with Jill Harris, LPN, CHC
Today, I want to talk about the diet industry and how they have us believing that lifestyle changes are easy and should come quickly. I say the opposite. Lifestyle changes happen slowly and can be difficult. That being said, let me share this story with you.
This week I have had several patient calls related to overeating at night. Eating too many calories at night is something I repeatedly hear about. Nothing new here, but let me address it. First, when people tell me they overeat at night, I can always tell they feel ashamed. Although they share their secret with …
A common question in my Facebook group is, “What do you guys buy at Trader Joe’s?”
I thought I’d put together some standard goodies to look for next time you find yourself at the nearest TJ’s. I recognize not all of you have a Trader Joe’s, but you might still find some of these KSD-friendly items at your favorite specialty grocery store.
January is the month when many of us choose to “start our plan.” We will “eat perfectly” and “work out every day.” While I love the enthusiasm, I want you to proceed with caution. When we use an all-or-nothing approach to diet and lifestyle, changes generally fail.
I wrote this post because I get some form of this question every single day. “Jill, I have been drinking lemon water, but I’m still making stones. Why is this happening?” First off, those of you who have been with me a while will know what my first question will be? Has your doctor ordered …
Today I want to make snacking easier with some new “grab-and-go” snacks and recipes that any kidney stone patient can safely throw in their backpack or purse on the way out the door?
Hi! It’s a beautiful fall day here in Chicago—sunny with a high of 70°. We have two days a year like this, so I site here in good spirits as I write this. In this article, I want to talk about some of the most common errors I see kidney stone patients make so that you may …
Today, I want to talk about that tendency many of us have to eat well during the week and “treat ourselves” over the weekend.
Hi! When I was going through my cancer journey, there were so many times I left my doctor’s office baffled. I was sick and scared, and even though I’m a nurse with 21 years of kidney stone prevention under my belt, I knew nothing about cancer. I often found myself unprepared for my oncology visits. …
This is a quick but essential update on milk. Plant-based milk, that is. A new study takes a look at the oxalate content in various brands of milk—you can see the results in the pretty little graph that we created below.
Despite the cold temps we’re experiencing in the midwest, summer will be here any minute. And that means different fruits and veggies will be in season. You may think I need to get a life, but I am very excited about this upcoming event! Many of us have a sweet tooth and have a hard …
Here’s a fun little fact. The average American only gets around 15 grams of fiber per day though we’re supposed to get between 21-38 per day (21-25 grams for women and 30-38 grams per day for men). You might be asking yourself, “What the heck does this have to do with my kidney stones, Jill?” I’ll tell …
What are the most important discussion points to have with your doctor when you are newly diagnosed with a kidney stone? Let’s get right to it! Give your doctor a complete history of your kidney stone(s). Alert your doc if there is a family history of kidney stones or bone disease. If you have imaging …
I am a firm believer in “what you believe is what you become,” even if you don’t wholeheartedly believe what you’re telling yourself in the moment. Let me explain. On most days—even before the pandemic—I have been known to wear gym clothes. People ask me why? The answer is I dress the way I feel …
After 24 years in the stone prevention sector, I feel blessed and grateful that I continue to have a gratifying career. As a nurse, it is one of my greatest passions to help patients understand that diet and lifestyle choices make a difference in maintaining a healthy body and mind. But what about the patients …
In all my years of talking with patients and students about kidney stone prevention, not one of them has said to me, “Oh Jill, don’t worry. I get plenty of calcium each day.” Most adults don’t get anywhere near the amount of calcium they need. The National Osteoporosis Foundation “recommends that women aged 50 and …
This article is for you, my dear vegan and vegetarian stone formers. I know you’ve been using soy, tofu, beans, and nuts to meet your daily protein goals. In the meantime, however, you unknowingly overate some of the highest oxalate foods, which in turn led to your kidney stone(s). I can hear many of you …
Hi! I write this from the hospital while waiting to get my six-month CT scan done to see if my cancer has returned. Needless to say, these scans always put me on edge. For those of you who don’t know, I was diagnosed with stage 4 rectal cancer in 2016. It has been an arduous …