| Check Out the New Features of AAKP My Health™ |  |
AAKP My Health™ now offers new features to help users take charge of their health care. Users can now receive appointment reminders by email and print emergency contact cards.
AAKP My Health™ is a free, unique section of the AAKP website, www.aakp.org, that provides you with online tools to be the leader in your healthcare. With AAKP My Health™, you can:
ˇ Track your lab results
ˇ Log your medications
ˇ List your healthcare team members
ˇ Prepare information for doctor visits
ˇ Test your kidney knowledge
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Recipe of the Month: Chili-Lime Dip with Toasted Pitas |
 Serving size: 3 pita chips with 2 tablespoons of dip Dip:
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1/2 cup Silken tofu™
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup roasted red peppers from a jar
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 1/2 tablespoons lime juice
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro (may be replaced by fresh dill or parsley)
Pita Chips:
- 4 large, plain, white flour, Greek pita
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 clove of garlic, crushed
Preparation:
- Preheat conventional oven to 300°F.
- For the dip, put all ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth, about 30 seconds.
- Transfer to a small bowl, cover and refrigerate for a minimum of 30 minutes.
- Mix olive oil with garlic and brush it on the pitas.
- Cut each pita into 8 wedges, then place wedges on baking tray and roast for 20 minutes or until crisp, but not browned.
- Arrange dip and pita chips on plate and serve.
Nutrient Analysis: Calories: 136 kcal; Fat: 2.2g; Protein: 3g; Phosphorus 42mg; Potassium 103mg; Sodium 122mg
Renal and Renal Diabetic Food Choices: One starch; one-half vegetable
Suggestion: The dip goes well with raw veggies or as a sandwich spread with meat. You can keep the pita wedges in a tin for up to a week.
This recipe is provided courtesy of Spice It Up! Copyright 2009 Communication Ebmed Inc. All rights reserved. Sponsored by Shire Canada Inc. |
| Campbell's Pepperidge Farm to Cut Sodium in Breads |
Pepperidge Farm Inc. says it will cut the sodium levels in the majority its breads, rolls and bagels by 2011, making it the latest of many food makers to respond to demands for healthier products. The company, owned by Campbell Soup Co., said the reductions will ultimately result in sodium levels 10 to 33 percent lower in 69 of its bakery products. Health experts say Americans eat too much salt and the vast majority is from processed food. That excess is dangerous because sodium can contribute to high blood pressure, which can lead to stroke, kidney disease, heart disease or heart failure. Pepperidge Farm said it has already begun some of the reductions, such as cutting sodium in its original white bread from 225 milligrams per slice to 150 milligrams last year. Based on positive response to those changes and growing consumer demand, the company said it decided to aim to lower sodium levels on 80 percent of its products by February 2011. |
| Exercise Helps You Sleep |
 Running to the medicine cabinet or to doctors for sleeping pills may be one way to battle chronic insomnia, but aerobic exercise might be the best prescription, new research indicates. Scientists at Northwestern University say sleep problems affect millions of adults, who could likely improve their quality of sleep, vitality, and mood with regular aerobic exercise. The study is the first to examine the effect of aerobic exercise on insomnia in middle-aged and older adults. About 50 percent of people middle-aged and older complain of symptoms of chronic insomnia.
Researchers studied 23 sedentary adults, mostly women aged 55 years and older, who had a hard time falling asleep or staying asleep and also reported impaired daytime functioning. The participants were randomly placed in one of two groups. One group exercised for two 20-minute sessions four times a week and the other did a 30-40 minute workout four times a week. This went on in both groups for 16 weeks, with participants exercising to 75 percent of their maximum heart rate on at least two activities, such as riding a stationary bicycle, walking, or exercising on a treadmill. Researchers say the participants who exercised reported that their sleep quality improved, raising their diagnosis from poor to good sleeper. They also reported fewer depressive symptoms, more vitality, and less sleepiness in the daytime. |
Healthy Diet Rocks When it Comes to Fighting Kidney Stones | Certain key ingredients of a diet designed to prevent high blood pressure can ward off kidney stones, according to a study appearing in the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology (CJASN). The results suggest how low-fat dairy products and/or plants may have potent kidney stone fighting properties.
The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet which is high in fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes, dairy products, and whole grains and is low in sweetened beverages and red and processed meats effectively lowers blood pressure. Research now suggests that a DASH-style diet reduces one's risk of developing kidney stones.
The study also indicated that there may be other important, and perhaps as of yet unidentified, kidney stone inhibitors in dairy products and/or plants.
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Do I Need to Be on a Special Diet After My Transplant? |
 One of the most difficult challenges for new dialysis patients is the overwhelming amount of diet restrictions they need to follow. You may have heard at one time or another your doctor or dietitian say to you, "...limit your dairy products...take your binders...drink less fluid...stay away from potassium..." and the list goes on and on. If you are planning to have a kidney transplant or have recently had one, you are probably wondering if your diet will change. After a transplant, your diet still plays an important role. However, you will find that your transplant diet may be easier to follow and less restricted than the diet you were on during dialysis.
Good nutrition is crucial after your kidney transplant just as it was before. The right amount of protein, calories and nutrients are essential for good health. It is also important to remember that the side effects of anti-rejection medications can change your nutrition requirements. Everyone who receives a transplant has to take anti-rejection medications to protect their transplant from the body's immune system. Many people have a better appetite after they get a transplant and often gain unwanted weight. In addition, certain anti-rejection medications may cause increased appetite, weight gain and fluid retention. The average amount of weight gain after a transplant is about 20 pounds. If you are already above your ideal body weight, additional weight gain may increase your risk for heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. Being overweight can also affect your cholesterol and triglyceride levels. High cholesterol and triglyceride levels may lead to heart disease. Read food labels carefully to avoid foods that are high in fat and cholesterol. Click here to read more about the post-transplant diet. |
| Tip of the Month: Eating Tips for Camping and Road Trips |
 Planning ahead so that you have access to kidney-friendly foods on your trip is important. If you don't currently own one, consider investing in a cooler. Some models come with handles and wheels, minimizing the difficulty of toting your foods from place to place. A cooler will give you more food and drink options for the road or at a campsite, making fast food less tempting. As long as you keep food on ice, it'll be fresh for many days. Here are some key steps to eating kidney-friendly food on the road or while camping:
- Avoid packaged/processed meats, as they can be high in sodium and phosphorus. If possible, use fresh-cooked meats, unsalted canned tuna or chicken or low-sodium deli meats.
- Instead of potato chips, try unsalted pretzels or low-sodium crackers.
- If you're on a fluid-restricted diet, remember that salty foods can cause you to drink more.
- Look for nutritional drinks specially formulated for kidney patients. Some examples are NeproŽ, Re/Gen and Novasource RenalŽ. If you are on a lower protein diet, SuplenaŽ would be an option. These may be used as a meal replacement or to supplement your meals if you are not eating enough.
- Always read nutrition labels. Avoid foods high in the three P's: protein (only if you're on a low protein kidney diet), potassium and phosphorus. Also check labels for sodium content.
- Avoid dairy products unless included in your diet plan.
- For dessert, have a piece of low potassium fruit or low-sodium cookies.
- Practice food safety: pack well, wash your hands and use hand sanitizer.
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