How To Cook Bulgur
Bulgur wheat is very simple to prepare.
Its available in fine, medium, or coarse varieties and takes about 520 minutes to cook, depending on the type and cooking method. The coarser the grain, the longer the cooking time.
Most brands of bulgur provide cooking directions, so its best to check the package first for specific instructions. Still, if you bought bulgur in bulk or dont have any directions, there are a few basic bulgur cooking methods you can use.
To prepare about 3 cups of cooked bulgur at home, follow these steps:
Check Food Labels Before You Put It In Your Cart
If you opt for canned and frozen foods you want to choose ones that are low in sodium, phosphorus, and sugar. You will also need to know how much is contained in food items.
Nutrition labels have information on protein, potassium, and sodium listed in plain sight so you know if you will be getting too much of that nutrient.
Before You Go Grocery Shopping
Before going grocery shopping you want to have a plan of action. The first step is to create a grocery list. Having a specific kidney diet grocery list gives you an idea of what are ok foods to eat with kidney disease. This also makes going to the grocery store an easy and pain-free experience.
Just like regular grocery lists, the renal diet foods are broken into categories as part of the essential grocery list.
Before we get started would you like a free PDF download of the grocery list?
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Food For Dialysis Patients
The restrictions associated with a renal diet differ from person to person and the extent of kidney damage. In case you have kidney disease, make sure to get in touch with your doctor and discuss the most suitable diet for you. Most renal diets focus on eliminating wastes and toxins in the blood. Therefore, while on dialysis, your doctor is likely to recommend limiting the following:
- Sodium. Sodium is a major constituent of many food items and, of course, table salt. When you have kidney disease, your kidneys are unable to drain out the excess sodium. Therefore, doctors recommend less than 2,000 gm of sodium per day.
- Potassium. Although potassium is crucial for your body, people with kidney disease should limit it. Doctors recommend less than 2,000 gm of potassium per day.
- Phosphorus. When you have kidney disease, your kidneys are not able to eliminate excess phosphorus from the blood. It is not good for your health. Therefore, doctors recommend less than 800 mg to 100 mg of phosphorus per day. You can eat fruits.
- Protein food and Fluid
New & Evolving Perspectives
The renal diet of today is not the same as the renal diet of just a few decades ago, and it is likely to continue changing in the near future. Even now, different people may say renal diet and mean different things. Its easy to get confused, and this confusion is probably part of why some people dont follow their diets as well as they should for optimal health .
Alternative Diet Plans
One possible alternative to a strict renal diet is the six-tip diet. Adherents only need to follow six tips to keep the diet :
According to the main study that developed this diet, people with stage 3-5 CKD saw improvements to their lab tests when they were assigned to the six-tip diet. Many people find this plan easier to follow than the conventional renal diet, and more people tend to stick to it than to a low-protein diet .
In earlier stages of chronic kidney disease or in people at risk of CKD, the Mediterranean or DASH diets could be enough to halt the progression of the disease without resorting to a strict renal diet .
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What Does An Abnormal Gfr Mean
If your GFR is below 60, it may be a sign of kidney disease, which means your kidney function may be impaired. Youre not likely to notice other symptoms in the early stages of kidney disease, so getting tested is important if youre at an increased risk.
In later stages, the symptoms of kidney disease can include:
A GFR of 15 or lower is a sign of kidney failure. This is when your kidneys stop being able to effectively filter wastes and extra fluids from your blood. People with kidney failure need dialysis or a kidney transplant to survive.
Its also possible for GFR to be very high in some people. This is called glomerular hyperfiltration. In some people with glomerular hyperfiltration, GFR can go as high as 180.
Glomerular hyperfiltration can happen in the early stages of diabetes. Although additional research is needed to fully understand the significance of glomerular hyperfiltration, its believed to be associated with an increased risk of kidney damage.
Benefits Of A Kidney Disease Diet
According to the National Kidney Foundation, 37 million American adults have chronic kidney disease. People with CKD often need to change what they eat to help avoid further damage to their kidneys.
Following a renal disease diet can help preserve kidney function and prevent further decline in their ability to filter the blood of waste and fluids. This can help decrease some symptoms of kidney disease, such as fatigue, loss of appetite, problems with urination, and kidney pain.
In addition, following a healthy renal diet can help provide you with energy, maintain a healthy weight, decrease infections, and prevent loss of muscle mass. Continue reading to learn more about diet for people with kidney disease.
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Will I Get Enough Vitamins On A Kidney
Your doctor or dietitian can help you find vitamins that are right for you. To help you get the right amounts of vitamins and minerals, your dietitian may suggest you take:
- A special supplement made for people with kidney disease
- A special kind of vitamin D, folic acid or iron pill, to help prevent some common side effects of kidney disease, such as bone disease and anemia
Regular multi-vitamins may not be healthy for you if you have kidney disease. They may have too much of some vitamins and not enough of others.
Tell your doctor and dietitian about any vitamins, supplements or over-the-counter medicines you are taking. Some can cause more damage to your kidneys or cause other health problems.
How Does What I Eat And Drink Affect My Hemodialysis
When you are on hemodialysis, your food and drink preferences can impact your treatment and how you feel after undergoing it. Between two sessions of your dialysis, wastes and toxins can accumulate in your blood, making you feel sick. However, you can keep this accumulation under control by following a proper renal diet. You can balance your diet with what dialysis tends to remove from your blood and prevent waste and fluid buildup.
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Eating And Nutrition For Hemodialysis
If you are getting started with hemodialysis, you need to make certain changes in your diet and lifestyle. Needless to say, but what you eat in a day is a crucial aspect of your treatment. Therefore, it is highly advisable to get in touch with a renal dietician to plan a special diet for you.
As far as a standard diet for hemodialysis is concerned, here are some of the vital pointers to consider:
- Make sure to include high-protein food items in your diet.
- Make sure to consume foods that contain low levels of sodium and potassium and high levels of phosphorus.
- Ask your dietician about the quantity of fluid you can have, including water, tea, coffee, and other beverages.
Putting Together A Healthy Meal On A Diabetic Renal Diet
For a general guideline about what a healthy plate should look like, I love using the general recommendations from the USDA. You may have seen this image before, which provides guidelines on what healthy people should eat. The same is true for people with kidney disease and diabetes!
This graphic highlights the most important thing to remember when meal planning: make ½ of your plate fruits and vegetables. If you have diabetes, really focus on those non-starchy vegetables to avoid using up all your carbohydrate servings on fruit. Meals should also include some protein and some grain.
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Is There Anything Else I Should Know
- Fresh or plain frozen vegetables contain no added salt. Drain all the cooking liquid before serving.
- Canned fruits usually contain less potassium than fresh fruits. Drain all the liquid before serving.
- Rice and almond milk are low in phosphorus and can be used in place of milk.
- Labels on food packages will give you information about some of the ingredients that may not be allowed in your diet. Learn to read these labels to help you limit sodium and control phosphorous. Avoid foods with ingredients that contain PHOS
- To help you avoid salt, many herbs and spices can be used to make your diet more interesting. Check with your dietitian for a list of these.
If you would like more information, please contact us.
Reviewed by the Council on Renal Nutrition: April 2019
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Oranges And Orange Juice
While oranges and orange juice are arguably most well known for their vitamin C content, theyre also rich sources of potassium.
One large orange provides 333 mg of potassium. Moreover, there are 473 mg of potassium in 1 cup of orange juice .
Given their potassium content, oranges and orange juice likely need to be avoided or limited on a renal diet.
Grapes, apples, and cranberries, as well as their respective juices, are all good substitutes for oranges and orange juice, as they have lower potassium contents.
SUMMARY
Oranges and orange juice are high in potassium and should be limited on a renal diet. Try grapes, apples, cranberries, or their juices instead.
Processed meats are meats that have been salted, dried, cured, or canned.
Some examples include hot dogs, bacon, pepperoni, jerky, and sausage.
Processed meats typically contain large amounts of salt, mostly to improve their taste and preserve flavor.
Therefore, it may be difficult to keep your daily sodium intake to less than 2,300 mg if processed meats are abundant in your diet.
Additionally, processed meats are high in protein.
If you have been told to monitor your protein intake, its important to limit processed meats for this reason as well.
SUMMARY
Processed meats are high in salt and protein and should be consumed in moderation on a renal diet.
Pickles, processed olives, and relish are all examples of cured or pickled foods.
Usually, large amounts of salt are added during the curing or pickling process.
SUMMARY
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Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate
Because testing GFR can be very complex, its often estimated. You may see this called an estimated glomerular filtration rate test.
eGFR uses the results from a blood test for creatinine, a waste product produced by your muscles. While creatinine production can vary by individual, high levels in the blood can potentially indicate decreased kidney function.
Once the result of the creatinine test is obtained, a lab technician or doctor will calculate your eGFR. Your eGFR is an estimate of your kidney function thats also based on information like your age and sex.
In the United States, a different version of the formula is generally used when calculating eGFR test results for Black people. However, this modified test, known as the race-adjusted eGFR, has been criticized for lacking a sound scientific basis. Many experts now suggest that the use of race-adjusted eGFR tests may be contributing to health inequities for Black people.
Because eGFR is one of the major tools that a doctor can use to assess kidney function, researchers are working to develop eGFR tests that are inclusive and unbiased. Newer eGFR tests that include both creatinine and a protein called cystatin C may be more accurate, according to 2021 research.
The creatinine-based eGFR test is
- conditions that cause muscle atrophy
- having very high muscle mass, such as in bodybuilding
- following a vegetarian or low meat diet
In these cases, a doctor may opt to use other tests to assess your kidney function.
A Davita Dietitian’s Top 15 Healthy Foods For People With Kidney Disease
Researchers are discovering more and more links between chronic diseases, inflammation and certain whole foods that may prevent or protect against undesirable fatty acid oxidation, a condition that occurs when the oxygen in your body reacts with fats in your blood and your cells. Oxidation is a normal process for energy production and many chemical reactions in the body, but excessive oxidation of fats and cholesterol creates molecules known as free radicals that can damage your proteins, cell membranes and genes. Heart disease, cancer, Alzheimers disease, Parkinsons disease and other chronic and degenerative conditions have been linked to oxidative damage.
Foods that contain antioxidants can help neutralize free radicals and protect the body. Many of the foods that protect against oxidation are included in the kidney diet and make excellent choices for people on dialysis or people with chronic kidney disease . Eating foods rich in antioxidants as part of your kidney diet and working with a kidney dietitian are important for people with kidney disease because they experience more inflammation and have a higher risk for cardiovascular disease.
Want to learn more about the kidney diet? filled with kidney diet tips and recipes.
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Top 15 Healthy Foods For Kidney Function
The kidneys are a vital part of the body that filter out unwanted substances from the blood and help maintain fluid balance. Maintaining optimal kidney function requires a comprehensive approach, and having a healthy diet is one important part of keeping the kidneys healthy. By making the switch to eating more nutritious foods, you can be one step closer to preventing your kidneys from further damage.
Learn More About Nutrition For People With Ckd
Proper nutrition for people with CKD is extremely important. For people in the early stages, a lower sodium diet may be prescribed if blood pressure is high. Major changes in food intake may not be the primary focus of treatment, but this doesnt mean you cant take steps to be as healthy as possible. A balanced diet helps our bodies function efficiently and gives us enough energy to sustain our activity level. Too much food leads to a calorie surplus, which is stored as fat and leads to weight gain. Too few calories lead to weight and muscle loss.
If youre in the later stages of CKD, your doctor will refer you to a kidney dietitian. Your dietitian will create an eating plan designed to help keep you healthy and lengthen the life of your kidneys.
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How Can I Follow A Kidney
Your kidney-friendly eating plan may change over time, but it will always give you the right amount of these nutrients:
- Protein: One of the nutrients that gives you energy. Your body needs protein to grow, build muscles, heal and stay healthy.
- Fat: Fat is another one of the nutrients that gives you energy. Your body needs fat to carry out many jobs, such as to use vitamins from your food and keep your body at the right temperature.
- Carbohydrates or “carbs”: Your body’s main source of energy. Your body can more easily convert carbs into energy than protein and fat.
Work with your dietitian to follow the steps below for a kidney-friendly eating plan.
Lower Your Animal Protein Intake
Many sources of protein, such as red meat, pork, chicken, poultry, and eggs, increase the amount of uric acid you produce. Eating large amounts of protein also reduces a chemical in urine called citrate. Citrates job is to prevent the formation of kidney stones. Alternatives to animal protein include quinoa, tofu , hummus, chia seeds, and Greek yogurt. Since protein is important for overall health, discuss how much you should eat daily with your doctor.
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When To Use Bulgur
Bulgur remains a staple in many European and Asian cuisines.
Its frequently used in salads and pilafs alongside herbs, vegetables, spices, and sometimes other grains. It also makes a great binder for meatballs and meat patties.
Because of its chewy texture, you can even use bulgur wheat in place of ground meats to create vegan versions of classic dishes, like tacos and chili. You can also use it in almost any recipe that calls for rice, quinoa, couscous, or a similar grain.
Paired with or without meat, bulgur makes a great base for breakfast-style porridges or overnight oats, as well as in soups and stews.
Its fairly easy to find in any major grocery store and relatively inexpensive. You can find it in the bulk goods section or shelved with other whole grains or Middle Eastern items.
SUMMARY
Bulgur is great in salads, soups, pilafs, and even paired with meats. You can also use it as a substitute for rice or couscous in almost any recipe.
Regularly eating fiber-rich whole grains like bulgur is associated with multiple health benefits, including disease prevention and improved digestion.
Risks And Side Effects
Remember that a number of factors influence the best type of kidney diet that someone can follow, including: the stage of their renal disease, type of treatmentthey are on, and presence of other medical conditions.
Even though a healthy diet that is similar to the DASH diet or Mediterranean diet has been slow the progression of kidney disease and other diseases like heart disease too, some patients will still need to follow a special diet that is more restrictive. To be safe, always speak with your doctor before changing your diet, especially if you have chronic kidney disease. The DASH diet and Mediterranean diet are not intended for people on dialysis, who should work with a dietician to make sure they are managing their nutrient intake carefully.
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