The Top Snacks For Anyone With Type 2 Diabetes mellitus

by Armughan Riaz

Food with too much sugar or too excessive a glycemic index can raise your blood sugars, causing a surge of insulin release, which might in time period end in low blood sugar. So let's take a look at snacks that can assist maintain decrease blood sugar levels:


* home made popcorn is low in fat and sugar. Use an air popper to pop 1/four cup of kernels. Add 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder or your favorite flavor of Mrs. Dash salt-free seasoning. This snack has 40 calories, 5.8 grams of carbohydrate, 1.0 grams of fiber, and solely 0.1 gram of sugar


* apples and different fruits are low in energy and provide healthful nutrients. Apples are among the many lowest in sugar. Cheese provides protein to assist keep blood sugars stable and in addition helps with hunger. Reduce a slice of low-fats cheddar into four items and place on apple wedges. One apple wedge with one quarter slice of cheese has 30 calories, 5.three grams of carbohydrates,.8 of fiber, and 3.8 grams of sugar


* mix 8 ounces of dried cranberries or cherries with 8 ounces of pistachio nuts. Nuts are a superb source of protein, which helps to stabilize blood sugar. A one ounce serving has 106 calories, thirteen grams of fats, 31 grams of carbohydrates, 7 grams of protein, and 4 grams of fiber


* combine 1 cup of blueberries with 1/4 cup of walnuts. Walnuts are thought to be good for maintaining normal blood sugar and, like all nuts, are a very good source of protein. A serving of 1/4 cup offers 69 energy, 1 gram of fiber, four grams of sugar, 4 grams of protein, and half a gram of fats


* unfold 1 tablespoon of pure peanut butter onto one stalk of celery. Peanuts are actually a legume, additionally a good source of protein. This straightforward but good snack contains a hundred calories, 2 grams of fiber, 2.5 grams of sugar, 1.5 grams of fat, and four grams of protein. No, celery does not have "unfavorable calories." It is low in energy, but the amount of power required to chew it is just about 10% of the energy it accommodates


* mix 1 cup of sliced carrots with 1/four cups raisins. One quarter of a cup of this snack gives 35 energy, 1 gram of fiber, 6 grams of sugar, and.four grams of protein.

The above snack ideas are simple and shouldn't be too tough to incorporate in your diabetic consuming plan.

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Kidney Health and Nutrition

by Jim Duffy

A diagnosis of kidney disease means more doctor visits, various lab tests, changes in diet, and the likelihood of dialysis or even a kidney transplant in the future, should the disease progress far enough.

Diet and medications can hold this off, perhaps even indefinitely, which shows how very important diet is in maintaining health. Listening to the advice of a nutritionist is supremely important for a kidney patient in any stage of the disease. Sometimes this can slow or even stop the disease from advancing, but in some people, nothing they can do will stop the disease from becoming more serious.

Lab tests will become a constant need - frequent blood and urine samples are just the beginning. Kidney disease that is serious, may even require a port placed into the body so samples can be drawn without the use of needles each time. The port can also be used to introduce medications into the body, but this measure also requires extra patient care or assistance from family members or even a nurse.

Here are a few of the lab tests involved in kidney disease treatment:


- Serum creatinine measures creatinine, a waste product created by muscle activity. Normally, the kidneys remove this from the body, but it may start to back up in the blood vessels in the case of kidney disease patients. This is often one of the first signs of kidney problems.


- GFR or Glomerular Filtration Rate is a general determination of how well your kidneys are functioning. A GFR of less than 30 is a problem that will need the attention of a nephrologist, or kidney specialist. A GFR that is under 15 is a serious problem, indicating dialysis or a kidney transplant will be necessary.


- BUN or Blood Urea Nitrogen is formed when the body breaks down protein, either from food or from regular metabolic processes. The kidneys would normally filter this waste from the body, but when the kidneys start to fail, urea nitrogen levels rise. This can also happen when the patient simply eats too much protein. Too little protein can cause the BUN level to decrease.


- Urine protein is the accumulation of protein in the patient's urine. Some protein is necessary for your body to function - it is a major macronutrient. The body uses protein for vast number of functions, and kidneys do the work of filtering it and its byproducts from the bloodstream. When the kidneys are not working properly, protein starts to collect in the patient's urine. High, consistent and persistent levels of protein in the urine are often another sign of kidney damage or disease.


- Microalbuminuria is a test used on patients who have a high risk of contracting kidney disease, such as those who have high blood pressure or a family history of kidney troubles. This can detect tiny amounts of urine in the bloodstream that most tests will miss.


- Ratio of protein to creatinine is something of a shortcut. Often, a doctor will require a sample of urine (of 24 hours), which can give an accurate measure of how much protein is in the patient's bloodstream during the course of a given day. This test requires a great deal of patient participation because it requires collecting and refrigerating urine to bring to the lab for testing. The doctor can simply measure the protein to creatinine ratio instead, making it easier for patient and doctor.


- Serum albumin is a protein measurement test based on albumin, a vital body protein. The body uses protein from food to create the hormones, amino acids and enzymes that regulate all sorts of body functions. If the blood albumin content is low, it generally means the patient is either receiving too little protein through the diet or too few calories. The human body is not able to store protein from day to day and needs new sources regularly. Lack of blood albumin can cause a number of health problem, including a reduced immune system.


- Normalized protein nitrogen appearance (nPna) is a test used to determine if the patient has enough dietary protein or has too much protein. This test requires blood and urine samples, and sometimes a food log.


- SGA or Subjective Global Assessment may be a request from the nutritionist rather than the nephrologist. This is used to find signs of nutritional irregularities. First, questions are asked about the patient's daily diet, and then a weight check is performed, as well as a check of fat and muscles in the face, arms, hands, shoulders, and legs.


- Hemoglobin is one of the components of blood. It is the part of the red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout the body from the lungs. Low hemoglobin is a condition known as anemia. Increasing iron intake and a certain hormone will treat anemia.


- Hematocrit measures how many blood cells the body is currently making.


- TSAT and serum ferritin measure the amount of iron in the body.


- Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) is caused by an imbalance of phosphorous and calcium. PTH levels that are really high can result in bone disease.


- Calcium is a main component of healthy bones. Several types of kidney disease will leach calcium from the blood, so the levels need to be monitored.


- Phosphorous can be dangerous and weaken bones if the levels are too high. The doctor and nutritionist may have to reduce the patient's amount of this mineral.


- Potassium is another mineral that can cause problems when there is too much consumed. While it is necessary to maintain the muscles, including the heart, an excess will deteriorate the muscles and cause heart irregularities.

Kidney disease patients often need a good source of protein that is low in fat and easily digestible. Profect, a liquid protein supplement from Protica, fits the bill. It is small enough (less than three fluid ounces) to carry easily anywhere, and has only 100 calories. Two servings a day should be plenty for most when supplemented with plant protein sources.

About the Author:

Protica Research (Protica, Inc.) specializes in the development of Capsulized Foods. Protica manufactures Profect, IsoMetric, Pediagro, Fruitasia and over 100 other brands, including Medicare-approved, whey protein liquid for dialysis patients. You can learn more at Protica Research - Copyright

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Protein and the Prevention/Treatment of Kidney Disease

Protein and the Prevention/Treatment of Kidney Disease

by Jim Duffy

Our kidneys play an important role in our health, and it is essential that we do everything possible to keep our kidneys healthy so that they can continue doing their job, the main one being to filter waste and fluids from the bloodstream. Millions of Americans are suffering from kidney disease, which can often be fatal if not treated properly or in a timely manner.

The kidneys are small organs, measuring just four inches in length and weighing less than one pound. There are many diseases that affect the kidneys, including chronic kidney disease (CKD), which affects more than 25 million Americans. Over time, this is a condition that can lead to kidney failure, and in some cases, death.

Another condition that involves the kidneys includes kidney stones, which can be caused by such conditions as gout. Other conditions that can cause kidney stones are hypercalcuria, a buildup of calcium in the body, and cystinuria and hyperoxaluria, both inherited metabolic conditions. One thing that everyone can do to help prevent and treat a number of kidney conditions is by eating a healthy, well-balanced diet that has the right amount of protein.

How to Know How Much is Enough Protein

According to the American Heart Association, the average adult needs to have protein make up about 35% of their daily caloric intake. For those who are unsure of how much that should be, they can find out by consulting their physicians. Remember, although protein is necessary, it is also not healthy to get too much protein either. As a rule, most adults need to have approximately .8 grams of protein per each kilogram of their body weight. The easiest way to figure out exactly how much protein is needed by an individual is to take that person's weight in pounds, multiply it by 2.2, and then multiply by one of the following numbers:


- .4 for those with a sedentary lifestyle


- .5 to .8 for those who are moderately active


- .8 to 1 for those who are very active

Getting the Protein You Need

It is not all that difficult to find ways to get sufficient protein in our diets. There are many delicious dietary sources of protein, which also provide loads of vitamins, minerals and nutrients that our bodies need. It is important that everyone, including patients with kidney disease, have the right amount of protein in their diets. After all, protein is necessary for survival, but too much protein can have ill effects on the body. It is extremely important that everyone, especially those who are suffering from kidney disease, consult a physician before beginning any diet plan to make sure that their diet will provide the proper nutrients, including the protein that they need.

It is easy to get plenty of protein through a healthy, well-balanced diet. Some delicious sources of protein include lean red meat, fish, poultry, eggs, nuts, whole grains, beans and milk and milk products, just to name a few. Unfortunately, for whatever reasons, many people, including patients with kidney disease, are not getting enough protein in their diets. But this can be easily corrected by using protein supplements, which also provide other necessary vitamins and nutrients.

Sources of Protein for Supplements


Whey: This is an all-natural protein. It is actually a milk derivative, a byproduct from the cheese-making process. In fact, some of the protein supplements on the market are made directly from milk. Whey is a complete protein because it contains all 22 of the essential and non-essential amino acids.


Casein: This is another popular type of protein supplement, although it takes longer to digest than whey. Casein is a protein supplement that is okay for lactose intolerant people to use, as long as they make sure that it has not been combined with a milk product. People who are allergic to milk should avoid casein and try another type of protein, such as rice or soy.


Soy: Soy is also a terrific choice for people with allergies, vegetarians and those who are lactose intolerant. Soy is another complete protein and contains no saturated fats or cholesterol. Soy is low on the glycemic index, so it will not cause dramatic rises in blood glucose levels.


Rice: Here is another great source of protein supplements for vegetarians and people who are lactose intolerant. Rice protein is a hypoallergenic protein, and it is terrific for people with allergies. Rice protein is gluten-free and is low in fat and carbohydrates, so it is great for dieters too. It is usually an inexpensive type of protein supplement, and because it is essentially flavorless, it can be used for shakes, smoothies and in recipes without changing the taste.

Types of Protein Supplements

One of the more popular protein supplements on the market today, perhaps because it is low in calories, is Profect, by Protica. This is a small, 2.9 fluid ounce shot of protein which only contains 100 calories. In addition to providing 25 grams of protein per serving, Profect also provides 100% of the daily recommended amount of vitamin C as well as 10% of the recommended amount of B complex vitamins. And as an added bonus, Profect is low in fat and carbohydrates, making it an excellent choice for those on restricted diets. Profect comes in a variety of delicious flavors, including Blue Raspberry, Passion Fruit, Grapefruit-Mango and Orange-Pineapple.

Some other popular protein supplements include liquid supplements and protein powders.

Protein Powders - Protein powders are the most versatile form of protein supplement and can be used in a number of delicious shakes and smoothies, as well as be added to many favorite recipes. Protein powders can be used as meal replacements, and in addition to coming in unflavored varieties which are great for cooking, great drinks can be made with the chocolate, vanilla, berry and fruit punch flavored powders.

Liquid Protein - Liquid protein can be purchased to mix into drinks and meals, or they are also available in pre-mixed, ready-to-drink forms that are convenient and easy to carry. Many people, including patients with kidney failure, use liquid protein supplements as meal replacements. Because most liquid protein supplements are made from milk-based proteins, such as whey and casein, it is recommended that those who are lactose intolerant or are allergic to milk and milk products look for supplements made with soy, rice or egg instead.

These and other protein supplements will help to make sure that everyone, including patients with kidney conditions, are getting the amount of protein that they need in order to stay healthy.

About the Author:

Protica Research (Protica, Inc.) specializes in the development of Capsulized Foods. Protica manufactures Profect, IsoMetric, Pediagro, Fruitasia and over 100 other brands, including Medicare-approved, whey protein drinks for renal care patients. You can learn more at Protica Research - Copyright

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