Find helpful education and other information about diet, chronic kidney disease, oxalates, plant-based diets, and other nutritional topics all in one place.
CKD BLOG
WHAT IS CKD & WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT IT?
KetoCitra®.
KetoCitra® is the FIRST non-prescription product specifically designed for the dietary management of chronic kidney disease (including the genetic form polycystic kidney disease).
It is designed for stages 1-3, however KetoCitra® may still be appropriate for individuals with stages 4 or 5, but this should be determined by your health care practitioner.
Read MoreTOP 8 DIET & LIFESTYLE CHANGES FOR CKD
We’ve come up with 8 dietary and lifestyle changes you can make if you have Chronic kidney disease (CKD). Along with KetoCitra®, these changes could improve your life. We recommend working with an experienced dietitian to help you implement these changes and an appropriate CKD diet.
Every person is different and some people need to modify their diet in a specific way depending on their level of kidney function or other medal conditions they may have.
KetoCitra® Helps Your Kidneys To MaintainTheir Natural Resiliance.
Therapeutic Ketosis: BHB supports a state of therapeutic ketosis, shifting the body’s metabolic preference from glucose to ketones, which can have a beneficial effect on kidney disease.
Alternative Energy Source: Kidney cysts thrive in the presence of glucose, but BHB offers an alternative energy source, potentially starving these cysts of the glucose they need to grow.
Mimic Fasting Benefits: The presence of BHB in KetoCitra® aims to replicate the positive effects seen during fasting or when following a ketogenic diet, both of which can slow the progression of kidney disease.
Safe for Kidneys: While many over-the-counter BHB products contain sodium and additives that may harm the kidneys, KetoCitra® is designed to be kidney-friendly and sodium-free, ensuring a safe way to harness the benefits of BHB.
Evidence-Based: Research from the Weimbs Lab at UCSB has shown the potential of dietary interventions that promote ketosis in slowing down chronic kidney disease progression.
HEALTHY KIDNEY LIFESTYLE AND AFFORDABILITY
Is it possible to stay within your food budget and follow a kidney-healthy diet? Yes, it is.
ViewIs a Healthy Kidney Lifestyle AFFORDABLE ??where the founder of Santa Barbara Nutrients, Dr. Thomas Weimbs, and Jessianna Saville from the Ren-Nu.org program, discuss how to make the Top 8 diet & lifestyle changes for polycystic kidney disease affordable.
What Are Oxalates & What Do They Have to Do With Kidney Disease?
Oxalates, or oxalic acids, are compounds found in many plant foods like spinach, beet greens, nuts, chocolate, wheat bran, and tea. While not a nutrient, these tiny molecules can form crystals when combined with minerals in your body. When their concentration is too high, these crystals might accumulate in the kidneys, leading to kidney stones.
When managing Diabetic Kidney Disease, understanding your dietary needs is vital. You might be seeking guidance on what foods to avoid , or more specifically, how oxalates figure into a kidney disease diet
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OXALATES AND CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE
If you have chronic kidney disease (CKD), you may be curious about whether or not you should avoid foods with oxalates.
In this article, we review the relationship between kidney disease and oxalates including what oxalates are, how oxalates impact the kidneys and tips for managing oxalates with CKD.
OXALATES LIST
What foods to avoid with kidney cysts and CKD?
We have put together a curated list of the oxalate content of different food items based on published sources. Check the foods you eat to know how much oxalate they contain. Try swapping high-oxalate foods for low-oxalate alternatives!
Download the Oxalate Content of Foods ListWHAT ARE OXALATES ANYWAY?
Oxalate is a “tiny little compound. It has two carbons, four oxygens, a couple of double bonds, and it has the ability to drop its protons which makes it an acid”, but how do oxalates impact you?
In this video interview with SBN, oxalate expert Sally Norton, MPH, discusses the structure and function of oxalates, how they are absorbed in the body, and how they can cause damage in the body including the kidneys.
Link to video on YouTubeDISCOVER PLANT-BASED PROTEINS:
In this video, Diana Bruen, MS, RDN, discuss plant-based and animal-based proteins for kidney disease. Diana also discusses recommendations on how to keep one’s kidneys healthy and maintain a kidney-healthy lifestyle.
Check out Plant-Based Proteins: What You Need To Know | Proteins & Kidney Disease ft. Diana Bruen on YouTube.
LEARN ABOUT KETOGENIC METABOLIC THERAPY
Dr. Thomas Weimbs, President and Founder of Santa Barbara Nutrients , speaks with a variety of healthcare professionals and individuals about the benefits of ketogenic metabolic therapy for the dietary management of kidney disease and other chronic conditions.
View the ketogenic metabolic therapy video library on the Santa Barbara Nutrients YouTube channel.
HOW TO MONITOR URINE PH?
Urinary pH is important to monitor for those who have kidney disease. The urine pH can vary considerably depending on the kind of foods we eat and depending on certain health conditions.
In this video, Santa Barbara Nutrients President and UCSB Professor Thomas Weimbs, PhD, discusses how to measure urinary pH, why it’s important for individuals with kidney disease to monitor their urinary pH, and the effects of diet on urinary pH.
Watch on YouTubeRESOURCES
Learn how Santa Barbara Nutrients’ pH test paper helps those with kidney disease accurately measure their urine pH.
Santa Barbara Nutrients’ pH PaperThe urine pH can vary considerably depending on the kind of foods we eat and depending on certain health conditions. Learn why it’s important to monitor your urine pH if you have kidney disease.
Protocol for Self-Monitoring of Urine pH in Kidney PatientsLEARN ABOUT POTASSIUM AND KIDNEY DISEASE
Are you curious if you need to limit potassium if you have chronic kidney disease (CKD) or polycystic kidney disease (PKD)?
Check out Potassium And Kidney Disease | What Is Potassium | Potassium Health Benefits For Body where Diana Bruen, MS, RDN, discusses potassium as it relates to kidney disease. She explains what potassium is, what foods are high in potassium, why potassium is important for the body, and what potassium has to do with kidney disease.
Learn about sodium and kidney disease
If you have chronic kidney disease or polycystic kidney disease (PKD), you’ve probably heard about the importance of monitoring your sodium intake, but what does this really mean?
Santa Barbara Nutrients interviews Nikki Gepner, a Registered Dietitian, Certified Dietitian, Certified Specialist in Renal Nutrition, and Functional Nutrition and Lifestyle Practitioner. Nikki discusses what high sodium intake means for those with kidney disease, how to monitor sodium intake, and what foods are typically high in sodium.
How do add flavor without adding salt
Sodium labeling
Learn about phosphorus and kidney disease
Kidney disease impairs one’s ability to effectively remove phosphorus in the body compared to someone without kidney disease. Thus, high levels of phosphorus can build up in the blood and cause long-term health effects such as weak and brittle bones and cardiovascular issues.
There are two types of phosphorous, inorganic phosphorus and organic phosphorus. In this discussion, Jen discusses the difference between the two types and why it is important for those with kidney disease to take a proactive approach when monitoring their phosphorus intake.
Watch on VideoSTAY UP TO DATE ON THE LATEST RESEARCH IN KIDNEY DISEASE
⇒ Read this recent journal club
Article where we explore the need for more information on dietary interventions in managing chronic kidney disease.
Watch the Kidney Disease Research playlist on Santa Barbara Nutrients YouTube Channel
KETOSIS VS. KETOACIDOSIS?
Ketosis and ketoacidosis have very different meanings and should not be confused.
Nutritional ketosis is generally safe and is the result of a ketogenic diet.
Ketoacidosis is a direct result of high blood sugars that occur in those with uncontrolled diabetes and can be potentially dangerous.
⇒ Download the handout here to learn moreTHE SAFETY OF KETOCITRA®
Learn about KetoCitra® and what makes KetoCitra® safe.
Download the handout here to learn moreTHE SCIENCE BEHIND KETOCITRA®
Learn about the science behind KetoCitra®.
Download the handout here to learn more