risk of getting kidney failure.  Using tobacco products also increases your risk for other serious health problems, including high blood pressure, heart disease, cancers, and stroke.

Sleeping well is important, too. Try to get enough sleep so you are well-rested which will help reduce and manage stress in your life.

People with Kidney Disease should also avoid certain pain medicines known as non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These can be harmful to your kidneys, especially at higher doses and/or with long-term use.  

Some examples include:

  • ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil)

  • indomethacin (Indocin)

  • naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn)

  • diclofenac tablets or capsules (Cataflam, Zipsor)

  • celecoxib (Celebrex)

  • meloxicam (Mobic)

  • aspirin (only if more than 325 mg per day)

Many of these NSAID medicines are available over-the-counter (OTC) and may be sold under a different name or be mixed with other ingredients (like cough & cold medicines).  Sometimes it may not be possible to avoid using these products depending on your other health conditions.  Always ask your physician before using any products with these drug names or if the word “NSAID” is printed on the product’s label. In general, acetaminophen, also called Tylenol, is safe for your kidneys at recommended doses, but check with your physician first to determine the cause of your pain and the best way to treat it.

Kidney Health Podcasts

Check out a wide variety of hot topics in kidney health from the National Kidney Foundation as they highlight the latest in kidney research, dispel myths, bring you up-to-date news in kidney care, and answer questions from patients.