Kidney Nutrition Nuggets

What to do Before Your Next Lab Draw

Lab day can be nerve-racking when managing chronic kidney disease. When so much weight is placed on your eGFR, creatinine, potassium, and other kidney labs, it’s natural

Food is Not Medicine

"Food is medicine," is one of the most common phrases you'll hear in the nutrition world. But after a chronic kidney disease diagnosis, having this belief around nutritio

The Relationship Between Nutrition and eGFR Improvements

What is the relationship between nutrition and eGFR improvement? If chronic kidney disease is considered irreversible, how is it possible for some people to see their eG

Ep. 17 - Are Food Lists Holding You Back?

If you feel like you're working so hard to eat for your kidneys but still aren't gaining momentum, this episode is for you. Many people with chronic kidney disease rely

Ep 16 - The Truth About Weight Loss and Kidney Health

In this episode of Kidney Nutrition Nuggets, Summer shares her conversation from the Kidney Confidence Today Summit — one that quickly became a fan favorite among partici

Ep. 15 - The (Bad?) Banana

Is the banana really that bad? You’ve probably heard that it’s full of sugar, spikes blood sugar, or should be avoided if you have CKD or diabetes. In this short and swee

Ep. 14 - Intuitive Eating Meets CKD Nutrition

In this episode, we dive into the concept of intuitive eating and how it can work alongside the dietary needs of chronic kidney disease (CKD). If you've ever found yourse

Ep. 13 - Your CKD Travel Nutrition Blueprint

Traveling with chronic kidney disease can feel overwhelming but it doesn’t have to be. In this episode of Kidney Nutrition Nuggets, I break down how to feel confident and

Ep. 12 - Fire Up that Grill! Kidney-Friendly Summertime Cooking

Summer is here, and that means it’s time to fire up the grill! But living with chronic kidney disease might have you thinking, "What can I grill?'"  In this episode, I'm

Episode 11: Is Primal Hunger Sabotaging Your Progress?

Have you ever found yourself starving by the end of the day, only to raid the kitchen and eat whatever’s fast, then feel frustrated that your day’s progress “went out the

Episode 10: How to Navigate CKD & Kidney Stones (with guest Melanie Betz, MS, RD)

In today’s episode of Kidney Nutrition Nuggets, I’m joined by renal dietitian and kidney stone nutrition expert Melanie Betz, MS, RD, CSR, FAND, FNKF. Together, we’re exp

Episode 9: My 5-Step Meal Planning Framework

Episode Summary: In this episode, Summer Van Arsdale, registered dietitian and founder of The Kidney Nutrition Coach, invites you into the heart of her 5-step framework f

Episode 8: Blood Pressure & The Power of ACEs and ARBs with Dr. Katie Myers

May is High Blood Pressure Awareness Month, and this episode is all about understanding how medications like ACEs and ARBs can support both blood pressure control and pro

Episode 7: How to lower blood pressure through diet (Part 2)

In this second part of our blood pressure management series, we dive into the essential minerals and nutrients, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and fiber, and their vital

Episode 6: How to lower blood pressure through diet (Part 1)

In this episode, I'll dive into the fundamentals of blood pressure and explore how it affects kidney health. I'll discuss what blood pressure is, the importance of settin

Episode 5: Protein, Nitrogen, and Your Kidneys

In this episode of Kidney Nutrition Nuggets, we’re diving into the powerful topic of plant proteins and their impact on kidney health. Whether you’ve recently been diagn

Episode 4: Living Kidney Donation: The Gift of Life (with guest Jill Green, PhD)

April is National Donate Life Month, and in this special episode, we’re shining a light on the powerful impact of living kidney donation. Summer sits down with Jill Green

Episode 3: What Your Kidneys Really Do

Ever wondered what exactly your kidneys are up to all day? Spoiler alert—it’s way more than just filtering your blood! In today’s episode, we dive into the fascinating a

Episode 2: My Dad's Journey with Chronic Illness: And why I became a dietitian.

In this episode, I talk with one of the most important people in my life—my dad—to share his personal journey with chronic illness. From his diabetes diagnosis to the lif

Episode 1: Welcome to Kidney Nutrition Nuggets!

Welcome to the very first episode of Kidney Nutrition Nuggets! I’m your host, Summer Van Arsdale, a registered dietitian and Certified Specialist in Renal Nutrition. In t