Kidney disease is a major health problem, affecting millions of people worldwide. People with kidney disease often feel tired, swollen and weak, and may have trouble getting around. So how to prevent kidney disease ? SImply, it can be prevented with a few simple changes to your diet.
Kidney disease affects approximately 16 million people in the United States alone, making it one of the most common health conditions. In fact, kidney disease is the number one cause of death among adults over the age of 20.
According to the National Kidney Foundation, there is an estimated 1 out of 10 adult Americans at risk of developing this condition at some point in their lives.
There are numerous factors that can contribute to kidney disease including diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and obesity. Eating the right foods and exercising regularly can help prevent kidney disease.
The healthiest habits for kidney are as follows:
-Drink lots of water: 8-10 glasses per day. This will flush your system and improve overall health.
-Eat a healthy diet: limit sodium, add fruits and vegetables and whole grains
-Avoid foods with high sugar: limit added sugars to < 20 grams per day
-Limit alcohol consumption: < 1 drink per day. Alcohol consumption can be the reason for dehydration and damage to your kidneys.
-Exercise Daily: 30 minutes 3 times per week exercise on regular basis. I can help your kidney to stay healthy.
What is the difference between a normal kidney function and a damaged kidney?
The kidneys play an important role in the body’s ability to regulate fluid levels. When they work properly, they can filter blood and rid the body of extra fluid. They do this by controlling the amount of water and minerals they pass out into the urine.
Kidneys help keep the body well hydrated and balance the amount of salt in the body. Kidneys can also help maintain blood pressure. However, when the kidneys are damaged, they can no longer filter the blood and fluids as efficiently as before. This leads to buildup of fluid, salt and other waste products in the body.
Kidney damage can be caused by diseases, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, certain medicines and infections. Symptoms include increased thirst, feeling tired and having dark-colored urine.
Kidney disease may lead to liver disease -the risk of a heart attack increases significantly if you also have kidney disease -exercise is essential for keeping the kidneys healthy.
What are the most common causes of kidney disease?
There are many causes of kidney disease, including hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, or high cholesterol, to name a few:
Diabetes cause major damage to kidneys. Hypertension causes damage to the kidneys and can lead to chronic kidney disease. High cholesterol causes fatty substances to build up in the kidneys, which causes damage.
“Kidney disease is often caused by multiple factors. If you have any concerns about your kidneys, talk to your doctor”.
There are many factors that can cause or contribute to kidney disease. The two most common types of kidney disease are nephritis and nephrosis. Nephritis can be an inherited condition or an acquired condition that develops later in life.
A common example of an inherited condition is a genetic kidney disorder called focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Acquired conditions include: Diabetes, Hypertension, Nephrotic Syndrome, Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, Lupus, and many others.
Another common cause of kidney disease is infection. Some infections can directly damage the kidneys or they can Page 1 of 2 lead to autoimmune diseases that can damage the kidneys.
On the other hand, nephrosis means that the kidneys are dead. This is the most severe type of kidney disease and it can happen for a long time. If you have nephrosis, your kidneys are not working at all and you are not able to control the body fluids.
What can we do to keep our kidneys healthy?
Did you know that our kidneys have to filter more than 100 gallons of blood every day?
Without this daily cleaning, toxins and waste build up in our bodies. This can lead to high blood pressure, chronic pain, kidney stones, and kidney failure. And as a result, people are getting sick and dying at younger ages.
That is why doctors recommend a healthy diet and regular exercise for your kidneys. But sometimes, life just gets busy and we forget to take care of our health. Some healthy tips to keep your kidneys fit are as follows:
-Drink lots of water! Water helps flush out toxins. Drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day will help keep your kidneys clear and healthy.
-Limit red meat. Meat contains oxalates, which can contribute to kidney stone formation. Try lean meats instead.
-Stay active. Regular exercise strengthens your heart, lungs and muscles. This helps your kidneys to work properly. And a strong body keeps your bones strong and protects your kidneys.
Which foods can help prevent kidney damage?
Which foods can help prevent kidney damage? This is a very important question. There are many factors that affect the body’s ability to heal itself. Kidney disease is one of the diseases which can be heal with time through proper diet.
It is a condition that can be caused by a number of different things. Many of these things are common in the modern society we live in. So, in order to stay healthy, you need to know which foods can help prevent kidney damage.
The following foods have been proven to help maintain healthy kidneys:
*Cherries
Cherry juice is extremely beneficial for those who suffer from kidney problems. Cherries are packed with phytonutrients called anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are pigments found in red fruits such as cherries. They may help protect against chronic diseases including heart disease and diabetes.
*Mushrooms
Mushrooms can be an excellent source of protein and potassium, both which are important nutrients for preventing kidney disease. Mushrooms also contain powerful antioxidants called polyphenols, which can help protect your body against oxidative damage.
*Oysters
Eating oysters can prevent you from getting kidney disease. This is because the oyster is rich in potassium. When people eat oysters, they usually get the same amount of potassium which they would be able to get from drinking a glass of milk. A glass of milk contains 5mg of potassium.
One oyster contains about 50mg of potassium. Also, oysters contain other nutrients like iron, zinc and copper which are beneficial for our body.
*Sardines
Sardines are often considered to be the healthiest food on the planet. People all over the world eat sardines because of its high nutritional content. But eating sardines may be beneficial for the prevention of certain diseases. There is strong evidence that Sardines can help to prevent kidney disease. In fact, eating sardines could decrease the risk of developing kidney disease by 40%!
Eating sardines, which are high in omega-3 fatty acids, may be one such food which may help to protect kidneys from damage.
*Pine nuts
Pine nuts can help to prevent kidney disease. Pine nuts are rich in vitamin E, which fights against inflammation. Inflammation is the first sign of the disease.
Eating pine nuts can help to prevent chronic inflammation in the kidneys, thus, fighting against the onset of chronic kidney disease. Pine nuts are usually eaten with olive oil, a healthy food that contains important nutrients such as vitamin E.
Eating pine nuts is a good habit for preventing chronic kidney disease. They help in protecting the body against cancer. The antioxidant in the pine nuts helps in keeping the kidneys healthy and functioning properly. The anti-inflammatory properties help in preventing damage to the cells in the kidneys.
*Walnuts
Eating walnuts may help prevent chronic kidney disease, according to research published in the American Journal of Medicine. Researchers from the University of Michigan found that participants who ate walnuts at least four times a week had a lower risk of developing chronic kidney disease than those who did not.
Eating nuts can be very beneficial for our health. Nuts contain a lot of protein, fiber, vitamin E and monounsaturated fatty acids.
*Berries
Diabetes patients who eat berries have a lower risk of developing chronic kidney disease. This is because they contain antioxidants such as ellagic acid and anthocyanins that can prevent kidney disease by reducing inflammation and oxidation.
Berries also contain potassium, magnesium, manganese and phosphorus. These nutrients help regulate blood pressure and blood sugar levels. They are also essential to healthy bones and teeth.
*Spinach
Spinach is an excellent source of iron and potassium, which are essential nutrients for the proper functioning of the kidneys. Iron is used to help carry oxygen around the body. And potassium helps the muscles and nerves work together properly. These nutrients are found in spinach, so eating more of this leafy green will help reduce your risk of developing kidney disease.
*Tomatoes
Many people have heard about tomatoes having cancer-fighting properties. But did you know they can also help to prevent kidney disease?
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine found that eating tomatoes could slow down the progression of chronic kidney disease. The study focused on kidney disease because the body’s kidneys filter toxins from the blood. As they age, kidneys get weaker and their filtering ability declines. Kidneys often fail with aging.
*Watermelon
People suffering from kidney disease, such as kidney stones, kidney failure and kidney cancer, have to take medicine and diet. However, the medicine can cause some side effects such as nausea, diarrhea and cramps.
Many patients therefore choose watermelon as a way to reduce these side effects. Watermelon contains high levels of potassium, magnesium, vitamin B6 and vitamin C. Potassium helps to eliminate the toxic effects of urine in the kidneys. Magnesium reduces calcium and oxalate deposits in the kidneys and promotes blood flow to the kidneys. Vitamin B6 reduces the amount of phosphate in the body which causes the release of calcium from bones. Vitamin C improves the function of the kidneys and prevents the damage that occurs in kidney disease.
Kidney disease can be prevented by drinking watermelon. Watermelon contains high amount of lycopene which acts as antioxidant. In kidney disease, oxidation takes place and excess number of free radicals accumulates. When a person eats lots of watermelon, lycopene content in the body increases which helps to decrease these free radicals and thus prevent kidney disease.
You can improve your diet by eating a variety of different fruits and vegetables-eating a variety of fruits and vegetables will improve your overall health.
What are the kidney stones and its effect on body?
Kidney stones are hard lumps formed in the kidneys. They can be caused by infection, certain medications, and diet. While a healthy person will have occasional kidney stones, people with certain health conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or certain genetic disorders, are at greater risk of developing kidney stones.
If you experience sharp abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, or blood in your urine, it could be a sign of a kidney stone. Your doctor may recommend further tests to identify the cause.
The kidneys are important organs that remove waste products from the body. In order to function correctly, they must be healthy. Kidney stones, or crystals, form inside the kidneys and can be painful and cause other health problems.
Here are the three main types of kidney stones: calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate, and uric acid stones. Calcium stones account for about 85% of all stones, while the other two types combined account for about 15%.
What foods can prevent the development of kidney stones?
Kidney stones are a painful form of crystallization. They form when certain minerals (like oxalic acid) in your urine combine with each other to form crystals. The crystals grow over time, and become too large to pass out of your bladder. This results in a blockage, and the crystals continue to grow over time.
The symptoms are painful urination, blood in your urine, and pain. Your doctor may prescribe medications to help control the stone formation, and surgery may be necessary to remove them.
To find out which foods contain the least amount of oxalic acid, check the list below:
- Asparagus
- Beans
- Citrus fruits
- Eggplants
- Figs
- Fruits
- Legumes
- Mushrooms
- Nuts
- Peanuts
- Vegetables
Are there any healthy foods that are bad for your kidneys?
Did you know that certain foods can be dangerous to your kidneys? There are plenty of foods that are good for your body overall, but they can actually cause harm to your kidneys, which can result in kidney disease.
Foods such as asparagus, lima beans, broccoli, cauliflower, and celery have high amounts of oxalic acid, which can damage your kidneys. Other foods that can cause kidney disease are sugar-sweetened drinks, alcohol, and processed meats. Read on to learn about healthy foods that are bad for your kidneys.
Kidneys are one of the organs that often need protection from food as well. Coffee can be harmful, especially for those with high blood pressure. Too much caffeine can damage the filtering system inside your kidneys. Redundant use of salt in the diet can cause kidney stones. Too much sugar, or processed foods such as cookies or cakes, can harm the kidneys as well.
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