World Vegetarian Day (Oct 1), 
If you have chronic kidney disease (CKD) a vegetarian diet may help protect your kidneys and delay progression to (ESRD).
Benefits of vegetarian diets include:
- Lower protein intake, resulting in less kidney stress and decreased protein waste build-upÂ
- Lower blood pressure, which reduces pressure in the kidneys
- Decreased cholesterol, especially LDL, the cholesterol that contributes to artery narrowing, including the renal arteries
- Better heart health with less risk of plaque build-up
- Lower cancer risk related to less saturated fat and eating more grains, fruits and vegetables
- Lower food costs (have you seen the price of steak or roast lately?)
If you decide to try a vegetarian eating plan but are unsure where to start, try adding meatless meals several times a week. Read articles such as  written for Â鶹Դ´.com by Â鶹Դ´ renal dietitian Chhaya Patel or . Check out resources such as  from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Vegetaian Practice Group.
Find recipes online, purchase a vegetarian cookbook (for quick and easy recipes try ), or subscribe to a vegetarian magazine such as my favorite, . Many recipes can be modified for a kidney diet. There are a few vegetarian books specific for kidney disease such as  by Joan Brookhyser Hogan, RD.
Many of these resources provide information on , , and –all concerns for a kidney diet. Even for people on dialysis it is possible to incorporate meatless meals or even a vegetarian diet with guidance from your renal dietitian.
In addition to saving kidney function, you may find that a vegetarian diet also helps with your energy level– and that improves your quality of life!
