Bread for CKD?

[vintagecurl]

I’m just looking for suggestions for a brand of white bread (not made from brown rice) that I can order from Amazon. Thanks for any suggestions. (I’m in Stage 3b—eGFR 38—age 72.)

[Hidden]

I'm afraid I don't understand. Why do you have to order bread from Amazon? You can find white bread at the grocery store. If I'm missing something please enlighten me. If you speak to a renal dietitian they will more than likely tell you to avoid wheat and whole grain products. White bread while it shouldn't be a staple should be fine for the occasional piece from a bag bought at your local grocery.

[vintagecurl in reply to Hidden]

I rarely drive my car these days due to certain meds I am on. So to save my daughter from more trips to the store, I try to get most groceries from Amazon. I tried to cancel my brown rice bread order on Amazon after I read about its phosphorus, but I received notice today that the seller sent it anyway w/o even replying to my message from a couple of days ago. (It hadn’t been shipped yet when I sent the message.) Maybe I’m over-reacting to the brown rice flour in it; I’m totally new to learning about my diagnosis of CKD. (My first nephrologist appointment isn’t until July 5th and I WILL ask about an appointment with a Renal Dietician then, too.) In the meantime I was trying to order some renal safe—or limited safe—foods/drinks. Cranberry juice, fruits, cashews, tart cherry juice, lemon juice, almond butter w/cinnamon, some tuna in pouches, old fashioned oatmeal, and, HOPEFULLY, bread. I don’t eat much, but must eat something.

Here’s what is in the bread (it’s expensive bread, Canyon Mountain Bakehouse Gluten Free—order comes with three loaves): 'WATER, BROWN RICE FLOUR, TAPIOCA FLOUR, ORGANIC AGAVE SYRUP, WHOLE GRAIN SORGHUM FLOUR, CULTURED RICE FLOUR, ORGANIC CANE SUGAR, XANTHAN GUM, EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL, EGGS, ORGANIC SUSTAINABLE PALM FRUIT OIL, SEA SALT, YEAST, ENZYMES.' Do you think one or two slices of toast from that bread a couple of times a week would be harmful to kidneys at a GFR of 38? Thanks for your patience with my ignorance here. 🥴

[Hidden in reply to vintagecurl]

Does the bread have to be gluten-free? Nature's Own Buttertop Bread is a good one if you are not allergic to any of its ingredients. If you have other health issues that require you to have gluten-free bread then what you are doing is okay for the time being. Make this one of the questions when you see the renal dietitian and remember to bring hard copies of all of your blood labs and the RD will discuss it with you.

Make a list of all of your medications, including any over the counter ones you may take and let the nephrologist and RD look over the list and help you deal with the choices you have to make.

Your list of what you get from Amazon does contain some items that the RD might question. Oatmeal (whole grain), cashews are a seed and not good for CKD, the tuna in a pouch may be an issue depending on the sodium content. If you have any questions now, bring the empty packaging with you and the RD can help you make healthy choices.

One other thing about the RD. After the initial appointment with my RD, she is two hours away, I set it up with her that I can do follow-ups with her either on the phone or by e-mail. I do see her once a year when I drive there to see a different specialist for another health issue. If the RD you get a referral to is willing, you might want to ask about doing some follow-ups the same way.

Best of luck

[vintagecurl in reply to Hidden]

I ordered gluten free bc I am borderline diabetic, but, no, it doesn’t have to be gluten free. Thanks much for the Nature’s Own Buttertop Bread suggestion.

Now, see, there’s the problem: some kidney diet sites said oatmeal was okay if it was the Old Fashioned type, and some recommended cashews as okay in moderation. You’re right, tho, the pouch tuna (and Chicken of the Sea Infusion tuna in a plastic container) would need to have its sodium content watched. I realize FRESH tuna and chicken can be okay in small amounts. And of course the more fresh foods the better in all areas. It will be good to sit down with an RD and go over all the options and necessary guidelines for my particular body’s current needs. I appreciate immensely ALL your thoughts and comments. I have spent days reading through this site and everyone’s messages are a such a hand-up to us newbies who are bent heavy under our dreadful news of CKD. May God bless you all.

[Hidden in reply to vintagecurl]

I'm also T2D with no meds for the last 2 years, just diet and exercise. I also have HBP which is controlled by diet, exercise and 3 medications at minimum dosages. The differences between some foods, like cashews and oatmeal can be different for each person. It depends greatly on your own lab results and where you are with potassium, phosphorous, protein, sodium and calcium as to how often you can add something on the "occasional" basis.

If you look at the recipes on the DaVita website they offer a wealth of variety for those on dialysis, not on dialysis and for those with CKD and diabetic. Each one of those recipes must be adjusted for each individual's personal needs. For example, I have HBP so any time salt in mentioned I add in Mrs. Dash or a spice like rosemary, sage or oregano. I copy the recipes into WORD and then make the changes and then I don't worry about the "bad" ingredients.

Something else I use that may help you. I set up a spreadsheet. Across the top, I list the date and the physicians' name. Down the left side, I list every blood and urine lab test ordered. When I get the results I add the values to the spreadsheet and if my numbers are high (above normal range) I highlight it in red. If my number is low (below normal range) I use a different color to highlight. This way I can look at a glance and see if I have any trends developing that I need to bring to my doctors' attention.

I hope this helps.