Protein options: Ive been having taking in... - Kidney Dialysis

Kidney Dialysis

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Protein options

NurseRed profile image
36 Replies

Ive been having taking in protein due to poor appetite and simply gag trying to drink 30ml liquacel any options out there?

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NurseRed profile image
NurseRed
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36 Replies
OperationKidney profile image
OperationKidney

Nepro is a protein drink for kidney patients, especially if youre on dialysis currently. They taste pretty decent and they are made with a better balance of the things that kidneys filter so they don't overwhelm dialysis patients.

I am post transplant and I drink Boost glucose control because they're made with less sugar. They still taste delicious though.

If you have a transplant/nephrology nurse or doctor you see regularly you might also check with them, and they might be able to refer you to a nutritionist who can help meet your needs more specifically as well!

KidneyCoach profile image
KidneyCoachNKF Ambassador in reply to OperationKidney

If I even smell Nepro I will start dry heaving. I think It's just nasty as hell. Some love it--not I.

KidneyCoach profile image
KidneyCoachNKF Ambassador

Zone protein bars. Many protein bars are good choiçe. Try the liquicell in juice, soda, yogurt. Blessings

RonZone profile image
RonZone in reply to KidneyCoach

I'm a zone fan now :-) Thanks! Picked up some at the store today.

I can't tolerate Nepro, I drink Premier 30g protein its 11 fl oz.I do mix it with a little water 1/2 a bottle at a time,it takes all day to get it down. I like the chocolate so if I am in the mood for hot chocolate pop it in the microwave.Protein bars are pretty good to.

horsie63 profile image
horsie63

Pro T from Frog Fuels has a 1 ounce protein shot you mix in a smoothie. I like Nepro, I have the mixed berries one but they are pricey.

RonZone profile image
RonZone in reply to horsie63

See my Liquacel review below. What's the verdict on Pro T in a smoothie?

horsie63 profile image
horsie63 in reply to RonZone

LOL you assume I've actually made a smoothie. Still have not. I'm finding when I get home after work then PD training I'm exhausted and sometimes don't eat.

My center did give me some Zone protein bars and I had the strawberry one today. To me it was rather sweet since I haven't really been eating anything with sugar (cookies, etc).

RonZone profile image
RonZone in reply to horsie63

Hey, not a problem, there's plenty of time for our research :-) No hurry. Yeah, I understand your feeling about being worn out after work and the PD training. What time do you get home? I also just started using Zone protein bars, strawberry as well to be specific. I don't mind the sweet at all :-) But they do pack 14 grams. In my meeting with the "Team" yesterday, they said my protein was fine, but phosphorus was still in the upper range. I said I'm still looking for that magic product that: 1. Is super high protein, 2. Low sodium, potassium, and phosphorus. 3. Tastes great. Nothing fits all of that so far, but the search is still on! I wish these companies had trial "samples" you could order, instead of having to buy a crap load all at once, like this 32 oz bottle of Liquacel that tastes like kerosene :-) I'll use it, just to not waste $40, but I ain't gonna enjoy the process :-) Hey, hang in there during training. I know you don't feel like writing a lot this week, so you can catch us up next week (or the next) or just post tiny little posts to let us know you're ok. We're rooting for ya!

horsie63 profile image
horsie63 in reply to RonZone

The dialysis center's schedule has me getting home at later than if I just was working....that gets me home around 5pm. Last night it was 7pm before I got home.

I'm hoping to meet the dietician soon as I'm really at a loss here. My potassium is low so now I'm told to eat more potassium foods after avoiding them like the plague for so long. Same is protein. I have a hard time getting in what foods I can and I'm not sure how I'll eat protein at every meal after avoiding it too.

It's a dilemma that's for sure. Breakfast is an eggo waffle and a glass of rice milk cause at 630 that's all I can stomach. I snack on popcorn, now a banana, a cutie and an apple. Lunch is usually chicken or rarely shrimp. Dinner is what ever I feel like eating but lately been eating eggs or spaghetti noodles, sometimes chicken.

The dietician will have her work cut out for her with me. I don't like many of the "renal ok" vegetables but I guess I can eat the ones with potassium now. I hate having my food touch so those casseroles or bowls with everything all thrown together ...icky. So all of those DaVita recipes with stuff mixed up...nope not happening.

I've thought about getting some of the "grass fed" beef sticks I've seen advertised but man they are expensive and I'm not sure of the sodium content although my serum sodium is low too. I miss the days of the TV dinners...pop one in the microwave and viola dinner's ready.

RonZone profile image
RonZone in reply to horsie63

Wow 7pm, yeah, that's pretty late. Be prepared when you meet the "dietician" for them to basically give you a generic list of stuff to eat and send you on your way. I'm getting the impression if you want a real renal dietician you would have to hire one in a big city. Meaning one who would give you specific product info and meal suggestions. Mine just gave me a laundry list of stuff to eat on a printout (which I could've easily found online) and that was it. I actually ask her a question about a specific product, bread, and asked if she knew of a particular product that was the best choice now that I'm on dialysis. She said "just read the labels". Well duh. So she's not very helpful when it comes to specifics. I really hope yours is more helpful when it comes to specifics. Guess you will find out. That's good that you can eat food with potassium though, so go for it! Yeah, we've done without for so long it will take some getting used to adding those foods back in. And we will conquer the whole protein thing. If your phosphorus is still ok, you could try adding in those protein milkshakes that you actually liked occasionally, though they are pricey, but hey, so is meat! (including beef sticks). Keep us posted on what you figure out that you can eat. (Didn't know about you not liking your food to touch, interesting, but yeah that throws out a lot of stuff, like omelets etc. Yep, tv dinners had everything all nice and separated! But I remember the ones you had to cook in the oven in the little aluminum trays, before microwaves came along ;-)

horsie63 profile image
horsie63 in reply to RonZone

Oh yeah...the Zone Perfect Cinnamon Roll bar was tasty. Not overly sugary like the strawberry one. I'd like more than 15 g protein though.

RonZone profile image
RonZone in reply to horsie63

I'll have to try the Zone Cinnamon Roll. Guess we could just eat two :-)

RonZone profile image
RonZone in reply to horsie63

Love the Zone Perfect Cinnamon Roll bar. Very tasty!

horsie63 profile image
horsie63 in reply to RonZone

Nice. Met with the dietician today, she's very nice and had lots to tell me. Seems the protein fest has worked as my lab was 3.7 which is the minimum of where they want it to be. Still low on potassium so I had some fries and a hamburger today...lol.

RonZone profile image
RonZone in reply to horsie63

Hey, that's GREAT about the protein number. Hamburger and fries.... Oh boy, you are definitely living right, sounds like heaven! I'll be glad when I get there some day! I'd pay big bucks for a big ole nasty baked potato! But seriously, you've done a good job it seems. Just how many Zone bars have you been eating??? :-)

I'm glad your dietitian had lots to tell you. I hope some of it was specific to your labs, but also some that answered the age old question of "What has high protein, low sodium, low potassium, low phosphorus" for those of us who still need that solution. It sure ain't french fries :-) See my new notes below in this thread about trying Liquacel in Jello. Yuk. Tell what you gleaned from your dietician meeting for your particular needs.

horsie63 profile image
horsie63 in reply to RonZone

the protein bars are typically an afternoon snack then I have a Nepro before bed. I really liked the mixed berries and have the vanilla ones now. I think they be good in a smoothie that I still haven’t tried. So she suggested keeping on with the protein.

Since potassium is low she wants me eat bananas and since I like tomato juice and not orange I can drink that. Potatoes and melons are good too and veggies like Brussels.

My phosphorus is a bit high so I need to watch products with add phosphorous. My PTH and calcium levels are all good.

The hard part is getting in enough once i actually do dialysis every day. I like eggs well enough but can’t stomach them first thin the morning. I wonder if there is high protein oatmeal? I guess I could make hard boiled eggs for a morning snack.

There’s a sample menu and holy heck I can’t eat everything on there. Maybe throughout the whole day.

Now I’m curious as to what my neph will say is my prescription and eating around it. Fun times ahead.

RonZone profile image
RonZone in reply to horsie63

I need to get some Nepro to try, since I've not tried it yet and make smoothies with em since I got my new little ninja smoothie machine that rocks.

Yep, I have boiled eggs for snacks or a "side dish" quite often. I keep some boiled in the fridge. Jayhawker suggested Premier protein powder in oatmeal. I used the vanilla flavor and put two scoops in a bowl of oatmeal (after cooking the oatmeal) and mixed in some fruit and it's really good (to me amyway). So try that as an option some morning. Again, I wish you could buy just "sample" size packages of these things before you buy the huge package they normally come in, but alas, they do not, so you have to buy a huge tub of the stuff just to see if you like it or not. But over time we'll find several things we can use to increase protein at all times of day, but who's to say you have to have it at breakfast, you could have oatmeal for supper anytime you want! I do!

Ok, so phosphorus. That seems to be the big nasty in all of this. I can increase protein, and my potassium is in pretty good order, but phosphorus. Oh boy. With the increase in protein comes the increase in phosphorus. That's been the part I can't seem to get a handle on with this new "dialysis diet". So they gave me phosphate blockers that absorb the phosphate from food I eat. Well they would if I could remember to take the darn horsepill in the middle of EVERY meal. I just get busy with my dad's stuff and my stuff and forget to take the pill. So I'm still on the high end with phosphorus too. And until I find that magic source of protein that is low phosphorus. I guess I'll be on these blockers. So be prepared for them to be ordering you a bottle at some point in your journey.

Now it's a good thing that they gave you so many foods you can now eat that you can't eat all of em. I simply do not have that problem :-) Ha! But I'm still a tad below 150 lbs so I figure I'll be ok if I gain a little weight during this process. I had lost 35lbs over three years in preparation for it.

Yeah, about this "prescription" I assume that just means what percent solution you will use or what combination you will use in a given day. Like one green, 3 yellows, or whatever. Or do you have to have other meds mixed in your solution? I don't currently and haven't talked to anyone who does, so not sure what that might be.

horsie63 profile image
horsie63 in reply to RonZone

It's so weird...stage 1-4 strict on what I ate as I tried to slow this down to no avail. Now it's like a free for all on what I can eat and I was so focused before it's hard to let go and eat stuff.

I think the Nepro will meet your needs. There's several flavors but so far I like the mixed berry the best. The phosphorus is a problem. I don't do dairy products so at least there I'm good but I have these organic walnuts I really like but try to limit how much. Chicken is a problem as I have been eating a lot of it.

From what I understand with phosphorus is that the "natural" bit you find in veggies, fruits, meat and the like is absorbed differently and some is actually needed. It's the added stuff in processed foods that cause the problems. So mine isn't high enough to need the binders yet. She did give me a list of foods that are high/low phosphorus and advised staying away from ultraprocessed foods like deli meats, hot dogs, etc. I haven't had any of those in well over a year.

I'll see if I can scan in the list if you like.

RonZone profile image
RonZone in reply to horsie63

What do you and your dietician think about Protein laced greek yogurt, like this one:

kite-hill.com/our-food/yogu...

horsie63 profile image
horsie63 in reply to RonZone

I’m not a fan of yogurt and I doubt our Walmart carries that brand. But if it’s low phosphorus I’m sure she’d be okay with it.

horsie63 profile image
horsie63 in reply to RonZone

check out Oats Overnight.

Potassium is below calories and list of ingredients had no added phosphorus. Has 20 g of protein too. Doesn’t seem to be overly expensive.

RonZone profile image
RonZone in reply to horsie63

The versions I'm seeing on Amazon says "just add milk". So can you do this without the milk, using water or Rice Milk? If so, wonder what it would taste like.

horsie63 profile image
horsie63 in reply to RonZone

I've seen it with just add plant based milk also. I only use rice milk. Best I can tell you drink this and not eat it like oatmeal.

RonZone profile image
RonZone in reply to horsie63

Ahh, so it's a drink. Ok, sorta like a smoothie of sorts. I think I'm getting the picture now. And glad it's good with Rice milk. I'll give it a try.

RonZone profile image
RonZone in reply to horsie63

Not sure how this Oats Overnight would be different/comparable to my regular oatmeal that I toss two scoops of the Protein powder and some real fruit in (which is pretty cheap). I think I'll give it a try using Rice Milk and see how it compares.

checkman profile image
checkman

I really like grape liquacel, i add more water to it. it has water consistency, not thick or gritty, not sure why you would gag, it's flavored water... but anyhow. you have about a million other ways to get protein. you have pick what you like. just make sure you look at the ingredients. also watch for heavy metal contaminants, LOTS of those in protein powders. consumerlab.com has some of the best research available. small monthly charge for subscription. ewg.org has all you need to know about pesticides in your food AND water quality all over the US. you can look up your town/city to see disease-causing contaminants in your water supply.

NurseRed profile image
NurseRed in reply to checkman

I think its the consistency that makes me gag I ve never put in water before

RonZone profile image
RonZone

Boy, I've been asking this for a while now. I've been looking for the perfect protein source that is high protein, low sodium, low potassium. low phosphorus. I asked my clinic dietitian about it and she said "doesn't exist". Boy that was reassuring. So yes, I've been on a mission to find EXACTLY what you are looking for. I'm going to send you what I've found so far in a private message so as not to clutter up this post. And you would need to discuss anything you try with your dietician.

Caveat: Now this ALL depends on your situation and labs. You don't mention if you are on dialysis (HD or PD) or not. And your labs may show you need more potassium or phosphorus, not less, so you would need to go with a protein source that gives you the right combination of everything your labs say you need.

sarasue2 profile image
sarasue2

Like the peach mango but also can use in jello or popsicles.

RonZone profile image
RonZone in reply to sarasue2

So did your peach mango work in jello. I tried the grape in grape jello and just cannot get past the smell and taste of it. Two bites and I was done with it. Yuk.

RonZone profile image
RonZone

Ok, I bit the bullet and ordered the "grape" flavor of liquacel just to try it. I didn't even try to drink it straight after your original "gag" comment :-).I mixed it with a glass of Ocean Spray Cranberry-Pomegranite juice. BUT I didn't think about stirring it up. I just dumped it in there thinking it would automatically mix. So the last gulp of juice was 90% Liquacel. Oh my gosh. It wasn't like taking turpentine (which my grandparents made me do when I was a small kid), but it was not a pleasant "grape" taste. Not sure how to describe it. Maybe a grape flavored diesel fuel taste? So I think I'll be mixing it in a strongly flavored fruit smoothie next and see how that goes. I'd hate to put $40 worth of this stuff down the drain, but yeah, taking it "straight" would be more than I would expect anyone to do without taking a lot of time to develop a "taste" for it, if that could ever happen. I'll update my post concerning the smoothie experience when i get a chance. I don't think I'll ruin a good cup of coffee trying it that way, same with sweet tea.

Checkman is a better man that me if he can just drink this mixed in water :-) Though I might try it in some super chilled water to help disguise the taste.

RonZone profile image
RonZone

Ok, and up date on this topic. I tried putting 3 servings of the Grape Liquacel (3 oz) in a large package of Grape Jello to see how that would work. I just wasted a lot of Jello. The Liquacel made it taste awful. The Liquacel taste was diluted by the Jello, but I just can't get past the taste/smell. I do not think i will ruin a good smoothie with this stuff. I probably just wasted $40. I know some can do this stuff, but I'm having a very difficult time getting it down. Back to the drawing board and try something else. Will continue to report results.

horsie63 profile image
horsie63

Found these but I'm not happy about the sodium content in the shakes but phosphorus is low.

healthcare.orgain.com/media...

horsie63 profile image
horsie63

May have found the holy grail.

OWYN Pro Elite Vegan High Protein Shake. Looking at the Vanilla flavor I can identify the potassium is low but the pic is kind of small. Looks like no added phosphorus but sodium is kind of high at 350 mg. Why are these drinks all so high in sodium, why on earth is sodium needed?

amazon.com/OWYN-Prebiotics-...

horsie63 profile image
horsie63

Well here's a contender:

biotrust.com/pages/free-pro...

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