is fresh pumpkin good for dogs with kidney disease
Is Pumpkin Bad For Dogs With Kidney Disease
There are a few things to consider when deciding if pumpkin is bad for dogs with kidney disease. The first is the sugar content in pumpkin. While pumpkin is naturally high in sugar canned pumpkin has more sugar than fresh pumpkin.
This can be detrimental to dogs with kidney disease because they may not be able to process the sugar properly. The second is the fiber content in pumpkin. Pumpkin is a good source of fiber but too much fiber can be hard on a dogs kidneys.
The third is the fat content in pumpkin. Pumpkin is a fatty food and while some fat is necessary for a dogs diet too much fat can be hard on a dogs kidneys.So is pumpkin bad for dogs with kidney disease? The answer is maybe.
It depends on the individual dog and the severity of their kidney disease. If you are unsure it is always best to consult with your veterinarian.
Is pumpkin bad for dogs with kidney disease?
Answer 1: No pumpkin is not bad for dogs with kidney disease.
In fact it can be beneficial as it is a good source of fiber and helps to regulate digestion.
What are the benefits of pumpkin for dogs with kidney disease?
Answer 2: Pumpkin is a good source of fiber and helps to regulate digestion.
It can also be helpful in maintaining a healthy weight.
Can pumpkin help dogs with kidney disease?
Answer 3: Yes pumpkin can help dogs with kidney disease.
Pumpkin is a good source of fiber and helps to regulate digestion.
It can also be helpful in maintaining a healthy weight.
Is pumpkin safe for dogs with kidney disease?
Answer 4: Yes pumpkin is safe for dogs with kidney disease.
Pumpkin is a good source of fiber and helps to regulate digestion.
It can also be helpful in maintaining a healthy weight.
How can pumpkin help dogs with kidney disease?
Answer 5: Pumpkin is a good source of fiber and helps to regulate digestion.
It can also be helpful in maintaining a healthy weight.
What is the best way to feed pumpkin to a dog with kidney disease?
Answer 6: The best way to feed pumpkin to a dog with kidney disease is to mix it with their regular food.
How much pumpkin should I feed my dog with kidney disease?
Answer 7: The amount of pumpkin you should feed your dog with kidney disease will depend on their size and weight.
A general rule of thumb is to feed them 1-2 tablespoons per day.
Will feeding my dog pumpkin cause them to gain weight?
Answer 8: No feeding your dog pumpkin will not cause them to gain weight.
In fact it can be helpful in maintaining a healthy weight.
Is pumpkin good for dogs with kidney disease?
Answer 9: Yes pumpkin is good for dogs with kidney disease.
Pumpkin is a good source of fiber and helps to regulate digestion.
It can also be helpful in maintaining a healthy weight.
What other benefits does pumpkin have for dogs?
Answer 10: Pumpkin is also a good source of antioxidants and vitamins A and C.
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Potassium in Pumpkin: Can I Have Pumpkin if I Have Kidney Disease?
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Pumpkin Fall season is here! But is pumpkin safe to eat if you have chronic kidney disease? What about the potassium in pumpkin? Learn more about fitting pumpkin into a renal diet here.
If youve been to the grocery store lately, youve probably seen pumpkin-flavored items in every aisle, corner, and crevice of the store. Coffee, yogurt, bread, candles, toilet paper, (well I havent seen the last one but it wouldnt surprise me)!
And while these types of pumpkin-spiked goodies are great, sometimes theres no beating a good pumpkin pie.
Nutrition Facts for Pumpkin
Pumpkin is a type of winter squash. It provides vitamin A and potassium. One cup cooked from fresh pumpkin provides 561 mg potassium.
However, canned pumpkin provides 505 mg potassium per cup!
One of the most amazing things is that pumpkin is a great high-fiber food, with approximately 7 grams of fiber per cup. Thats more than 20% of the recommended intake!
By following a high-fiber diet, you will likely have healthier bowel movements. A healthy gut with regular bowel movements is something that helps prevent high potassium in the blood.
Pumpkin is traditionally only available fresh during the fall months, hence the pumpkin patches galore that pop up. The canned variety, however, is available year round!
Pumpkin Pie & Potassium
So if pumpkin is high in potassium, what about pumpkin pie?
One slice of commercially prepared pumpkin pie (weight of 133 grams) has 222 milligrams of potassium. This does qualify as a high potassium food.
If its a homemade pie using canned pumpkin pie mix, the mix itself will provide 373 milligrams of potassium per cup.
There are other pies that can be more fitting for the renal diet, like apple pie, cherry pie, and blueberry pie.
Low Potassium Pumpkin Pie
A colleague of mine at The Kidney RD has created a low potassium pumpkin pie alternative using a secret ingredient.
Weve recommended this to clients ourselves that have given it rave reviews. Be sure to check it out if youre looking for a kidney-friendly pumpkin pie recipe.
Since pumpkin is considered a high potassium food, is it bad for my kidneys?
Stage 3 Kidney Disease and earlier
Potassium is generally not restricted for those with earlier stages of kidney disease. The renal diet is more focused on getting enough nutrients then to preserve kidney function.
Read our stage 3 guide here!
Stage 4 and 5 Kidney Disease (late stages)
While many people need more potassium, those with late-stages 4-5 chronic kidney disease may need to restrict potassium.
This restriction may be anywhere from 2,000 to 4,000 milligrams per day. This is determined by your nephrologist or (ideally) your dietitian.
That being said, even pumpkins can be included in the late-stage renal diet. By treating potassium like an allowance, one can budget their potassium to be used with certain higher potassium foods they prefer.
Read our comprehensive guide to stage 4 CKD here.
Read our stage 5 guide for CKD and the renal diet here.
Dialysis Diet and Potassium
A recommendation of 2,000-3,000 milligrams per day is generally needed for those with end-stage kidney failure on in-center hemodialysis. Home hemodialysis may have similar guidelines or encourage more potassium depending on how often you dialyze.
However, potassium is often encouraged for peritoneal dialysis. It is still individualized for each person and it all depends on your lab values and doctors order.
If your doctor or dietitian has told you to limit potassium, pumpkin may be something you may need to limit. That still doesnt mean you cant include it in your diet, though.
Tips to include pumpkin in a renal diet
Interested in adding pumpkin to your diet, but not sure how? Weve got tips on adding in pumpkin without all the potassium here!
Use canned pumpkin in small amounts
As we said earlier, a fresh cooked or canned pumpkin is high in potassium if you use a lot of it. But if you only use a tablespoon or two, the potassium wont be very high.
One tablespoon of canned pumpkin has just 32 grams of potassium!
By stirring in just 1-2 tablespoons of canned pumpkin into a meal, a significant amount of potassium wont be added. But theres a significant amount of flavor.
Use a pumpkin pie spice blend
Making pancakes, muffins, or cake? Add one or two tablespoons of canned pumpkin into the mix for the pumpkin flavor. And dont forget the low-potassium pumpkin pie spice blend!
Try pumpkin-spice flavored coffee and creamers
There are some great kidney-friendly coffee creamers out there that will give a kick of pumpkin spice love. Be sure to check for added phosphorus on the label.
Try new recipes!
Weve got some more recipes for a renal diet right here for you that include pumpkin. We also include nutrition information because that can be an important part of a renal diet.
P.S. Did you know we have more meal plans available on our website for sale? Click here to check them out!
Summary
If you are a die-hard pumpkin fan, including pumpkin in the renal diet is possible!
Both canned and fresh, cooked pumpkin are each considered high potassium foods in that a cup of either provides over 500 milligrams of potassium.
But if you choose to use it to flavor your foods with just 1-2 tablespoons, youll be adding an incredibly small amount of potassium.
Try mixing into your meals and recipes to give a pumpkin flavor without the potassium. Be sure to use a pumpkin pie spice blend to get more flavor in it too without the sodium and sugar.
How do you like to add pumpkin to your renal diet? Share with below!
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Jen Hernandez is a registered dietitian and board-certified specialist in renal nutrition. She has nearly a decade of experience with kidney disease patients in all stages - from stage 1 through kidney transplant. Jen writes on the blog of Plant-Powered Kidneys to help reach and teach more kidney patients about how they can enjoy more foods in a plant-based diet while protecting kidney health.
Kidney Diet Tips
Kidney Diet Tips: Pumpkin and Kidney Diets
Posted September 19, 2013 in
Tips,
Tags:
Kidney Diet,
nutrients in pumpkin,
Potassium,
potassium in pumpkin,
pumpkin,
pumpkin pie filling,
pumpkin seedsby Sara Colman, RDN, CDCES.
Yesterday a farmer friend delivered a fresh pumpkin to my moms front porch. Yes, its that time of the year the beginning of fall harvest, cooler evenings, and soon-to-be leaves turning vibrant colors in celebration of another year passing.
As we were discussing what to do with the pumpkin, the question came up How does pumpkin fit into a diet for stage 3 CKD? To answer, Ive gathered some kidney diet tips facts and figures on pumpkin to share with you.
- Pumpkin is a great source of beta-carotene (precursor to vitamin A), and potassium. It is a good source of fiber and iron. One-half cup of fresh boiled, mashed, pumpkin contains 25 calories, 1 g protein, 5 g carbohydrate, 0 g fat, 1 mg sodium, 37 mg phosphorus, 280 mg potassium and 1.3 g fiber.
- Since potassiumcontent is high, people on hemodialysis and others with high potassium levels or prescribed a low potassium diet should limit pumpkin.
- To reduce potassium in fresh pumpkin, as well as potatoes and winter squash, cut into small pieces and soak in a large pot of warm water to 2 hours or longer. An alternative is to boil the small pumpkin pieces for 10 minutes, drain and add fresh water, then boil until cooked. Potassium is usually reduced by 1/3 to of the original amount.
- Canned pumpkin puree is similar to fresh cooked pumpkin in potassium content, with 250 mg per cup, and most brands do not contain added sodium. In comparison, cup pumpkin pie filling contains 280 mg sodium, 186 mg potassium and 62 mg phosphorus. The pie filling has added salt, sugar, and spices such as allspice, nutmeg and cinnamon.
- Prepared, frozen pumpkin pie contains around 350 mg sodium, 250 mg potassium and 100 mg phosphorus for 1/6thof a 9-inch pie.
- Pumpkin seed kernels are not kidney-friendly: 2 tablespoons contain 228 mg potassium and 332 mg phosphorus. If roasted with salt the sodium goes from 5 mg up to 160 mg.
Pumpkin is a healthy choice for kidney patients in earlier stages of CKD who do not require a potassium restriction. Fresh or low-sodium canned pumpkin puree is the best choice. For patients on a low potassium diet, pumpkin can be included in small amounts. For best results, stick to recipes modified for a kidney-friendly diet to keep potassium, phosphorus and sodium intake in check.
So what can you do with a fresh pumpkin? Cut it up and cook to make pumpkin pureeconsider canning your own pumpkinto use throughout the fall holidays. Make a pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread or homemade pumpkin soup. If you had rather, you can always carve your pumpkin it onto a Jack-o-lantern.
Enjoy the following kidney-friendly pumpkin recipes from DaVita.com:
Easy Pumpkin Cheesecake
Frost on the Pumpkin Pie
Pioneer Pumpkin Bread
Pumpkin Bread
