I was dx with CKD, Phase3, in 2018. GRF stayed between 55-60, I spill protein and have since being dx with diabetes in 2003. In the last 8 months or so, protein in urine has gone way up, as has my potassium. Now trying to stay low potassium, cutting sodium. My question is: I rarely salt my food, generally only potatoes, but I do have a cupboard full of jars of a combination of spices/herbs. Many have salt in them. Would they be OK to use, sparingly, or should i just toss them if they have salt in them?
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jodaer
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I think the advice with salt is pitched at a society which eats waay too much salt. I know lots of folk who sprinkle, sprinkle, sprinkle the salt cellar over their dinners, which already contain salt in the cooking.
If you're not a salt-hog then you could be overcutting the consumption by ridding it from your diet. I was told by my RD to increase my intake - I'd gone off on one cutting it down, when I wasn't a big consumer in the first place.
Seek guidance but the usual recommendation I see for us is 2g per day sodium (which is about 5gr sodium chloride (salt)).
I didn't add salt to food but had taken to carefully checking salt in foods and steering clear as much as I could. I was averaging 1,5gr a day (tracking on Cronometer). Hence the advice from my RD to up intake.
I personally would used the spices in the cupboard....but sparingly. Beware of spices like "everything but the bagel" which is really salty....maybe just use a lot less. Learn to love pepper! I use salt for only a few things and I always cut the amount way down. Even my husband has gotten used to no salt spaghetti! My only concession to salt is when I bake bread.....you have to use salt or it's really hard to form the bread.
Salt is a killer. Hardly worth it. Garlic salt etc. is akin to using the salt shaker. Plenty fresh herbs or no salt spices to play with, so way do it. Learn to be creative. And pack them up and give them to a neighbor.
I tried to give them away but no go. I will check to see how salty they are and toss those that are too salty. I don't use a lot anyway. It's amazing to see how much sodium is in fresh foods,
You get plenty of sodium in the food that you eat so it's really not necessary. I have no problem with saltless food except for one thing......popcorn! It's probably not a big deal in the UK but we USians love popcorn and honestly it tastes like cardboard without salt. I am trying to figure out a way to eat it without salt but thusfar it's a no go.
I eat my popcorn without anything on it. It's a nice snack, low cal and low everything else. I used to put Parm cheese on it but haven't looked at the jar in years so probably not the healthiest choice.
No added salt is the way to go. Before my transplant I used more pepper to flavor my food rather than reaching for salt. There are some combination spices out there that have "no salt". You can get used to the no salt by using a favorite spice combo.
Before you do anything, check your labs. Your labs will tell you what to do - that's why doctors request and study them. Sodium, Chloride, Potassium, etc. are all electrolytes. They are important and valuable for the body to function properly. If they're outside the parameters, your heart can pick up arrhythmias and more So, if your sodium level is inside the normal range, then what you've been doing up to now is fine. If not, then taking steps to try to change it via diet, etc. is good, particularly if your team approves. So, before you launch any measures of your own, check your labs. They serve as your roadmap.
I'd like to add that you've been diagnosed with diabetes. Diabetes will play hardball after a couple of decades. It's very likely that any slide towards dialysis will have been instigated by that condition. It wrecks one's blood vessels inside kidneys, eyes, limbs, etc. When kidneys are implicated, they lose their function to regulate well so this often leads to water retention, high blood pressure, and more. Elimination of salt is helpful on the back end to treat symptoms, but getting rid of diabetes (including those meds) at the front end is superior. Wish my husband had made this a priority. And that his doctors had levelled with him. We've gone through a lot, including dialysis and transplant. I truly wish you all the best as you plot your path forward.
Your sodium consumption should be based on several things. Do you have hypertension, if so you should watch your sodium intake. How is the sodium level on your last blood test? If it's normal I wouldn't worry about it, same of potassium. Both of mine are low on my blood test so I was told to consume more sodium and potassium foods like potatoes. I use this news as an excuse to eat potato chips, but don't advise that for other : ) If you have edema, swelling in feet, ankles, legs, face, then cutting back on salt will help.
Add table salt and herbs/spices are only part of the sodium problem if you have been advised to cut back. Many foods have a lot of hidden sodium, like preserved foods, lunch meats, pickles, most frozen dinners, canned foods, etc. Read labels.
I had my Dr. refer me to a dietician. You might find that to be helpful especially with diabetes and CKD. We all have different nutritional needs based on our various health and blood work. All kidney patients don't eat a one diet fits all. That said, a plant based diet, regardless of added sodium, is recommended.
Fresh lemon juice and fresh herbs are a great way to add flavor to food without the added sodium of some of the mixed herb salts that may be in your cabinet.
My dietician told me to have 1 teaspoon of added salt per day, or around 2,000mg. That may be too much for someone else, so just watch labels and check with a dietician. Drinking plenty of water will help flush out sodium. I drink a 5 gallon bottle of water per week which is probably why my sodium level is low. I really flush myself out, but only because I'm always thirsty not trying to flush my kidneys.
Best of luck to you. You're smart getting a handle on this and doing all you can while you are still in Stage 3 and can possibly keep your kidney disease from progressing.
I believe everything is ok in moderation, ice cream, pizza, chocolate, potato chips, just not all at once and not all that often : ) If seasoned salt is the only way you enjoy vegetables and can get them down then use it sparingly. I'm a vegetarian and love veggies with just a dash of sea salt and some butter or olive oil. I'm a purist.
Thanks for the comments, much appreciated. My sodium levels seem to be OK, BUT, my feet, ankles and legs are swollen & my BP is higher than usual. I had a kidney biopsy a couple of weeks ago, had to stay overnight and they pumped full of all kinds of meds. Nothing has been right since then. My last labs, last week, most were good. What wasn't was creatinine/99 and the albumin/protein level were to high to measure. I see my doctor on Monday to go over results of biopsy and labs.
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