Medically Restricted Diet

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  • mavisclump
    mavisclump Posts: 19 Member
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    Thank you everyone!
  • Erfw7471
    Erfw7471 Posts: 242 Member
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    Food is carb/protein/fat and fiber. It sounds like you need a high fiber diet as that is the only thing you did not list that you said needed to be low. That would be a whole foods plant based diet. Aim for 30 to 50+ grams of fiber per day with no added oil or salt and nothing refined.

    Fiber is included in carbohydrate count, it isn't it's own macronutrient. 30-50 grams of fiber would most likely make the total carb count on the higher side.

    OP, this is so similar to what my mom has to eat due to multiple health issues. Her primary diet is lean proteins (get a maximum amount from your doc/dietician, this is crucial for kidney disease); fats such as olive oil, olives, & coconut oil; nuts; & avocado; and fruits & vegetables as her primary source of carbohydrates (not so much bread & rice & pasta). She does eat eggs as well, but her docs are good with that.

    OP, you mentioned health issues but do you also have excess weight to lose as well?
  • sllm1
    sllm1 Posts: 2,114 Member
    edited April 2017
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    Carbs, fat, and protein are all of the macros. Does this mean you can't eat? Yes, you are right to be frustrated, because every food is made up of these three things.

    Looks like you need more information in order to prioritize.
  • cmtigger
    cmtigger Posts: 1,450 Member
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    I think the idea of a registered dietitian is really a good one. I have to eat a form of a kidney diet for kidney stones, and I worry about how I will eat if the family history of diabetes happens to me. Both diets have some things that contradict each other.

    The one thing about the kidney diet is that the protein limit applies mainly to animal (meat) protein, so dairy protein is okay.
  • CharlieBeansmomTracey
    CharlieBeansmomTracey Posts: 7,682 Member
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    cmtigger wrote: »
    I think the idea of a registered dietitian is really a good one. I have to eat a form of a kidney diet for kidney stones, and I worry about how I will eat if the family history of diabetes happens to me. Both diets have some things that contradict each other.

    The one thing about the kidney diet is that the protein limit applies mainly to animal (meat) protein, so dairy protein is okay.

    one would think protein is protein
  • cmtigger
    cmtigger Posts: 1,450 Member
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    cmtigger wrote: »
    I think the idea of a registered dietitian is really a good one. I have to eat a form of a kidney diet for kidney stones, and I worry about how I will eat if the family history of diabetes happens to me. Both diets have some things that contradict each other.

    The one thing about the kidney diet is that the protein limit applies mainly to animal (meat) protein, so dairy protein is okay.

    one would think protein is protein

    One would think. But it's not what the studies have shown.
  • CharlieBeansmomTracey
    CharlieBeansmomTracey Posts: 7,682 Member
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    cmtigger wrote: »
    cmtigger wrote: »
    I think the idea of a registered dietitian is really a good one. I have to eat a form of a kidney diet for kidney stones, and I worry about how I will eat if the family history of diabetes happens to me. Both diets have some things that contradict each other.

    The one thing about the kidney diet is that the protein limit applies mainly to animal (meat) protein, so dairy protein is okay.

    one would think protein is protein

    One would think. But it's not what the studies have shown.

    animal products have the amino acids where the other protein products do not,that may be the difference
  • Daddy78230
    Daddy78230 Posts: 125 Member
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    mavisclump wrote: »
    I recently learned about some health issues that now require me to eat a diet that is low in calories, carbs, fat, sodium, and protein. I feel so overwhelmed by this and have had no luck with finding options to create a collection of recipes and meal plans. Any ideas?


    If your doctor is not a Nephrologist (kidney specialist) I think you should seriously consider seeing one request a referral. Kidney problems can be serious issue.
  • sugarlemonpie
    sugarlemonpie Posts: 311 Member
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    You got this! It basically just sounds like eat a lot of fruits and vegetables with little/lean meats and low carb. That's basically what I try to do most meals, soups are wonderful and so are veggie stews. Veggie omelettes and frittatas are also great because eggs have protein but not a ton of it compared to meats. Best of luck, it will be worth it when you feel better!
  • deannalfisher
    deannalfisher Posts: 5,600 Member
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    You got this! It basically just sounds like eat a lot of fruits and vegetables with little/lean meats and low carb. That's basically what I try to do most meals, soups are wonderful and so are veggie stews. Veggie omelettes and frittatas are also great because eggs have protein but not a ton of it compared to meats. Best of luck, it will be worth it when you feel better!

    but lots of fruits and vegetables would be high carb...so that advice makes no sense...
  • kbmnurse
    kbmnurse Posts: 2,484 Member
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    Talk to a Registered Dietician. See if your health plan offers that service many do these days.
  • xmarye
    xmarye Posts: 385 Member
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    jgnatca wrote: »
    My guess is kidneys?

    It's impossible to go low on all three macros. It's like trying to eat 10% carbs, 10% fats, 10% protein. What makes up the 70% left over?

    You will need specifics on what to avoid.

    Percentages are just that, percentages. We have to be talking about the total quantity here. I think OP is just confused by the fact that low calories reduce the overall amount of macros. It just doesn't make sense otherwise.

    And if we're talking about a low calorie diet, I would doubt that her doctor/dietitian really suggests something much lower then her BMR or 1200cals so really I wouldn't worry too much about it.

    But then again she needs to ask her doctor for more details, otherwise all we can do is speculate.

    Good luck and I hope you get better soon! There is a lot of supportive people on here to help you out once you determine what kind of diet your condition requires you eat. :)
  • Penthesilea514
    Penthesilea514 Posts: 1,189 Member
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    I just wanted to chime in and say I am sorry you are going through this, I hope that a dietician and your doctor can help. I have had a number of friends over the years with medical issues that restrict certain food groups/nutrients. You are definitely not alone, it is very overwhelming at first, but MFP can be a very supportive community.

    Good luck!
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
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    My mom who was on dialysis for years came up with a few simple meals that satisfied all her restrictions. It was boring but manageable.
  • RachelElser
    RachelElser Posts: 1,049 Member
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    didn't your doctor set you up with a nutritionist?!? Shame on him/her for not! I would go to a nutritionist to set up an eating plan.
  • cmtigger
    cmtigger Posts: 1,450 Member
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    cmtigger wrote: »
    cmtigger wrote: »
    I think the idea of a registered dietitian is really a good one. I have to eat a form of a kidney diet for kidney stones, and I worry about how I will eat if the family history of diabetes happens to me. Both diets have some things that contradict each other.

    The one thing about the kidney diet is that the protein limit applies mainly to animal (meat) protein, so dairy protein is okay.

    one would think protein is protein

    One would think. But it's not what the studies have shown.

    animal products have the amino acids where the other protein products do not,that may be the difference

    It may be another compound in meat. I should put that all proteins need to be limited, but meat the most.
  • Penthesilea514
    Penthesilea514 Posts: 1,189 Member
    edited April 2017
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    cmtigger wrote: »
    cmtigger wrote: »
    cmtigger wrote: »
    I think the idea of a registered dietitian is really a good one. I have to eat a form of a kidney diet for kidney stones, and I worry about how I will eat if the family history of diabetes happens to me. Both diets have some things that contradict each other.

    The one thing about the kidney diet is that the protein limit applies mainly to animal (meat) protein, so dairy protein is okay.

    one would think protein is protein

    One would think. But it's not what the studies have shown.

    animal products have the amino acids where the other protein products do not,that may be the difference

    It may be another compound in meat. I should put that all proteins need to be limited, but meat the most.

    I have a friend who was diagnosed with alpha gal syndrome- essentially, a red meat allergy. So there are other compounds beyond the protein in animal products that can cause issues for some people.
  • sammyjo0218
    sammyjo0218 Posts: 108 Member
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    Most likely it'll be all around fruit, veggies, beans, cereals, some lean meat. Doctors don't really tell you what you need to do for nutrition because of their medical field but they should be able to refer you to a dietitian. Good luck!
  • mavisclump
    mavisclump Posts: 19 Member
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    Erfw7471 wrote: »
    Food is carb/protein/fat and fiber. It sounds like you need a high fiber diet as that is the only thing you did not list that you said needed to be low. That would be a whole foods plant based diet. Aim for 30 to 50+ grams of fiber per day with no added oil or salt and nothing refined.

    Fiber is included in carbohydrate count, it isn't it's own macronutrient. 30-50 grams of fiber would most likely make the total carb count on the higher side.

    OP, this is so similar to what my mom has to eat due to multiple health issues. Her primary diet is lean proteins (get a maximum amount from your doc/dietician, this is crucial for kidney disease); fats such as olive oil, olives, & coconut oil; nuts; & avocado; and fruits & vegetables as her primary source of carbohydrates (not so much bread & rice & pasta). She does eat eggs as well, but her docs are good with that.

    OP, you mentioned health issues but do you also have excess weight to lose as well?

    Yes, and I have been working on it for about 6 weeks. The exercise part isn't too hard; I've been able to do that for 33-34 days, but the learning curve on the nutrition part is huge. I seem to go over on every macro every week, despite checking all labels, rejecting all foods that have high anything in them, and strict portion control. I also get confused about how the total versus net calories work and how to burn enough calories each day to make 7000 a week (to lose 2lbs a week). So, if I have a 1200 calorie per day limit, and I burn 350 on the treadmill before work, my net cals are 1550, which I have read that I should not eat back bc it negates the purpose of the 1200 limit, i.e. they nearly cancel each other out, if that makes sense. So it looks like I am only burning approx 2500-3000 calories a week, and I will remain a meatball with all of these numbers. Then on top of it, I have a bunch of things to lower the amounts of or eliminate them altogether. Maybe a vegetarian diet? Btw, I massively hate cooking.