HEALTH CORNER

Healthy Eating

Eating healthy and appropriate food is a key part of care for chronic kidney disease. Control of your nutrition will play an important role in your ongoing care. Eating properly will help you maintain kidney function and feel better overall.

A person with kidney failure cannot get rid of extra fluid and wastes made by the body. To reduce these waste products, it is important for patients to control both food and fluids.

Some patients find that changing their eating habits is difficult at first, though most people adjust well. In general, patients who make appropriate nutrition changes early may have fewer problems later on.

At YDC, you have a professional dietitian nutritionist who specializes in helping you with kidney friendly nutrition choices.

Fitness and Exercise

Regular physical activity and exercise are an important part of well-being. It gives your body a chance to work the way it should. Benefits include:

• More oxygen going to the body
• Relaxing from deep breathing
• Help with sleeping problems
• More strength and endurance
• Better blood flow or circulation
• Increase oxygen-carrying capacity of red blood cells (hemoglobin)
• Improved appetite, digestion, and bowel function
• Stronger lungs and heart (from aerobic exercise)

Activity can be a regular, planned exercise program such as those offered through health clubs and community centers.