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1. I can't have salt. Your food has too much salt in it. I see 940 milligrams on the label!
Our food is designed to meet the Step II requirements of the American Heart Association which limits sodium to 2400 milligrams per day. That means if you ate two LifeSpring meals per day, plus a normal low sodium breakfast (cereal, milk, toast, fruit, and fruit juice), plus any other foods such as salads with low sodium dressing, rolls, fruits, vegetables, etc., your sodium intake for the day would be well within the 2400 mg limit. Remember, these are meals, and therefore provide most of your calories. So when you look at the 940 milligrams of sodium, you need to think about the amount of calories that meal is providing you.
Keep in mind that salt is "sodium-chloride," and that the element that needs to be controlled is sodium. Sodium attracts water into the bloodstream. Extra water elevates pressure (just like turning a garden hose on full force) in salt-sensitive individuals, contributing to high blood pressure.
The average American consumes between 5,000 and 10,000 mg of sodium daily mostly from fast and convenience foods.
2. The doctor says I have sugar in my blood. Can I eat your foods?
We all have sugar in our blood-our bodies run on it. Glucose (sugar) is the primary form of fuel for the central nervous system (our brains are part of this), and for other tissues including muscles. Glucose in blood comes from digestion of carbohydrates in a meal. These carbohydrates can be in the form of complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, cereals, breads, pastas, potatoes and rice, as well as simple sugars such as honey, sucrose, and sweeteners in pies cakes and cookies. When you eat carbohydrates, they digest and head out to the bloodstream to be carried to cells that need them for fuel. When you have too much sugar in your blood, you have either insulin resistance, or diabetes. Human bodies are happiest at a level of glucose that is between 70 and 110 mg/dl. Diabetes is diagnosed when a person has a fasting blood sugar (no food 8 hours before the blood is taken) of 126 mg/dl.
Diabetes is a complex disease that involves the production of insulin from your pancreas. Insulin is the key that unlocks the door to the cell and lets the glucose (sugar) in. When insulin is either not being produced, or not doing its job when it is produced, excess glucose accumulates in your blood. The cells are starved amidst plenty! And, the excess glucose wreaks havoc on other parts of your body such as kidneys, nerve tissue, eyes, and your vascular system (the pipes that circulate your blood!)
LifeSpring meals are designed to meet the needs of diabetics. These meals are heart-healthy, low sodium, low cholesterol, and have the right balance of carbohydrates, proteins and fats to help control blood sugar levels. Depending on your needs, a meal plan can be constructed using LifeSpring meals. You may be counting carbohydrates, watching calories per meal, or just watching total caloric intake to lose weight. LifeSpring can help you with any of these choices of treatment.
3. I am on a complex diet. Can LifeSpring help?
LifeSpring has Registered Dietitians who can help you select those meals appropriate for you particular needs.
4. I am on a Renal diet. Can I eat LifeSpring meals?
It depends on the Renal Diet. If you need to restrict potassium to between 2,000 and 3,000 milligrams, most LifeSpring meals can be worked into a meal plan for you. If you also need to control phosphorus, LifeSpring will work.
If you need to control protein, again most LifeSpring meals can be worked in. Ask the LifeSpring dietitian for help-letting her know the specifics of your diet order, or let her know the name of your Renal Dietitian so she can find out your particular needs and work up a meal plan. If you are on Peritoneal Dialysis, LifeSpring will help with a meal plan for you to give you the amount of protein you need to stay healthy.
5. It seems like I have so much fatigue nowadays. Can LifeSpring help me with that?
It depends on the reason for the fatigue. You need to check with your doctor. If the reason for fatigue is that you are not eating enough, getting enough protein, not getting enough of the nutrients that help to energize you, then LifeSpring can surely help. LifeSpring meals are nutritious, well balanced heart healthy and convenient meals that will provide you with a variety of nutrients that you need to give yourself the energy that gets you up and going!!