Breakfast Cereals with high fiber?

[Dixidude39]

Based on DaVita's "Kidney Smart" seminars, I know that I am to avoid products with wheat bran. I love the new Fiber One cereal with freeze-dried strawberries. The key ingredient is steel-cut oats. Is this product OK for my breakfast? Are ALL high fiber products unacceptable for someone (me) with CKD4 (eGFR of 27-29)?

[LutherPDX]

All fiber comes with phosphorus.

Many cereals do list their phosphorus content in the Nutrition Facts panel. Those numbers can help you select lower phosphorus cereal. For example at one of my local stores, I found the storebrand of cheerios he lass phosphorus than the real thing.

Generally - high fiber cereals are off the list. But a certain amount may be allowable depending on your lab results. So only your dietician can say for your individual situation.

If you are looking for fiber to alliee constipation - I find 2 servings of green beans every day, works for me.

[BigBilly in reply to LutherPDX]

Thanks LutherPDX. I didn't realize that all fiber comes with phosphorous. Too bad I may have to eat Rice Crispies, Cheerios, etc.

[RonZone]

I was hugely disappointed in how bad breakfast cereals are for us Kidney Disease folks. Even Corn Flakes has a ton of sodium in it. I've settled on Walmart Brand of Frosted Mini Wheats. Seems to be the lowest of everything I can find. I would love to hear what others are eating for breakfast. I have more time for it now that I'm working from home every day.

[cs65 NKF Ambassador in reply to RonZone]

I stopped eating cereal altogether - I can't have milk so what's the use? I usually have an egg and toast instead, although lately I've varied it with Greek yogurt (4 oz) and toast once in a while. Since I'm on dialysis I need the protein and have to avoid high phosphorus foods. Always read your food labels - they've added phosphorus content to the labels now.

[RonZone in reply to cs65]

In our area they've still not added phosphorus to many labels at all that I can find. I normally look up the product on the web and find a more detailed label. I'm not on dialysis quite yet, but will be at some point, then I can eat more protein, till then, i'm using the walmart frosted mini wheats and rice milk, which believe it or not, ain't that bad with the mini-wheats. I through some dried cranberries on top to add a little extra flavor.

[BigBilly in reply to RonZone]

Interesting that dialysis patients need to BOOST their protein intake, just the opposite of us who are CKD4, as I am. I use Almond Breeze Unsweetened Chocolate almond milk. 40 cal per 8 oz. Then I sweeten it with stevia. Because I follow mostly a plant-based diet, I take an essential amino acid product daily. Today I begin adding Renadyl probiotic caps. Designed for kidney patients. It is expensive, about $49 for a month's worth. I ordered from Amazon.

[RonZone in reply to BigBilly]

Hey, thanks for the info. Yeah, very interesting that after we start dialysis they say it's hard to eat enough protein.

[Zasne]

Wheat bran looks high in phosphorous in the listings, over 1000mg, but that is for 100 grams. Remember to check the volume/weight of the food you are viewing. That's 2 cups of bran. Unless you are a barn animal, you would not be consuming anywhere that amount for breakfast. Bran is very lightweight. A full cup, being 500mg, is 500 mg. The serving size for Kellogg's All Bran facts is 1/2 cup. So that would be 250mg. The daily recommendations per Davita is 800-1000mg. So if you like something that has phosphorus, add it up with your other choices for the day and reduce or eliminate something else to end up with the amount you should have (per your doctor as well). You might be trading protein sources for carbs/sugar so consider it carefully. A whole egg is nearly 200mg phos for 12g protein. I use egg whites only,: 15mg, for 10.9 g of protein.

All the info you need is available (except for some branded food products that refuse to list or respond to requests for phos content). Use an app like Nutrition Facts or on the internet, or just google the food name and the word phosphorus. List a day's menu of your usual foods and see how that calculates, then design one you can live with!

Best wishes!

[BigBilly in reply to Zasne]

Hey Zasne. Sounds like sound advice. I really need to do some furthe research. I eat pretty much the same thing daily. I do not wheat bran, but I love the new FiberOne cereal. with freeze dried strawberries. The grain is steel cut oats. We don't have a renal dietician in the Greater Richmond, VA area where my wife and I live. I will now put on my "research hat," and see how much phosphorous and potassium I consume ... thanks to your post!

[Zasne in reply to BigBilly]

Hi there - I looked up your favorite cereal. It has 8 types of sugar in it, and 36 grams of carbs in just one cup. If you have it with a fluid, I'm guessing that is adding more sugars and carbs to the mix as well. Do you eat just one cup BTW?

Remember there is a link w diabetes and kidney disease as well as heart disease...and reducing sugar/carbohydrates while increasing vegetables, good fats and modest protein can feed you more real nutrients in each meal, as in the vitamins and trace elements that are included in real food. If your kidney situation requires lower protein, you'll need carbs for energy. But not sugary ones that can damage your insulin mechanism. In other words, the steel cut oats alone, and cooked, and with a few fresh strawberries would be much more nutritious and less risk of contributing to your body's decline.. (Also freeze dried strawberries are available in the natural foods section, they are a nice snack in themselves.)

Get out your calculator, the USDA list of food ingredients or similar, the processed food Nutrition Facts...and add up what you are eating each day in terms of not only phosphorus but also sugar.

I find that salads are a great "free" food to indulge without restraint..with just oil, vinegar, lemon juice, and herbs. Not even salt!

Oh that reminds me, your favorite cereal is high in sodium 200mg for 1 cup. Many CKD patients need to limit that as well.

Best wishes

Zasne..RNC

[BigBilly in reply to Zasne]

Hey, Zasne, thanks for your comprehensive post. I am Type 2 diabetic, although with diet and exercise, I have not needed medication for 4-5 years. A1C is 5.2-5.6. I have just joined Nutrition Facts. I'll now look at the ingredient label on this cereal. I'm really surprised to know there are 8 types of sugar. I do eat a large salad as a meal either for lunch or dinner. My other meal is then one of the frozen "vegieburgers." I do eat an apple a day, plus pink grapes (and pears when I find them). But you have prompted me to add more fresh or frozen vegetables to my daily diet. Thanks again.

P.S. I buy "vegieburgers" with the lowest sodium I can find.