Understanding the renal diet is by far one of the hardest things to deal with when facing kidney failure. One minute your protein may be restricted to prevent further decline and afterwards once you are on dialysis your protein needs may increase. What if you are on peritoneal dialysis or you are diabetic? How do you know what you can eat, what choices are safe? The Renal Lifestyles Manual covers all this and more in a 338 page large print book.
I really enjoyed this book, because wherever you are at in facing your kidney failure, this book will be of help. Most books are specific to certain stages of renal disease, not so with this book.
While this book includes 47 nice recipes like Texas Style Meatloaf, Crepes, Garlic Smashed Potatoes and Chicken With Lemon And White Wine, this book is much more than a renal recipe book.
This book covers diets, brief information on phosphorus, potassium, sodium and fluid allowance, dry weight and how to lose or gain weight, and an emergency diet plan for 3 days.
Individual sections of the book are separated by index tabs and labeled so you can easily find what you're looking for at any time.
Meal plans are listed for the pre-dialysis patients, pre-dialysis diabetic diets, hemodialysis diets, diabetic hemodialysis diets, capd diets, and diabetic capd diets.
These meal plans show a sample day's meal layout with the approximate protein and calories for the diet of choice. It tells you how many choices of meat vegetables, starches, fruits etc. to have in a day. These meal plans also give you lists of the okay foods to choose from and what to avoid.
At the back of the book you will find valuable charts that tell you what normal blood lab values should be for a non-kidney failure person, as well as acceptable levels for those with kidney failure. Also you will find a protein, potassium, phosphorus, sodium and caloric counter for basic foods.
I think this book will be most helpful to any renal dietician as well as people with kidney failure and their families. Everything is very easy to understand and the large print makes it an easy read.
The only thing I did not like about the book itself is the cover. While it is a very colorful print, it is made of a thin, non-sturdy cardboard. If the only thing about this book that is disagreeable to me is the cover, I still highly recommend it. It is one of the better books for those who have a hard time knowing what to eat.
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