March 2021 Health, Wellness and Nutrition Supplement

MARCH 2021 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT

Break the F ing a Conn st-Food ectio n to

Kidney Diseas e SPONSORED BY:

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WORDS FROM THE EDITOR

Care of Kidneys Essential to Overall Wellness Dr. Shantella Sherman WI Special Editions Editor

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In 2004, director Morgan Spurlock undertook a study to determine the impact of fast food on the overall health of Americans. Consuming a diet of only McDonald’s food for a month, Spurlock captured the slow metabolic changes our vital organs 5 Dr. Shantella Sherman (Photo by India Kea) go through to process foods high in sodium, sugar, fillers, and unnatural additives. Spurlock gained 24 pounds, and showed signs of both kidney and liver distress, in addition to mood swings and a loss of sex drive.

In one critical scene, Spurlock’s physicians warn that his liver function tests suggested NASH – or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, a condition commonly called “fatty liver,” which does as much damage to the liver as alcohol-induced cirrhosis.

Super Size Me followed the tenacity of programming like the BBC4 show, You Are What You Eat (also broadcasting in 2004-2007), that used science – blood panels, food absorption tests, and stool samples to chart the impact foods had on the body’s major organs. Host Gillian McKeith impressed upon different guests each week the importance of eating healthy to avoid trauma to organs – especially the kidneys.

More importantly, recent studies, including the 2011 Perceived Discrimination and Hypertension Among African Americans in the Jackson Heart Study conclude that racism may play as much a part in the development of kidney ailments as diet.

“Although traditional biobehavioral risk factors might explain some of the African American---White disparity in hypertension, differences in exposure to discrimination by race might also contribute. African Americans’ exposure to discrimination could influence their risk for hypertension through various mechanisms,” its authors Mario Sims, Ana V. Diez-Roux (et.al) noted. “These include negative coping behaviors, such as unhealthy eating, sedentary lifestyles, and tobacco and alcohol intake. The experience of discrimination could also cause emotional distress, which can trigger physiological responses involving the hypothalamic---pituitary---adrenal axis and the sympathetic---parasympathetic systems, which play an important role in the pathophysiology of hypertension.”

In short, racism is linked to the development of hypertension – and kidney disease. So, whether kidney disease and kidney failure are related to food intake or outside stressors, the reality is that its prevalence among African Americans show few signs of improving. Millions now face life with impaired kidneys or the need for a transplant.

Despite its prevalence, few fully understand the functions of the kidneys or the importance of their proper operation. For instance, legendary performer Tina Turner recently underwent both dialysis and a kidney transplant after ignoring admonishments from her physician to manage her hypertension. In fact, Turner decided to disregard the diagnosis and discontinue taking prescribed blood pressure medication.

“I tried to understand my kidney’s purpose, and why it was important. Something, to be honest, I’d never thought about before,” she writes in her memoir, My Love Story. “The consequences of my ignorance ended up being a matter of life or death. If I hadn’t discontinued the medication, if, if, if… A small decision but one that would continue to haunt me.”

Understanding kidney function, dialysis and kidney transplants immediately brought Quandra Lee to mind. I met Lee more than 20 years ago. Then, as now, the first thing that stands out and sticks with you when you meet Lee is her infectious laugh. Always the optimist, she became a transplant recipient, first as a teen – and a second time, as an adult, some twenty years later. For this Washington Informer Supplement, writer Lindi Vilakazi sat down with Lee to discuss life post-transplant and the importance of living fully. Additionally, our writers penned works on maintaining kidney health, including insight from dialysis leaders DaVita Integrated Kidney Care – all to offer readers a better understanding of how kidney health works toward overall good health. HS

Tina Turner recently underwent both dialysis and a kidney transplant after ignoring admonishments from her physician to manage her hypertension.

www.washingtoninformer.com / MARCH 2021 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT

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Fast Failure

Examining the Impact of Fast Food on Kidney Health Lindiwe Vilakazi WI Staff Writer Kidney disease continues to strike the Black community at startling rates, as many across the District face a health crisis brought on by their daily eating habits. Currently, Washington, D.C. reports the most prevalent rate of chronic kidney disease in the nation – 44 times the national average -- that in most cases, developed from a bevy of underlying illnesses directly linked to dietary and lifestyle choices.

“The vast majority of people who have chronic kidney disease and kidney failure have some general medical condition that affects the kidneys, as well as the rest of the body,” said Dr. Raymond Bass, M.D. with Montgomery Renal Associates, in Maryland. “The very two at the top of that list are diabetes and high blood pressure.”

In addition to fast-paced lifestyles that rely on eating quick, pre-packaged meals teens and young adults have made fast food eateries like McDonalds, Popeyes, and Taco Bell a regular option for nourishment. The results of the high intake of saturated fats, sodium, and fillers in most menu items, kidney function becomes compromised.

“Dietitians push fresh food and home cooking, but in reality, patients are going to eat fast food. It is important for registered dietitians to help steer patients to better choices that will allow patients to feel less restricted in eating while keeping their phosphorus and potassium in control,” registered dietician Christina Arquette notes in The Journal of Renal Nutrition.

“Looking at Burger King, McDonald’s, and Wendy’s, the regular plain hamburger looks like the best choice with the lowest phosphorus and potassium.”

Arquette said that Taco Bell and KFC had few ideal options for optimal kidney health as items like tacos, drumsticks and wings were rarely eaten at the recommended proportion size of 1 taco or 1 wing.

This results easily in exceeding maximum healthy numbers.

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Avoiding foods with heavy sodium content often proves difficult for those living in food deserts or with food insecurities. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines a food desert as an area where people have limited access to a variety of healthful foods.

This may be due to having a limited income or living more than a mile from a major grocery chain. The USDA also found that more than 35 million Americans were either unable to acquire enough food to meet their needs, or uncertain of where their next meal might come from in 2019.

“The issue is less obesity and chronic conditions than the quality of the foods being consumed.

When we consider that a large portion of Americans who are classified as overweight are also malnourished, it speaks to the consumption of cheap, processed foods with no nutritional value,” dietician Taylor Andreas told the Informer. “The food fills you up but also poisons your system, throwing kidneys, liver, and digestive tracts out of whack. In order to address kidney issues, we have to also address our over-reliance on ‘fake foods.’”

Wholistic practitioner Dr. Kokayi Patterson has spent years facilitating local food donations, and health consultations to those most vulnerable demographics. Patterson speaks to the importance of diet as it pertains to preventative habits to combat potential kidney disorders, and additional health maladies.

“The food choices necessary for the Black community to address, should be sustainable foods. It should be foods that will nourish their bodies, that have in it healing capabilities, and are supplemented with herbs and other nutritional elements. The diet is key,” said Patterson. “When you are eating from God’s health food basket -- fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, and whole grains, as well as good spring water, plenty of sunlight, meditation, and exercise – your kidneys function properly. These are the dietary things needed for the spirit, mind, and body.”

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The American Heart Association cordially invites you to the

THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2021 7:00 PM ET

Here in the Greater Washington Region, 1 in 10 residents is nutrition insecure, lacking reliable access to healthy food. Our digital Heart Ball will bring together our supporters and partners to raise funds to support the mission of the AHA and our work to ensure all our neighbors have the same access to healthy, affordable food.

Visit dcheartball.heart.org to learn more.

Sponsorship inquiries: Jordan.Silverman@heart.org

Thank You to Our Local Sponsors: The Bender Foundation | Linda Gooden & Laird Lott | Patti & Rob Franklin Barbara & David Humpton | Sheehy Auto Stores

MARCH 2021 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com

AARP Volunteer Helps Others in her Community Make Vaccine Appointments Emily Pickren Communications Director AARP DC On January 11, when the District of Columbia opened Covid-19 vaccine appointments to people age 65 years and older, Pamela McKee was at her computer, ready to go. She was able to secure an appointment for her first dose of the vaccine for January 16.

To learn more about who is currently eligible to receive the vaccine in the District and to sign up to receive updates on when vaccine appointments become available, visit coronavirus.dc.gov/vaccine.

Ms. McKee considers herself lucky to have gotten an appointment so quickly, but also attributes it to her comfort with technology and her ability to move quickly. She jokes that she “would like to find a computer that can keep up with my impatient fingers.” In this case her comfort and

speed were aided by preparation.

Registration for appointments began at 9:00 a.m. but she went to the webpage early to make sure she was familiar with how to log in and that she had all the information on hand that she would need. Based on her experience, she recommends that when people go to schedule their vaccine they use a desktop computer or a laptop rather than their phone, if possible, to get through the process faster.

Ms. McKee, who exited the workforce as a Vice President of Operations and Development for a national nonprofit, has lived in her current home since 1977 and is well acquainted with many of her neighbors, some of whom do not have computers or do not use technology as often as she does.

Since making her own appointment, she has used her comfort and skill with technology to help several of neighbors and friends

who are eligible for the vaccine to sign up for an appointment. She believes strongly in helping others, which is why she volunteers with AARP and even served on AARP DC’s Executive Committee from April 2007 to December 2011. Since the pandemic began, she has also been helping a friend in the public health field to distribute masks, gloves, and hand sanitizer to her community.

She got her vaccine at the Hattie Holmes Senior Wellness Center, which is located just a few blocks from her home in Ward 4.

She reports that the site was well organized; approximately 20 people were there to receive their first dose and people were asked to line up according to the time of their appointment, so that someone who arrived early for an 10:00 a.m. appointment would not receive their vaccine before someone with a 9:30 a.m. slot, for example.

She arrived ten minutes before her

scheduled appointment at 10:00 a.m. and received her first vaccine dose 30 minutes later. That time frame included completing the intake form. Note: The Hattie Holmes Senior Wellness Center is no longer a vaccine site — the city has moved its operations to the nearby and larger Lamond Recreation Center.

After she received her shot, she was given a card with the date that she would be eligible for her next vaccine—with instructions that she had to make an appointment to receive her second dose. Now however, DC Health has made changes so that people no longer

have to make an appointment for their second shot. Individuals are simply asked to return to the same location on the assigned date and time on their card. The card also notes the type of vaccine received and serves as proof that a person received the vaccine, should they need it.

AARP is working to ensure every older American who wants the vaccine can get it. Check out aarp.org/DCVaccine for information on the District’s Covid-19 distribution plan and how and where eligible residents can make an appointment to receive the vaccine.

We may be apart, but we're not alone Someone who cares is just a phone call away.

The AARP Friendly Voice program is a group of trained, caring volunteers standing by ready to chat, listen, or just say hello.

It's easy. Request a call by dialing AARP at 1-888-281-0145 for English or 1-888-497-4108 for Spanish, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. local time.  /aarpdc  @AARPDC

5 Pamela McKee (Photo courtesy of Pamela McKee)

www.washingtoninformer.com / MARCH 2021 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT

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Get the facts about the COVID-19 vaccine.

AARP has the latest information.

AARP District of Columbia is working to protect Americans 50+ by making sure you have the latest information you need about the COVID-19 vaccines and the distribution plans in the District of Columbia.

Find out who’s eligible for the vaccine, when and where vaccines will be available and what you need to discuss with your doctor before you decide.

Just visit our website to get the most up-to-date information available about your vaccine options.

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccine availability and distribution at

aarp.org/DCVaccine

facebook.com/AARPDC | @AARPDC | aarp.org/washington-dc

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MARCH 2021 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com

Paid for by AARP.

Healthy Eating Tips and Tricks for People with Diabetes or Pre-Diabetes

By Elaine Magee, MPH, RD Wellness Corporate Dietitian If you are one of the 26 million people in the U.S. with diabetes or the estimated 79 million American adults with pre-diabetes, this diagnosis can be the beginning of your new journey into a higher level of health.

It isn’t that carbohydrates are bad.

It’s just that you need to know the amount of carbohydrates your body can tolerate (at different times of the day) given your body, medication, and exercise schedule. Work with your doctor or dietitian to figure out what your carb budget is per meal.

Many dietitians and diabetes educators believe it is actually more important to know your carbohydrate budget per meal or snack than it is to know what it is per day.

Knowing your personal carbohydrate meal budget and the following tips and tricks, along with the Perfect Plate Diabetes Edition on page __, will hopefully bring you one giant step closer to feeling better, having normal blood sugars,

and living a longer, healthier life.

TIP — BEST WAYS TO EAT FRUIT

Fruits are nature’s candy because they are naturally sweet. But since they do contribute carbs, your best bet is to eat fruit in its whole form.

This gives you all the fiber, water and nutrients naturally in the fruit and whole fruit takes longer to eat than juice or dried fruit. 15 grams of carb generally computes to 1 cup of whole fruit, 4 ounces of fruit juice or 2 tablespoons of dried fruit. That cup of whole fruit is going to be a lot more satisfying!

• There are a few fruits that tend to have a bit more carbohydrate and for them 15 grams of carbohydrate is more like 1/2 cup. Keep this in mind when enjoying these fruits: passion-fruit, bananas, mango, kiwi, pears and pomegranate.

Get up to

TIP — SWITCH TO WHOLE GRAINS EVERY CHANCE YOU GET!

Want to statistically reduce your risk of death from all causes while also improve your blood sugars, weight control and risk of heart disease and stroke? Instead of processed grains, choose whole grains and whole grain products whenever possible! This has never been easier with all of the options now available in your supermarket. Here are some ways you can make the switch starting today: • Choose intact whole grains, such as quinoa, oats, amaranth, barley, buckwheat, along with wild and brown rice, many of which you can cook in your rice cooker • Choose 100% whole wheat breads, buns, English muffins, and bagels

• Choose 100% whole wheat tortillas and use them for sandwich wraps as well as burritos and quesadillas • Choose whole grain or whole wheat pasta—now available in most shapes!

• Choose breakfast cereals, hot or cold, made with whole grains like oats • Use whole wheat flour for most of the flour called for in your favorite baking recipes

even easier to make salads or add them to eggs, soups, casseroles and sandwiches!

• Adding a little smart fat (like avocado, nuts or extra virgin olive oil) to your dark green leafy salad will enhance the body’s absorption of many of the plant compounds and vitamin K.

TRICK — A DARK GREEN LEAFY-A-DAY MAY KEEP DIABETES AT BAY

The total amount of carbohydrates you eat at each meal is the biggest predictor of what you’re your blood sugar levels will be after the meal, but the type of carbohydrates and what you eat them with matters too.

New research is suggesting that eating vegetables and protein-rich foods BEFORE the carbohydrate-rich foods in a meal, may help lower blood sugar levels following the meal, probably because by the time those carbohydrates hit the stomach, there is already some protein getting digested and some fiber adding bulk.

Getting in the habit of having a nice big serving of a dark green leafy veggie every day is one of the best things you can do for your health and diabetes. They are loaded with key vitamins, minerals, fiber, plus powerful plant compounds which equal added protection from heart disease, diabetes and some cancers.

• Buy dark leafy greens in ready to use bags in your supermarket. It’s

TRICK — PUT PROTEIN AND VEGGIES TO WORK FOR YOU

$75 in FREE Groceries 4/21/06

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when you fill a new or transferred prescription.*

Ask our pharmacist to easily switch today! *Offer not valid for beneficiaries of state and federal healthcare programs or if otherwise prohibited by law. Additional restrictions apply. See pharmacy for details.

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ORGANIC and NATURAL in every aisle!

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MARCH 2021 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com

Two-Time Kidney Transplant Survivor Stands Tall Lindiwe Vilakazi WI Staff Writer Quandra Lee was only seventeen years old when she underwent her very first kidney transplant. The native Washingtonian was fortunate to have her mother donate a kidney in 1991, which allowed her to embark on a successful career as a professional makeup artist and esthetician. A decade later Lee experienced complications to the transplant -- forcing her back into the emergency room faced with kidney failure. The saving grace of a second kidney donor and a renewed sense of purpose has catapulted Lee into her wildest dreams.

The Informer sat down with Lee to discuss life post-transplant and how she lives her best life.

How are you doing today? How is life amid COVID-19, and post second transplant?

“Life is crazy! Just getting used to the [new] norm is really the challenge. Knowing what to do, and how to do it, especially when concerning

my health. I got sick at seventeen, so I’m kind of like an O.G. in the situation now *laughs*. I’m a very clean person, I know what works, and what doesn’t work for me, so when this [COVID] came about, wearing a mask [and taking other precautions] was like, “okay, what else”, because I’m always making sure I’m okay.”

When did it become apparent to you that you were having recurring kidney issues?

Well, I actually got sick on my honeymoon. So, my kidney failed in 2001. Eventually, I was on hemodialysis. I didn’t know how it would go, but I just felt that this wasn’t the way I wanted to live. I knew that wasn’t it, so I didn’t do very well with it. I was constantly sick, and frail. It just wasn’t me. I’m a very lively person, and I like to enjoy life to the fullest.

Tell me what that journey was like when you were in need of a second transplant. How did you stay positive throughout it?

“My brother-in-law had actually inquired on how someone can become a donor. I thought he was asking for informational purposes because I’m often sharing my story, so I was just casually talking to him [about the process]. So, when he came back [to me] he said, “Guess what? I’m a match!” I didn’t even know he had gone through the process. [At that point] I said, “Okay, God, I know that you really have something else for me.” It’s one thing when your mom does it, and I don’t take that for granted either because that’s my mother, but for someone not blood related to me, [I see it as] for them to love someone so much that they wanted to give that much to my situation. It is such a blessing, and I don’t take that lightly. To this day I don’t know how I can fully express my gratitude. I’m so well, and happy, and able to be my regular self because of his grace.”

How have your dietary habits changed since? What is your eating regimen like now, and how

important is dietary health to you post-transplant?

“So, you do want to eat as clean as possible, because now with me having had the kidney transplant, I have [been susceptible] to having several other conditions. Most people have other things that cause their kidneys to fail, but I just have kidney failure.

Because of that, I’m more prone to

DYK: Did You Know…?

Lee Ross WI Staff Writer

KIDNEY FAILURE, DIALYSIS, AND CARE COSTS

Kidney failure affects almost 750,000 people per year in the United States. The disease disproportionately affects the nation’s minority and low-income patients. Compared to whites: Mortality rates vary depending on the kidney failure treatment. After one year of treatment, those on dialysis have a 15-20 percent mortality rate, with a 5-year survival rate of under 50 percent. Persons who receive transplants have a survival rate of about 80 percent after 5 years.

The best current treatment for kidney failure is kidney transplantation, which requires a donor match, major surgery, and a lifetime regimen of immunosuppressant medications to prevent rejection. For those kidney failure patients able to receive a kidney transplant, the outlook is positive; the five-year survival rate for transplant recipients is over 80 percent.

There is an acute shortage of donor organs for kidney failure patients. There are more than 100,000 kidney failure patients on the U.S. transplant wait list. In 2016, 20,161 kidney transplants were performed in the United States.

DIALYSIS

The only alternative today to kidney transplantation is dialysis.

Hemodialysis involves pumping a patient’s blood through an external circuit for filtration before it is pumped back into the body. A typical hemodialysis schedule is three sessions per week, for 3-5 hours per session at a medical facility.

Peritoneal dialysis uses the patient’s own abdomen across which waste is exchanged from the blood and flushed out regularly through a permanent tube in the abdomen. Peritoneal dialysis does not require regular trips to a medical facility but still requires regular treatment at home.

Hemodialysis is the far more common type of dialysis—about 90 percent of all dialysis patients.

COSTS

Medicare coverage is extended to a person of any age who requires either dialysis or transplantation to maintain life. The almost 750,000 people who live with kidney failure are 1 percent of the U.S. Medicare population but account for roughly 7 percent of the Medicare budget.

Medicare spending for kidney failure patients is at $35 billion in 2016.

Hemodialysis care costs the Medicare system an average of $90,000 per patient annually in the United States, for a total of $28 billion.

Spending for transplant patient care is $3.4 billion.

the other illnesses. I’ve had Bell’s Palsy, I’ve had gout in my foot, I’ve been anemic while I’ve been sick, [and for a period of time] I was diabetic. All the other things that cause your kidneys to fail, at times I get those issues.

And it won’t even be that I am doing things to cause those illnesses. They restricted me from fried foods for example, but I don’t eat fried foods.

I don’t drink beer, I don’t do all of those things, it’s just a byproduct of [the kidney failure]. Because I’m mindful of those things and I keep my diet balanced, I eat as if I am a diabetic. I eat a clean diet.”

What lessons or jewels of life have become more apparent to you in the process of your kidney transplants?

“Emotionally, I always choose peace. I often go to the gym, and I even started practicing meditation. It can be difficult because I do think a lot, I am just a thinker. But what has also worked for me are e-books. I listen to the books if I cannot meditate, just to get my mind in a different space. I do have to say, my salvation, my family [has also been a key part].

I come from a very strong built family that taught me if you fall, you get back up and keep pushing forward.

Don’t sit there and ‘woulda, coulda, shoulda,’ instead, get back up and do something about it. It’s kind of like failing forward and just allowing ourselves to fail. It will be okay. I’ve even had strangers say to me, ‘You don’t look like you have a care in the world,’ because I try not to carry the bag. I don’t try to be perfect I just try to be the best version of myself every day.” HS

www.washingtoninformer.com / MARCH 2021 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT

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Finding Social Support Online Submitted by AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia For many people, the support of friends and family helps during challenging times. We might find comfort and perspective in our talks with them. But sometimes, our loved ones may not understand our experiences or have enough time to talk. Support groups help fill this gap.

Support groups offer a safe space for understanding. People gather to share their stories and often find in doing so that they are not alone. They may find supportive connections, for a short time or a lifetime. And they may hear about helpful coping strategies.1 Support groups may be led by peers or mental health professionals.

Group members usually focus on one area, like depression or living with a medical condition. If you’re interested in joining a support group, take some time to find the right group for you. Don’t hesitate to try a few

groups to find where you feel most comfortable.1 You can also follow social distancing practices while getting support! Many groups now offer online support meetups. Mental Health America lists many resources to help you find support, including online groups. They also list toll-free, 24-hour hotlines. For details, visit www.mhanational.org/ find-support-groups.

Sources: 1. “Find Support Groups,” Mental Health America, https://www. mhanational.org/find-support-groups.

2. “5 Things You Should Know About Stress,” National Institute of Mental Health, https://www.nimh.nih. gov/health/publications/stress/index.shtml.

All images are used under license for illustrative purposes only. Any individual depicted is a model

#BestMe GET THE FACTS ON STRESS Experiencing stress is part of being human. But what is stress? How does it impact us and how can we manage it?

Stress is our reaction to any demand. Both our mind and body respond to stress. Hard day at work? Sick with a cold? Baby up all night? All these events can give us stress.2

HERE ARE A FEW FACTS ABOUT STRESS:2 1. Stress may help us get moving when we need it.

When we feel stress, our body responds by readying us for action. Our breath and pulse may quicken and our muscles tense. If we are facing physical danger, stress helps our body move quickly to get out of the way. If we need to get something done soon, stress may help us find the energy to finish the task.

2. Long-lasting stress may hurt our health. Our bodies are pretty good at handling short-term stress. But stress that continues over a long time can disrupt our healthy functioning. We may develop headaches or digestive problems. We may have trouble sleeping or feel

angry or sad. If we don’t ease our stress, we may even develop high blood pressure, heart disease, depression, or anxiety.

3. We can learn to manage stress. Try these steps to help reduce stress’s harmful effects: a. Notice what you’re feeling and why b. Exercise regularly to help burn off any excess energy and improve your mood c. Relax regularly, too. Set aside time for meditation or deep breathing. d. Decide what needs to be done now and what can wait e. Talk with your loved ones about what you feel. You can also talk with your primary care provider (PCP).

If stress has you feeling overwhelmed, talk with your PCP. They may be able to help. If you are having thoughts about suicide, call the toll-free National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) right away. You can call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. * Standard messaging and data fees may apply.

Find us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/amerihealthdc. • Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/amerihealthcaritasdc. • ind us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/amerihealthcaritasdc.

#BestMe

Rewards Program

I got a gift card for getting my annual physical. You can too.

You can get a $25 gift card if you: • Are an AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia enrollee • Are 12 – 21 years old • Get an annual physical exam

Visit www.amerihealthcaritasdc.com/member/eng/ healthy-living/reward-program.aspx to learn more.

Note: An enrollee cannot get more than $75 in incentives each year.

Certain limitations and restrictions may apply.

ACDC-201001070-4

www.amerihealthcaritasdc.com AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.

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MARCH 2021 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com

All images are used under license for illustrative purposes only.

Any individual depicted is a model.

Recent & Recommended Books on Kidney Health Lee Ross WI Staff Writer Your kidneys are organs that play several important roles in your health. They help filter your blood, remove waste products, produce

hormones, keep your bones strong, regulate fluid balance, and regulate your blood pressure. Prolonged high blood sugar levels may damage your blood vessels, including those in your kidneys. While diets high in sodium, sugar, and pro-

cessed ingredients promote kidney disease, nine in 10 American kids go to a McDonald’s restaurant each month, and 80 percent of Americans dine in a fast-food restaurant at least once each month. In fact, roughly 50 million Americans con-

sume fast food on any given day.

The books chosen by the Informer for this supplement promote a greater understanding of how processed and fast-food consumption impact overall kidney health.

Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal

By Eric Schlosser The fastfood industry has become a staple of a fast-paced nation that wants foods quick, cheap, and tasty.

Fast food has hastened of our landscape, widened the chasm between rich and poor, fueled an epidemic of chronic health conditions that attack vital organs – most notably, the kidneys. Eric Schlosser unearths a trove of fascinating, unsettling truths -- from the alliance between fast food and Hollywood to the seismic changes the industry has wrought in food production, popular culture, and even real estate.

Fast Food Genocide: How Processed Food is Killing Us and What We Can Do About It

By Joel Fuhrman, M.D., Robert Phillips From the same authors who produced the bestselling books, Eat to Live and The End of Diabetes, comes this work Fast Food Genocide. An unflinching, provocative exploration of how our food is compromising the health of millions of Americans, the book explores how its low costs and convenience contribute to an unprecedented health crisis. The authors tackle fast food, in addition to toxic, human-engineered products found in every grocery store across America, like cold breakfast cereals; commercial and preserved (deli) meats and cheeses, sandwich breads and buns, chips, and fried foods.

Fast foods have become the primary source of calories in the United

States and consequently the most far-reaching and destructive influence on our population, making this book a ‘must read.’

Hattie’s Journey: A Child’s Second Chance at Life After a Kidney Transplant

By Felicia Williams-McGowan Hattie’s Journey is a story of a little girl who loved school, cheerleading and all things fun, but finds herself feeling very ill one day. Hattie’s life changes when she finds that she has kidney failure. This story provides an intimate look at kidney disease from the perspective of a young child. While it is informative and caring in its presentation, it also offers encouragement to young readers. Ultimately, Hattie’s struggle with kidney failure highlights support, love, and encouragement from family.

The Kidney Donor’s Journey: 100 Questions I Asked Before Donating My Kidney

By Ari Sytner After an unexpected yearlong journey of exploring kidney donation, Ari Sytner became a kidney donor to save the life of a single mother of three children. The experience was so inspirational and transformative, that Sytner revealed the entire journey in this first-ever question and answer book, outlining the 100 questions he struggled with before deciding to proceed with his transplant and give the gift of life. The Kidney Donor’s Journey walks readers through each stage of Sytner’s process, from researching and telling his family, to testing, surgery, and recovery. The book inspires readers to weigh the personal and ethical values of kindness and human life, while sharing a moving and uplifting tale of one man’s journey to make a difference in the world. HS

www.washingtoninformer.com / MARCH 2021 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT

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One on One with DaVita Integrated Kidney Care mental health counseling as a component of dialysis?

Lee Ross WI Staff Writer The Washington Informer recently chatted with Dr. Bryan Becker, Chief Medical Officer, DaVita Integrated Kidney Care to find out all we could about how to improve overall kidney health.

Becker stressed the importance of good overall health in both the prevention and treatment of kidney disease – and our staff encourages you to read the complete conversation at www.washingtoninformer.com.

WI: Particularly within the D.C. metropolitan area and the Black community, unchecked hypertension has created a vacuum into which children and young adults are faced with renal failure. Has your client base shifted in recent years to younger patients and has diet been a contributory factor?

BB / DaVITA: Minority populations have been shown to have higher rates of high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and heart disease, all of which are associated with an increased risk for kidney disease. Unfortunately, we have seen significant disparity in the number of Black individuals with kidney disease as they are 3.8 times more likely than white individuals to develop kidney disease.

Screening and early detection can help slow down the progression of CKD. Additionally, education can help patients who are at-risk better manage their kidney health.

WI: While there are some congenital conditions that retard kidney function, what are some habits or environmental agents that can compromise kidney function?

BB / DaVITA: Maintaining a kidney-friendly diet, exercising regularly and staying informed about your health are a few of the many ways to slow the progression of CKD. For example, the Western diet is high in processed and fast foods. Many processed foods have little nutritional value and often contain high amounts of fat and sodium. DaVita recommends

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taking actions to help prevent diabetes and high blood pressure by eating a low-fat, low-salt diet; exercising regularly; limiting alcohol consumption; and stopping or not starting smoking.

WI: How long does an average DaVita client remain on dialysis?

BB / DaVITA: A patient can be on dialysis for many years. In fact, we recently celebrated a DaVita patient who had been living a healthy and fulfilled life on dialysis for more than 40 years. The length of time someone can sustain life through dialysis depends on a variety of factors, such as age, gender, and other factors, such as social support, additional health problems and how well they follow their care plan.

salt intake is an important dietary step that can help patients lower their blood pressure, an important factor to limit the potential damage of high blood pressure on kidney function. For people who are diabetic, controlling blood sugar can help slow the progression of kidney disease. In addition, regular exercise, weight loss if indicated, avoiding smoking, and routine checkups from physicians are recommended wellness approaches.

WI: Does DaVita offer wellness support -- lifestyle coaching,

WI: Dialysis, we understand, must be combined with lifestyle changes -- including a reduction in salt intake. What are some of the other wellness approaches that complement dialysis care?

BB / DaVITA: That’s true. We recommend that people at risk of or living with kidney disease first educate themselves on their condition and treatment options. Our care teams work with our patients to determine a kidney-friendly diet that is right for them. Reducing

MARCH 2021 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com

BB / DaVITA: Adjusting to life with kidney failure can be hard for many patients. At DaVita, we’re committed to caring for the whole patient, which includes addressing both their physical and mental health needs. In addition to providing dialysis, we have a holistic care team supporting patients in our centers and those who choose to treat at home. For example, our dietitians provide valuable diet and nutrition information to help patients stay as healthy as possible.

The dietitian’s goal is to help patients understand the connection between what they eat and drink can directly affect health outcomes.

Dialysis social workers support patients both before and after they start dialysis. Our social workers are highly educated and trained to help patients and their families by providing support in all areas of their lives, including emotional, financial, career, lifestyle adjustment and more.

WI: What are some of the challenges your clients face when dialysis becomes necessary?

BB / DaVITA: For many patients who are new to dialysis, it can feel overwhelming—even for those who prepared for it. It’s a big change to their day-to-day lives.

We encourage patients to focus on working dialysis into their lives, not their lives into dialysis. Maintaining regular routines may help them feel healthier and happier.

WI: What are some things you would like our readers to know about DaVita and the services it offers?

BB / DaVITA: At DaVita, we help people better manage their kidney health. That’s why we’re a kidney care company, not just a dialysis company. Today more than ever, we’re helping people prevent or slow the progress of kidney disease. By reaching people in the earlier stages of CKD, DaVita and the physicians we work with can help change the trajectory of millions of people’s lives. Additionally, we’re striving to help more patients get transplanted—both preemptively and after they begin dialysis—by empowering living donor conversations and helping every patient who wants a transplant be referred to a transplant center for evaluation. In 2020, we celebrated more than 100,000 DaVita patients receiving a transplant since 2000. More than 7,000 DaVita patients received a transplant last year, despite the challenges posed

by COVID-19. We will continue to be a champion and passionate advocate of removing barriers and expanding access to transplants for all patients. HS

www.washingtoninformer.com / MARCH 2021 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT

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