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AAKP News of the Month: Join the AAKP Survey Panel!
AAKP invites patients, family members, health care professionals and individuals with a concern for kidney disease to join its Survey Panel. The AAKP Survey Panel's purpose is to assist with the understanding of kidney disease and its impact on the day to day lives of individuals affected by reduced renal function.
The AAKP Survey Panel will ask you a few general questions and then asks your permission to contact you in the future regarding detailed topics, such as prescription costs, insurance benefits, treatment options, etc. Joining the AAKP Survey Panel is FREE and as a member your input can influence the products and services offered to kidney patients and their family members.
For more information, visit the AAKP Web site or call (800) 749-2257. |
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Recipe of the Month: Holiday Cheese Ball |
 Servings: 12
Serving Size: 1-1/2 tablespoons cheese ball, 2 apple slices and 2 low sodium crackers
Ingredients:
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup Catalina or Russian salad dressing
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/3 cup finely ground walnuts
- apple slices
- low sodium crackers
Preparation:
- Combine cream cheese, salad dressing and onion powder in a medium bowl.
- Place in refrigerator for 30 minutes to chill.
- Form cheese mixture into a ball.
- Place ground walnuts on a plate and roll cheese ball to cover.
- Wrap in plastic wrap and chill until ready to serve.
- Serve cheese ball with low sodium crackers and apple slices.
Nutrient Analysis: Calories: 140; Fat: 13g; Protein: 2g; Phosphorus: 32mg; Potassium: 55mg; Sodium: 131mg
Renal and Renal Diabetic Exchanges: One and one-half fat, one-half milk
This recipe is provided courtesy of DaVita Inc. Copyright 2009 DaVita Inc. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission. This material may not be published, reprinted or distributed without the express written consent of DaVita Inc. |
| Sweetener May Lower Blood Presssure |
An artificial sweetener that's been shown to help people shed unwanted pounds may also lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels in people with mild or borderline high blood pressure. The sugar substitute is called oligofructose, or OFS. It's used to replace fat or sugar and reduce the calories of foods like ice cream, dairy products and baked goods. OFS has about 30 to 50 percent of the sweetness of table sugar.
Participants in the study dropped an average of 6.9 pionts in their systolic blood pressure and 7.3 points in the diastolic blood pressure. Levels of cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad" cholesterol), and triglycerides also dropped, and participants experienced weight loss. |
| Green Tea May Prevent Kidney Stones |
 Drinking green tea may help prevent painful kidney stones. A new study shows compounds in green tea extract make it more difficult for certain kidney stones to form. Kidney stones affect about five percent of the world's population. They occur when abnormally high concentrations of minerals, such as calcium, accumulate in the urinary tract and clump together to form crystals and potentially painful stones.
Researchers found green tea extract bonds to calcium oxalate and makes the resulting crystals a different shape, which makes them less likely to clump together and form large kidney stones. |
| Submit Your Entry for the AAKP Artwork Contest |
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AAKP is pleased to host an Artwork Contest in honor of the upcoming National Kidney Month (March). The goal of this artwork contest is to allow individuals to demonstrate, through their artwork, how kidney disease has affected them and help raise awareness of this chronic disease.
Artwork must be submitted by February 26, 2010 to be eligible. Artwork is publicly judged during National Kidney Month and will be displayed on the AAKP Web site from March 15 - April 15. Winners are announced in April. Entries must adhere to the contest/artwork guidelines and be accompanied by an official entry form.
The top three selected pieces of artwork will be turned into all occasion greeting cards and be offered by AAKP as an Association fundraiser. Winners will receive a complimentary pack of their artwork greeting card along with an award certificate for their accomplishments. Please contact AAKP at (800) 749-2257 or info@aakp.org with questions. |
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Medicare and Medicaid Cover Flu Vaccines |
 Medicare and Medicaid cover both the seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccines. Seniors are encouraged to get their seasonal flu vaccine as soon as possible. The vaccine that protects against the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus (sometimes called swine flu) is a separate vaccine and is available now.
The first available doses of this vaccine should be given to those at highest risk of infection and complications such as children, pregnant women, health care workers and younger adults with certain medical conditions.There is some evidence that people 65 and older are less likely than younger people to be infected with the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. For more information about the seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccines, visit www.flu.gov. |
| Support AAKP While You Shop |
 Donating to AAKP has never been easier! GoodShop.com will donate up to 37 percent of your purchases from over 1,300 online stores to the charity of your choice. It takes just a few seconds to go to www.goodshop.com, select your charity, and then click through to your favorite store and shop as usual. You pay the same price you normally would, but a donation goes to help AAKP!
Please keep AAKP in mind this holiday season! |
| Tip of the Month: Cookie Guidelines for a Dialysis Diet |
 The holidays are here, and many people have already starting baking cookies and breads for holiday parties or gifts. Here are a few tips for how to enjoy these treats while sticking to your dialysis diet.
- Phosphorus content is higher in cookies made with oatmeal, nuts, peanut butter, and chocolate. Limit portions of these ingredients or avoid them. Ask your renal dietitian if you need to take a phosphorus binder with a cookie snack.
- Potassium content is higher in cookies made with peanut butter, chocolate, raisins and other dried fruit, nuts, molasses, and brown sugar. Be extra cautious with cookies that contain several of these ingredients.
- Watch for hidden sodium from baking soda, salt, salted butter or margarine, and salted peanut butter. Too much cookie dough or too many cookies contribute to extra sodium intake. Use unsalted ingredients when possible.
Information courtesy of Culinary Kidney Cooks. | |
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