The Vegetarian Diet For Kidney Disease Treatment

Vegetarian Journal, May-June, 2005 by Reed Mangels

THE VEGETARIAN DIET FOR KIDNEY DISEASE TREATMENT By Joan Brookhyser, RD, CSR, CD

Many dietitians and consumers have questions about the use of vegetarian diets in kidney disease. Joan Brookhyser has the credentials to address these questions. She has worked as a clinical dietitian for more than 25 years and is a Board Certified Renal Nutrition Specialist. Joan has used her experience and knowledge to create a book that explains how vegetarian diets can be used to treat kidney disease. When she began her career, she says, vegetarians who developed kidney disease were encouraged to eat meat. In the past 10 years, new research has changed that way of thinking. Now, we know that people with kidney disease can successfully follow a vegetarian diet. In addition, many people will experience significant health benefits.

The Vegetarian Diet for Kidney Disease Treatment includes instructions for creating a vegetarian diet plan that can be modified depending on kidney function. Additional chapters address co-existing diseases, use of herbal supplements, and common problems. The book concludes with recipes and meal plans for several different levels of protein restriction.

The Vegetarian Diet for Kidney Disease Treatment is not a do-it-yourself guide. Joan clearly states that it should be used in conjunction with consultation with a registered dietitian. This book would be a great gift for your favorite dietitian or for anyone who has kidney disease (with greater than 30 percent kidney function or 15 percent if on dialysis).

The Vegetarian Diet for Kidney Disease Treatment (ISBN 1-4184-3287-3)is published by AuthorHouse. The hard copy is 127 pages and retails for $16.75. You may purchase the book through the publisher's website, <www.authorhouse.com >, or from some online retailers. AuthorHouse also offers an e-book version far $3.95.