Author: Ivan Red Jr.
Time for reading: ~3
minutes
Last Updated:
August 08, 2022
In this article, learn more about How To Change Your Diet To Maintain Your Kidney Health?. Proper diet is essential for maintaining kidney health.
The kidneys filter the blood and expel metabolic waste products from the body. They also participate in maintaining the water-electrolyte balance. Impaired kidney health affects the general condition of the body. Untreated kidney disease can lead to severe reduction or complete cessation of kidney function.
Chronic kidney disease is also a cause of loss of kidney function. Very often lifestyle and especially diet have an effect on kidney function. In people who are prone to kidney disease, it is highly recommended to adhere to diets that are beneficial for the kidneys. Here are some tips that will keep your kidneys healthy.
Avoid fizzy drinks. They can damage your health in several ways. First of all, they contain a huge amount of sugar. Their daily use leads to overweight, but also damages the kidneys and severely impairs their function. Replace soda with smoothies, water with lemon or preferably clean water.
Be careful with the salt you take in. Large amounts of salt are a leading cause of kidney disease. Patients with kidney disease are subjected to a diet in which salt is minimal. If you want to keep your kidneys healthy, you need to consume salt very carefully and sensibly. This is extremely important for kidney health. Food for babies and children up to 1.5 - 2 years should be prepared without salt or with a minimum amount. In them, the immaturity of the excretory system requires very little salt consumption.
Avoid ultra-processed foods. Processed foods do not benefit our health. Every time we prefer processed foods to a home-cooked meal, we put our health at risk. They are a source of trans fats and large amounts of salt and sugar, which greatly impede kidney function.
Drink as much fluid as possible. Getting enough fluids determines kidney health. Water helps to eliminate unnecessary products from the body. Drinking more water means a reduced risk of kidney disease. All kinds of fresh juices, smoothies, coconut water, milk, etc. are good for kidney health. Still, it is best to drink enough water between 1.5 and 2 liters per day.
Make fresh fruits and vegetable part of your daily menu. Fruits and vegetables are recommended for almost everything, as they are a healthy food, a source of vitamins and valuable minerals. When it comes to kidney health, choose fruits and vegetables that are lower in sodium. These are cauliflower, blueberries, grapes, garlic, cabbage, peppers, onions, radishes, pineapple.
Pineapple is an extremely useful fruit for people prone to kidney disease. Unlike other fruits of this variety (bananas, kiwis, which should be avoided), pineapple is low in potassium. It is a source of fiber, B vitamins, manganese and bromelain. Bromelain is an enzyme that affects inflammation. A diet containing pineapple is suitable for maintaining healthy kidneys.
Eat the right amount of protein. When you eat protein, your body produces waste products. It is the kidneys that process and eliminates these substances that are unnecessary for the body. If you eat more protein than you need, your kidneys will start working harder. For this reason, it is good to monitor what protein is in the diet and in what amount. This rule applies especially to people prone to kidney disease. It is good for the proteins in the diet to be provided by high-quality sources such as egg whites, fish, meat, soy and small amounts of dairy products.
It is preferable to include as many fresh fruits and vegetables as possible in the diet. In addition, the diet includes whole grains, low-fat or skimmed dairy products. It is absolutely mandatory to eliminate foods high in sugar and salt. Reduce the amount of salt used as much as possible. Instead, use other fresh spices that will give the food a pleasant taste.