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Welcome to VidaEats!
We are glad you are here! Here you will find posts by our team of Registered Dietitians and other healthcare professionals that focus on kidney health. Topics such as plant-based diets, exercise with CKD, and everything in between will be discussed. We welcome you to comment and get involved in the conversation. All information shared on this website is for informational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose or treat any condition.
What is CKD?
Estimates show that Chronic Kidney Disease affects 37 million people in the United States. That is more than 1 in 7 US adults. CKD involves the gradual decline of kidney function due to kidney damage.The two most common causes of CKD are hypertension and diabetes. Other chronic diseases and some hereditary conditions may lead to CKD as well. People suffering from CKD spend hundreds of dollars a year on medications and doctor visits to try to manage their disease, usually with little results in delaying CKD progression. Prevention of CKD with modification of diet and lifestyle is the body's best defense.
Many individuals do not know they have CKD. That is why it is important to ask your doctor to monitor your blood work and look at kidney specific lab values, especially if you have a condition that predisposes you to CKD. These lab values include: creatinine, GFR, and BUN.
Patients who have CKD are usually diagnosed by their primary care doctor or nephrologist (kidney doctor) at stage 3. Your doctor will monitor your GFR (Glomerular Filtration Rate) and other labs. This number is calculated by the lab using your creatinine result, your age, body size, and gender.
What are the CKD stages?
Stage 1 GFR 90 or higher, some kidney damage is present
Stage 2 GFR 60-89, mild loss of kidney function
Stage 3a GFR 45-59, mild to moderate loss of kidney function
Stage 3b GFR 30-44, moderate-severe loss of kidney function
Stage 4 GFR 15-29, severe loss of kidney function
Stage 5 GFR less than 15, kidney failure
(Source: https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/gfr)
While prevention is key, diet and lifestyle changes can help delay CKD progression and potentially restore some kidney function. VidaEats’ goal is to help individuals improve their kidney related labs and delay disease progression.
Contact us today to get started.
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