Eating well and exercising regularly is a goal for most but for people with chronic illnesses, a healthy lifestyle is critical to their survival. In an effort to help its dialysis patients do just that, Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMCNA) launched a Healthy Lifestyle initiative, in conjunction with Chef Aaron McCargo, Jr., star of Food Network’s Big Daddy’s House.
The program helps to help those with chronic kidney disease live a better life on dialysis by becoming more physically active, eating healthy foods and enjoying more flexible lifestyles.
FMCNA and Chef Aaron McCargo, Jr. will develop tasty, satisfying and new dialysis-friendly recipes throughout the year for people with kidney failure who receive dialysis treatments typically every two to three days and follow a strict renal diet.
People with chronic kidney disease have to watch what they eat, but that doesn’t mean they can’t eat delicious foods,” said Carolyn Latham, vice president of Clinical Quality and UltraCare® at FMCNA.
“I hope to inspire people with chronic kidney disease to stay creative in the kitchen and excited about food because it can bring fun and joy to their lives, and to the lives of their families,” said Chef McCargo
To kick off the campaign, Chef McCargo is sharing a new holiday dessert recipe for dialysis patients, or for people entertaining family and friends with restricted diets. Of course, you don’t have to be a dialysis patient to enjoy this tasty dessert.
Along with a healthy diet, the Healthy Lifestyles initiative also encourages people with kidney failure to get moving and be physically active because it can help them have a better life on dialysis. Fitness is important for many reasons: it keeps the heart and other muscles strong; increases flexibility; improves circulation, digestion, and sleep; and helps control blood pressure and body weight.
About Fresenius Medical Care
Fresenius Medical Care (NYSE: FMS) provides kidney dialysis treatments for some 215,000 patients at its 2,700 clinics in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and Africa.
For more information on Fresenius Medical Care: www.ultracare-dialysis.com or www.fmcna.com.
About Chef Aaron McCargo, Jr.
Chef Aaron McCargo, Jr. competed on and won season four of “The Next Food Network Star†in 2008, beating out thousands of culinary hopefuls for the ultimate dream job – his own Food Network show. “Big Daddy’s House†premiered in 2008 and continues to be a success.
For more information on Chef Aaron McCargo, Jr: www.aaronmccargo.com
