Potassium is a mineral found in many of the foods we eat. People with advanced stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD) or are on dialysis need to limit the amount of potassium in their diets. Learn about potassium, what it does in the body and why it is important to keep potassium levels in a safe range.

After a diagnosis of chronic kidney disease, it is still important to include exercise in your life. While you may feel tired from the kidney disease, exercise can help you strengthen your muscles, including your heart, and help you maintain a positive outlook. You can also work with a renal dietitian to adjust your kidney diet due to your exercise if necessary.

Calcium is one of the well-known minerals; responsible for strong bones and teeth along with other important body functions. For people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) their calcium requirements are different from the general population. Find out about calcium, how it affects people with kidney disease and what to eat.

Maybe it’s because both minerals start with the letter “p” that people find it confusing to distinguish between potassium and phosphorus. This article, written by DaVita renal dietitian, Helen Dorrough, will try to help you understand the difference between the two, and explains why both are limited in the dialysis diet. In addition to identifying “double jeopardy” foods high in both potassium and phosphorus, you’ll find a list of low potassium and low phosphorus food alternatives to help you do well on the kidney diet.

High levels of phosphorus in the blood can be dangerous for people with end stage renal disease (ESRD). The dialysis diet alone cannot control phosphorus. That’s why your doctor and renal dietitian may recommend following a low-phosphorus diet combined with taking phosphorus binders (or phosphate binders) to help keep phosphorus in a safe range. Phosphate binders prevent your body from absorbing phosphorus from the food you eat.

High levels of phosphorus in the blood can be dangerous for people with kidney disease. However, phosphorus is found in nearly all of the foods that people eat. Figuring out what to eat and what not to eat can be tricky. Learn how to read labels to find hidden sources of phosphorus in foods and other ways to keep your phosphorus level in a safe range.

Ask any school-age child, “What vitamin do you get from the sun?” and you will likely hear the correct answer, “Vitamin D.” Vitamin D is so critical for good health that nature designed a way for us to get it without much effort — directly from the sun.Yet, to be used in the body vitamin D needs to be activated in the kidneys, so people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) tend to be deficient in vitamin D and may need medicines to get their healthy dose of vitamin D.

High blood pressure is the second leading cause of chronic kidney disease that leads to end stage renal disease. But a healthy diet is one of the ways you can help control your blood pressure. A low-sodium, reduced-fat diet can help keep blood pressure under control and may prevent kidney failure and other health problems brought on by high blood pressure. Learn more.

Some people on the renal diet are often advised to limit their potassium intake. One popular food that is high in potassium is the potato. The good news is that you can lower potassium in potatoes by leaching or soaking potatoes before cooking them. Recent research suggests new ways of cutting and boiling potatoes to make sure the maximum amount of potassium is removed. Learn more about the most effective way to remove potassium from potatoes.

In-center nocturnal dialysis is hemodialysis performed in a dialysis center during the night while patients sleep. People on in-center nocturnal dialysis may have different diets than people on traditional in-center hemodialysis because nocturnal dialysis is generally done for a longer treatment time. Learn more about the in-center nocturnal dialysis diet.

Many people start a diet with a lot of enthusiasm, but then life gets in the way and interest begins to falter. Lose weight and eat right are just a few of the popular reasons to start a diet to improve your lifestyle, but in the case of kidney disease, the kidney diet is part of your treatment. Don?t let diet fatigue happen to you! Here are some helpful hints to start a kidney friendly diet and stick to it making it a permanent lifestyle change.

Many times when reading about the renal diet and nutrition for people with chronic kidney disease, it’s about what not to eat. Getting enough nutrition is a common problem for some people with renal failure due to losses in appetite and energy. DaVita dietitian, Mary Jo Dahms, gives tips to help get the calories and protein necessary for health.

Supermarket shopping can be a daunting task when you are faced with a number of dietary restrictions. The grocery store aisles seem to be lined with items you aren’t supposed to eat if you are on a kidney disease or dialysis diet. Here are some tips on how, with some advanced planning, you can make the best of the experience and reap the benefits of improved health and well being.

Let’s do lunch! You may think you don’t have enough time for a nutritious lunch. Or you may be confused about what’s good to eat on a pre-dialysis or dialysis diet. Sara Colman, DaVita® dietitian and coauthor of the dialysis cookbook, Cooking for David, tells you all you need to know to plan ahead and enjoy a healthy lunch on the go.

In today’s busy world, it’s no surprise that fast food is such a booming business. Renal dietitians usually recommend that people on dialysis avoid fast foods due to the high levels of sodium, potassium and phosphorus. However, sometimes we all rely on the convenience of fast food. Here are tips to help people on a renal diet enjoy fast food on occasion, while still adhering to a dialysis diet.

Katie Lee Joel is a chef, author of a soon-to-be-published cookbook, special correspondent on Extra, former host of Bravo’s Top Chef and wife of singer, Billy Joel. When Katie’s grandfather was diagnosed with renal failure, she began modifying family-favorite recipes to make them kidney friendly. She has contributed some of her dialysis-diet recipes to Shire Pharmaceutical’s Kidney Friendly Comfort Foods cookbook and shares a couple of her favorites here.

It’s always nice to have a break from cooking and enjoy dining out on the town. While dining out may be a little harder than eating in for those on the dialysis diet — since you can never be sure what amounts of sodium, potassium and phosphorus are in the foods you order — it is possible to dine out and make smart choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner that adhere to the renal diet. Here are tips to help people on the dialysis diet make healthy choices and enjoy themselves when dining out while keeping their lab results in a healthy range.

These days, more scientists are finding links between common diseases and the foods we eat. Studies show that eating foods high in antioxidants can help fight diseases such as cancer and heart disease and help reduce inflammation. A healthy, kidney-friendly diet high in antioxidants is especially important for people with kidney disease because they are more at risk for health problems. The kidney diet is also low in potassium, phosphorus and sodium. Learn the top 15 healthy foods for people with kidney disease.

It is important for people on dialysis to get an adequate amount of protein to keep their blood albumin level up. Albumin is a protein needed to maintain growth and repair tissues. Lynn, a DaVita® renal dietitian, conducted a study to see if substituting liquid egg whites for meat in one meal a day would help patients keep a healthy albumin level while keeping phosphorus in the normal range and reducing the number of phosphorus binders needed to take. Find out the results of Lynn’s study.

Following a kidney diet may be a challenge for many patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) ? but what if you are a vegetarian who suddenly needs to follow a renal-friendly meal plan? DaVita renal dietitian Chhaya explains how people with chronic kidney disease can follow a vegetarian diet. She provides tips for adequate calorie intake, focusing on proper amounts of protein and keeping kidney health in mind.

If you want to lose weight while on dialysis, consider these tips. From becoming more aware of the foods you buy to how you eat your food, new habits may help you achieve your weight-loss goals. Learn how weight-loss dieting when you?re on dialysis may help you live a healthier life.

Candy is a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth and add extra calories to your diet, for those who need it. For people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) there are certain candies that may be limited or restricted on the kidney diet due to high phosphorus, potassium or sodium. Learn which candies are kidney-friendly and how to work with your dietitian so you can satisfy a sweet tooth on the kidney diet.

Drive as far north and as far west as you can in the continental United States and you’ll find yourself in the great state of Washington. Along with breathtaking scenery, there are some good, fresh eats in the Evergreen State. DaVita dietitian Brenda from Washington shares some of the highlights of the Pacific Northwest. Take a trip to Washington to see the sights, or just try some of these delicious, kidney-friendly regional recipes at home.

One of the great things about living in the United States is that you are in a melting pot of flavors as well as cultures. DaVita dietitians, Kara and Maria from Arizona, have put together a regional menu of favorite foods from the Southwest. Homemade Tortillas, Huevos Rancheros, Chicken Enchiladas, Mexican Rice and No-Tomato Salsa are a few of the dialysis-friendly recipes you’ll find that feature the ingredients that are plentiful in the American Southwest.

Five DaVita renal dietitians from Vallejo, Hayward and Fairfield, California have put together a selection of favorite Filipino foods that are popular in their northern California area. Generally, Filipino foods can be high in sodium, potassium and phosphorus; however, DaVita dialysis dietitians have modified the recipes to make them more kidney-friendly. Try Palabok, Lumpia, Sinigang, Pancit and Turon and discover the uniqueness of northern California.

DaVita renal dietitians from Minnesota share some of their favorite regional recipes that have been modified for the dialysis diet. By limiting phosphorus, potassium and sodium, dialysis patients can enjoy delicious Apple Pie, Chicken Wild Rice Soup, Swedish Rusks, Chinese Hotdish and more. Hotdish is another name for casserole, and those seem pretty popular in Minnesota.

DaVita® renal dietitians Usha and Shawna guide you through what attractions to see and what foods to eat when visiting India. But many of the country’s staple foods contain high amounts of phosphorus and potassium which are not suitable for a kidney-friendly diet. Many people with chronic kidney disease can still enjoy tasty Indian cuisine can, thanks to these kidney-friendly dishes. From Cranberry Rice Pilaf to Mango Chutney and New Delhi-Style Spicy Chicken, there is enough good food for a kidney diet to make you feel like you’re really in the enchanted country of India.

Do you dread what the holidays will do to your dialysis diet? Here?s a full renal-friendly Thanksgiving menu plan, a complete grocery list (to make life easier), plus recipes for a four-course meal from appetizers to dessert. Prepare and eat up, it?s good for you.

The holidays usually find us gathered around a festive table sharing meals with loved ones. For those on a dialysis diet or who have chronic kidney disease and are not yet on dialysis, it helps to know there are renal-friendly recipes that everyone can enjoy.

Parties don’t have to be pitfalls for the dialysis diet. Just make delicious appetizers that are low in phosphorus, potassium and sodium, but flavorful enough for all party-goers to enjoy.

The holidays present an especially trying time for those requiring a special diet. With all the parties and opportunities to eat holiday treats, sometimes it’s challenging for people with kidney disease to keep up with what they eat. DaVita dietitians provide some advice to keep dialysis patients on track with their diet this holiday season. Check back next week for our special Thanksgiving article featuring a menu plan and grocery shopping list for a four-course holiday feast.

Two-four-six-eight, these Super Bowl munchies are really great! Celebrate the 40^th anniversary of the Super Bowl by throwing a party on February 5. These delicious finger food recipes by DaVita dietitian, Kathy, are traditional party fair, but safe for the dialysis diet. Go team!

Weddings, reunions and picnics galore... What’s a dialysis patient to do to survive all the summer social activities that revolve around food? Here are some tips from DaVita dietitian Maria Stasios to help you enjoy these events and stay healthy, too.

The holidays are a difficult time to be on any kind of diet, but for dialysis patients eating right is part of their treatment. DaVita dietitian, Margaret Caylor, provides tips to help dialysis patients navigate holiday eating traps and avoid falling off their dialysis diets. Here are her hints to help you eat smart to feel your best and still enjoy some of the tastes of the season.

Whether you believe in making New Year’s resolutions or not, taking care of your health should be a top priority. To start the New Year off right, here is a good health checklist, along with six tips from DaVita nephrologist, Dr. Mary Meyer, to help you enjoy good health in the New Year.

Super Bowl® XLI (that’s 41) is scheduled to kick off on Sunday, February 4 at 6:00 p.m. (ET) in Miami Gardens, Florida. For many football fans, Super Bowl Sunday is an American holiday for getting friends together and cheering on their favorite team while partaking of tasty finger foods. DaVita dietitian, Kathy, provides an array of kidney-friendly party foods perfect for tailgating or for viewing the game from the comforts of home.

The 42^nd Super Bowl® is set to kick off Sunday, February 3 at 6 p.m. (ET) in Glendale, Arizona. If your seat to the big game is a comfy chair at home or at the house of a friend instead of University of Phoenix Stadium, then make sure you have some kidney-friendly snacks on hand for all the Super Bowl fanatics watching the big game with you.

Super Bowl® XLIII (that’s 43) is scheduled to kick off on Sunday, February 1, 2009 around 6:28 p.m. (ET) in Tampa, Florida. For many football fans, Super Bowl Sunday is an American holiday for getting friends together and cheering on their favorite team while enjoying tasty finger foods. DaVita dietitian, Kathy, provides an array of kidney-friendly party foods perfect for tailgating or for viewing the game on NBC from the comforts of home.