Novasource Renal Vs Nepro
People who suffer from compromised kidney function must adhere to a renal diet in order to control the amount of minerals and waste in their blood. There are various meals that are specifically designed for people in a renal diet, such as Novasource Renal and Nepro. Which one is better? You should definitely follow your doctor’s recommendation, but you can read the comparisons between Novasource Renal vs Nepro below.
Flavor Choices
For someone in a renal diet, having multiple flavor choices to choose from is important. He or she will have to drink the same formula for a long period of time, so sticking to just a single flavor will quickly turn the process to be boring and even annoying. With some flavor choices, there will be some varieties.
Unfortunately, Novasource Renal is only available in a single flavor choice, which is the vanilla flavor. The manufacturer is careful to mention on the packaging that the flavor is artificial, which is not a problem in this case because the formula has certainly been carefully designed to suit the condition of people in a renal diet. Well, to be fair, the formula tastes pretty good. But having some other flavor choices would be nice – unless you indeed love the vanilla flavor.
On the other hand, Nepro is quite better in terms of flavor choices, as it comes with three flavor choices (take a look at our previous post: Nepro vs Suplena). The flavors are Homemade Vanilla, Butter Pecan, and Mixed Berry. With these choices, you will be able to change from time to time not to get bored with a particular flavor.
Sodium Content
People with a kidney disease should be careful in monitoring their sodium intake. Too much sodium can be very dangerous for people with a kidney disease because their kidneys will not be able to filter and eliminate excess sodium from the body. As sodium builds up, it may cause increased thirst, high blood pressure, edema, shortness of breath, and even heart failure.
If we compare Novasource Renal vs Nepro, Novasource Renal is slightly better in this case because it comes with a lower level of sodium. Each serving of Novasource Renal only contains 210 mg sodium, whereas a serving of Nepro contains 250 mg sodium. As you can see, the difference is not very dramatic, but sodium can quickly build up as you also get sodium from other foods and drinks.
Potassium Content
When your kidneys are no longer able to remove excess potassium from your body, you should also carefully control your potassium intake. You should avoid foods that are high in potassium such as spinach, banana, avocado, potatoes, beans, milk, and fish. Too much potassium intake may lead to hyperkalemia, which can cause muscle weakness, irregular heartbeat, slow pulse, heart attack, and death.
One again, Novasource Renal is slightly better than Nepro because it contains a lower amount of potassium. Every serving of Novasource Renal only contains 192 mg potassium, whereas a serving of Nepro contains 250 mg potassium. If you want to lower your potassium intake, Novasource Renal can help you better.
Phosphorus Content
Phosphorus is actually an important mineral for the body, as it is responsible for bone development and maintenance. It is also important for building connective tissue and organs as well as for aiding muscle movement. In the normal condition, excess phosphorus can be removed by the kidneys. But when your kidney function has been compromised, they are no longer able to filter out excess potassium. High phosphorus levels are dangerous because it can pull out calcium from your bones, hence making the bones weak and fragile, and also cause calcium deposits in the blood vessels, heart, lungs, and eyes – leading to even more health problems. You should avoid foods that are high in phosphorus such as milk, cheese, meat, canned fish, seeds, and soft drinks.
For the third time in this comparison of Novasource Renal vs Nepro, Novasource Renal holds the better edge. It comes with lower phosphorus, making it generally safer for people with compromised kidney function. Each serving of Novasource Renal contains 154 mg of phosphate, which is the naturally occurring form of phosphorus. On the other hand, each serving of Nepro contains 170 mg of phosphate.
Calcium Content
Generally, people with kidney disease do not immediately need to lower your calcium intake. Instead, they should check first their current calcium levels. If you are low in calcium, you need to increase your calcium intake, as calcium is needed for the bones, muscles, nerves, and enzyme reactions. On the contrary, if you are high in calcium, you should limit or even stop your calcium intake. The total calcium intake for people with renal disease should not be greater than 2,000 mg per day.
Each serving of Novasource Renal contains a higher amount of calcium, which is 308 mg. On the other hand, each serving of Nepro provides 250 mg of calcium. Depending on your current condition, you may need a higher or lower calcium intake.
Protein Content
Consuming protein for people with kidney disease can be a very tricky matter. Protein is essential for various bodily functions and for developing and maintaining the body tissue. However, the digestion and absorption of protein in the body will produce waste. It is the job of the kidneys to remove the waste as urine. But damaged kidneys may fail to remove the waste. The accumulation of the waste in the blood can cause various health problems.
The required amount of protein is different for every stage of the kidney disease. So, make sure that you follow the recommendation of your doctor and consume just enough protein. Nothing more, nothing less. Novasource Renal does come with a lower amount of protein, which is 17.4 grams per serving. Nepro comes with 19.1 grams of protein per serving.
Conclusion
In general, Novasource Renal is better because it contains lower amounts of sodium, potassium, and phosphorus. But Nepro can be your choice if you prefer to have more flavor choices – just make sure that the nutritional values are suitable for you. Make sure that you follow your doctor’s instructions, and carefully control your nutritional intake.
