Kidney Health is Important !

[Yvonne Smith]

One if the things I discovered when I learned about my heart failure was that the heart problems also caused kidney problems, and I had kidney failure along with the heart failure.
At one time, my kidney function on my GFR was down to about 34GFR, which is really low. Now, I take a powder called “Kidney Restore”, and along with trying to have a healthy diet, it has helped my kidney function a whole lot.
The last time i had labs done, my kidneys were almost out of kidney failure, which has to be above 59GFR, and mine was up to 57.

Just like with the heart failure, the doctors told me that the kidney failure would never improve; but changing to a healthy Whole Foods eating plan, and extra supplements has helped both my heart and my kidneys.
Here is the kidney supplement that i use.

 

[Don Alaska]

I, too, was once in renal failure due to medical mismanagement rather than heart problems. I don't recall my eGFR, but my BUN was over 75 and my creatinine was 4 or 5. They were prepping me for dialysis when everything suddenly returned to normal. Divine intervention IMHO. My kidneys now seem to be working normally, but I watch any NSAIDs I take, as they are the #1 cause of renal failure in seniors so I am told.

 

[Yvonne Smith]

I, too, was once in renal failure due to medical mismanagement rather than heart problems. I don't recall my eGFR, but my BUN was over 75 and my creatinine was 4 or 5. They were prepping me for dialysis when everything suddenly returned to normal. Divine intervention IMHO. My kidneys now seem to be working normally, but I watch any NSAIDs I take, as they are the #1 cause of renal failure in seniors so I am told.

My doctor had not told me not to take the NSAIDS until the last time I was in the office. I seldom take any kind of pain meds, but did occasionally take Alleve, or the generic substitute; but now I just take a plain aspirin if necessary, as it appears they are the least dangerous of any pain reliever.

 

[Jacob Petersheim]

Yeah, I have had my share of heart failure and lymphedema, and medical interest in my kidneys as well. All in addition to Type 2 diabetes.

I been told that the drugs that I am on for diabetes each has some protective benefit for my kidneys. These now include Metformin, Mounjaro, and Farxiga.

I quiz the doctor on this every visit. I'm seeing an internal medicine group so I get "residents" but each of them have been consistent in the opinion. About half of the visits their supervisor comes in to recheck and consult, and I grill him just the same. Are we certain this is best?

So far so good. And by now they know me in that office and over in Cardiology in the same hospital and medical complex. From the feedback I don't feel like a nameless sheep and I have some trust. They listen to my questions and don't brush me off. I make noise, and if I don't want to proceed with something they back off or make adjustments.


I have not been told that I can take aspirin again, but I'm on Eliquis too. Thankfully I seldom have pain and nothing ever significant.

 

[Don Alaska]

Metfor

Yeah, I have had my share of heart failure and lymphedema, and medical interest in my kidneys as well. All in addition to Type 2 diabetes.

I been told that the drugs that I am on for diabetes each has some protective benefit for my kidneys. These now include Metformin, Mounjaro, and Farxiga.

I quiz the doctor on this every visit. I'm seeing an internal medicine group so I get "residents" but each of them have been consistent in the opinion. About half of the visits their supervisor comes in to recheck and consult, and I grill him just the same. Are we certain this is best?

So far so good. And by now they know me in that office and over in Cardiology in the same hospital and medical complex. From the feedback I don't feel like a nameless sheep and I have some trust. They listen to my questions and don't brush me off. I make noise, and if I don't want to proceed with something they back off or make adjustments.


I have not been told that I can take aspirin again, but I'm on Eliquis too. Thankfully I seldom have pain and nothing ever significant.

Metformin is tough on kidneys @Jacob Petersheim. I am not sure about the other two drugs. I do know that kidney function should be checked before starting metformin and periodically thereafter. Here is a somewhat older research paper on the subject.

 

[Jacob Petersheim]

Metformin is tough on kidneys @Jacob Petersheim. I am not sure about the other two drugs. I do know that kidney function should be checked before starting metformin and periodically thereafter. Here is a somewhat older research paper on the subject.

I appreciate the information.

I seem to tolerate the stuff just fine, but I do get lab work covering kidney function pretty regularly. This year I've had tests twice already and I have another scheduled.

But it can't hurt for me to bring it up again. Thanks.

 

[Don Alaska]

I appreciate the information.

I seem to tolerate the stuff just fine, but I do get lab work covering kidney function pretty regularly. This year I've had tests twice already and I have another scheduled.

But it can't hurt for me to bring it up again. Thanks.

You probably know about microalbumin testing. It is a good and common way to check kidney damage, especially in diabetics.

 

[Marie Mallory]

Kidney Restore is on its way here. it did help with the flow. Haven't seen a doctor in about 3 years now so we do need some more blood work soon.

 

[Marie Mallory]

Got the Kidney Restore delivery yesterday, back on it tomorrow.

 

[Yvonne Smith]

I have been doing more research on prebiotics, like acacia Kidney Restore, as well as inulin, which can come from the Jerusalem artichoke tuber, as well as agave and several other foods.
While the acacia does give you good prebiotics, it really does not add any flavor to my morning coffee , and I have found that inulin powder not only adds the prebiotic fiber, but also adds a little sweetness to coffee or tea; so I just ordered some inulin powder, also made by the Kidney Restore company (although there are quite a variety of brands of inulin on Amazon).

I still have some of my Chicoraya coffee substitute , and it is made from chicory root, so it also has prebiotic fiber in it. I am thinking that I might still have my morning cup of coffee, but then later in the day, I can have the Chicoraya instead, which has no caffeine and also has more prebiotics for gut health and kidney health.

 

[Don Alaska]

You can also use the inulin in the "Wheat Belly" yogurt when you make it. Isn't that what you usually use @Yvonne Smith ?

 

[Yvonne Smith]

You can also use the inulin in the "Wheat Belly" yogurt when you make it. Isn't that what you usually use @Yvonne Smith ?

I did not remember there being any special yogurt instructions in the Wheat Belly book, just the Super Gut one, @Don Alaska . I looked and this is the only yogurt recipe that i found, so I think it was before he developed the l.Reuteri yogurt idea. I do use the inulin in the Reuteri, and it looks like you can also use the raw potato starch (which Bob’s Red Mill makes). I didn’t notice this recipe before, and it says to culture at 100f to 110 f for up to 36 hours, so it would work in a regular yogurt maker as well as the ones that have temperature control.

 

[Don Alaska]

I did not remember there being any special yogurt instructions in the Wheat Belly book, just the Super Gut one, @Don Alaska . I looked and this is the only yogurt recipe that i found, so I think it was before he developed the l.Reuteri yogurt idea. I do use the inulin in the Reuteri, and it looks like you can also use the raw potato starch (which Bob’s Red Mill makes). I didn’t notice this recipe before, and it says to culture at 100f to 110 f for up to 36 hours, so it would work in a regular yogurt maker as well as the ones that have temperature control.

View attachment 1061

Interesting that you can substitute a starch for a soluble fiber. I am no expert on this @Yvonne Smith.

 

[Yvonne Smith]

Interesting that you can substitute a starch for a soluble fiber. I am no expert on this @Yvonne Smith.

Raw potato is one of the things that we can’t digest, and only the “gut buddies” (to use Dr. Gundry’s nickname for them) can digest it. Cooked potato is all starch and we digest it, but not the raw, it is all resistant starch fiber, and the potato starch is made from raw potato. Acacia is the gum from an acacia tree, which mainly grows in Africa, and it is the prebiotic used in Kidney Restore.
Even though they are all different, they are prebiotics, and a type of fiber source.
Inulin comes from Jerusalem artichokes, which is also a tuber, but it is found in other plants too. It is all just interesting information, and I am learning as I go along.

 

[Jacob Petersheim]

So couldn't you just chew up a few raw potato slices?

 

[Yvonne Smith]

So couldn't you just chew up a few raw potato slices?

Yes, you actually can do that, and one of the books I was reading said that you can munch on raw potato slices if you enjoy them. They are all resistant starch and prebiotic fiber and our body can’t digest them.
I remember my mom letting me do that back when I just a little kid, so I have always enjoyed the taste of a raw potato. But it is not something that most of us snack on or have as part of a meal, so having a carrot stick or other raw veggie also feeds the bacteria. Our body’s digestive system can’t break down cell walls, and it is left for the probiotic bacteria to eat all of that.
From what I was reading, even cows don’t actually digest all that hay and grass, their bacteria does that for them, and provides them with the nutrition from the hay.