When following a strict renal diet, everything you put in your mouth has to be monitored. The foods you eat greatly affect your health and body function, especially when it comes to sodium content. So why not start your day off right with a low salt breakfast?
On a renal diet, sodium has to be monitored to maintain a healthy fluid balance. Too much sodium can cause your body to retain fluids. Fluid retention can be very uncomfortable and can lead to a condition called edema, which is severe swelling of the limbs. Fluid retention can increase your heart rate, which in turn elevates your blood pressure. In extreme cases, fluid retention can even lead to heart failure.
With all of that in mind, it’s no wonder that sodium plays such an integral part in renal diets.
Often, breakfast can be the hardest meal of the day to fit into a diet meal plan. Sometimes you just don’t have the time to cook a complicated breakfast, and honestly, sometimes you just don’t want to.
Here are some low salt breakfast options for your renal diet:
Whole Grains
The whole point of eating breakfast in the first place is to fill yourself up and give yourself energy to face the day. Whole grains fill you up and keep you full, providing you with the necessary fuel to get you through to your next meal.
Even better, these low sodium options taste great without any added salt. Look for steel cut oats or bran cereal. While these options are low sodium, they still will tally up at about 200-250mg of sodium to your day so they will still be an allotment. Pay attention to serving sizes. Dress them up with a sliced apple or some blueberries for a healthy burst of flavor. If you like toast, look for low-sodium whole wheat bread in your grocery store.
Fruit
Most fruits are naturally low sodium. Remember to stick to fresh always and never canned. Apples, cherries, blueberries, blackberries and cranberries are all delicious low sodium foods and can make any meal or snack sweet.
Omelets
Eggs are a high protein, low sodium option for breakfast. Add some fresh vegetables and maybe some shredded chicken breast left over from dinner and you’ve got yourself a delicious and low sodium start to the day.
Pancakes
Just because you’re on a low sodium diet, doesn’t mean you can’t eat any of the foods you love. There are low sodium options for store bought pancake mixes, or you can make it yourself. Try this recipe for your next Saturday morning pancake breakfast: One cup of flour, one tablespoon baking powder, one tablespoon sugar, one egg, one cup milk, and ¼ teaspoon salt substitute. Mix it all together and pour small amounts onto a griddle. Cook until golden brown on both sides, and enjoy with pure maple syrup which is low sodium.
Being on a low sodium diet doesn’t mean giving up all the foods you love. With a few modifications, you can start your day with a healthy, balanced, and delicious low sodium breakfast.
For other kidney friendly recipes, check out The Kidney Friendly Diet Cookbook on Amazon
Also published on Medium.
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