MindsetMonday with Jen Hernandez - 11.14.22

<p><em><strong>TwoSistas</strong></em> and its MindsetMonday, November 14, 2022, with <em><strong>Jen Hernandez</strong></em>! &nbsp;Jen is a registered dietitian and a certified specialist in renal nutrition. &nbsp;Jen started her renal nutrition journey working in dialysis. &nbsp;It was there that Jen listened to the fears and regrets from her dialysis patients over and over. &nbsp;They wished they had the information and support earlier in their CKD (chronic kidney disease) journey to prevent dialysis. It was then that Jen founded Plant-Powered Kidneys.</p> <p>We normally go throughout our lives not realizing the importance of our kidneys or even thinking of our kidney health before it’s too late. &nbsp;There are so many outside mitigating factors as we age gracefully such as high blood pressure, diabetes and a whole gamut of other medical conditions that weaken and ultimately lead to CKD.</p> <p>Where do we even begin to understand how to ask questions that we may have never asked our health care providers? &nbsp;This of course came up in conversation as Jen chatted about the different blood tests that are routinely performed but that we as a layperson do not understand. &nbsp;For instance, the GFR rate which is the estimate of the kidney filtration rate.</p> <p>Many of Jen’s clients that she counsels had many routine blood tests in the past which indicate that the GFR was lower than it should be. &nbsp;This is where we need to be proactive; not just with our blood tests but our general health and how and when to ask those questions.</p> <p>Jen’s website offers a plethora of evidence-based blogs for different stages of CKD along with free resources. &nbsp;She also chatted about how to get more nutrients in the body and why many patients that have CKD often need to go on a lower protein diet. &nbsp;(The show notes for this podcast really could be a novel! &nbsp;Please, if you know of anyone who suffers from any stage of CKD, please refer them to this podcast.)</p> <p>Thank you so much Jen! &nbsp;To learn more