Our kidneys are located at the base of our rib cage, on either side of our spine. They are bean-like in shape and can be 4-5 inches long.
Kidneys perform many vital functions in our body. Most importantly, they remove waste products and various impurities from our blood, leaving proteins and other important nutrients in the blood. Kidneys also remove excess water from the blood and ensure optimum levels of electrolytes in our bodies. The removed wastes are temporarily stored in our bladder and later excreted through urine.
We must therefore take good care of our kidneys, otherwise, waste products will simply accumulate within our body, making us feel very sick.
There are various kidney-related diseases one can suffer from. Let us discuss some of them below.
What are the common problems with kidneys?
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a very common disease among people. In CKD, our kidneys get damaged and hence cannot filter blood effectively leading to the accumulation of waste within the body.
High blood pressure, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases are the main risk factors behind CKD. High blood pressure results in increased waste filtration cycles, while diabetes causes kidneys to remove excess glucose from the blood, both of which overwork the kidneys and damage them over time. The cardiovascular system is responsible for providing oxygen-rich blood to all body organs and if it does not work efficiently, it too can affect the functioning of the kidneys.
The minerals in urine can sometimes form “crystals” (also called kidney stones) of various sizes. These stones are generally small enough to pass out of the body through urine with little or no pain, but some stones can be large enough to prevent urine flow and cause severe pain that may have to be treated medically.
Urinary tract infection (UTI) is another common kidney-related disease. It is a bacterial infection in the urinary system. UTI is usually treated with antibiotics.
We discussed above the importance of kidneys in our body and the most common kidney-related problems. Let us now discuss the precautions one must take to keep kidneys in good health.
How should we maintain the health of our kidneys?
Exercise regularly for a healthy heart and a healthy weight
There is no doubt that physical activities and exercises play a vital role in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. They reduce the risk of developing various chronic diseases. Several studies have demonstrated that physical activity can reduce both hypertension and the risk of cardiovascular diseases. A good exercise program will ensure that the heart pumps blood efficiently, as well as that body weight is kept in check, which reduces the pressure on the arteries and lowers blood pressure. A healthy heart reduces the risk of damage to the kidneys.
Stop smoking
We all know that smoking harms. Tobacco use causes cancer and damages blood vessels, lungs, the heart, and almost all vital organs in the body. Besides smoking directly affecting kidneys, decreased blood flow to them as a result of damaged blood vessels can also reduce kidney function. Smoking and tobacco usage, therefore, should be avoided.
Manage diabetes
A consistently high blood sugar level can also damage the kidneys since they have to work harder to remove extra sugar from the blood. Therefore, people suffering from diabetes must regularly monitor their blood sugar and take appropriate medication to keep it within the limit.
Avoid regular use of OTC Medications
When one regularly takes over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication, it might result in kidney damage. Some pain medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), reduce blood flow to the kidneys, which may damage the kidneys in the long run.
So, one should not get into the habit of taking OTC medications for pain management, but rather consult a doctor to manage chronic pains.
Eat a healthy and balanced diet
One should always eat a balanced diet that is rich in nutrients and antioxidants. To help the kidneys do their job of flushing toxins out of the body, it is very important to drink enough water.
Unfortunately, kidney diseases can still occur. Although some diseases can be cured, others such as CKD require lifelong medication and dietary restrictions.
Kidney disease and dietary guidelines
In normal kidney functioning, dietary restrictions are not necessary; however, when kidneys are damaged and incapable of doing their job, restrictions are imposed.
Dietary restrictions vary depending on the type and stage of kidney disease. As an example, high-protein diets are restricted after the onset of CKD, while protein requirements increase during dialysis.
It is wise to exclude the foods which contribute the most to waste accumulation.
Reducing potassium, phosphorus, and sodium intake is an important aspect of managing the disease as, in excess, these minerals cannot be filtered by the kidneys.
It is also necessary to restrict high-protein diets since protein metabolism causes waste to build up in the blood, which damaged kidneys cannot easily excrete.
Also, it is best to consume foods containing high biological value (HBV) proteins as they contain all essential amino acids in the right proportion for humans. These proteins originate from animal sources and are more efficiently metabolized by our bodies than plant-based proteins. A diet that already contains HBV proteins should not include plant-based proteins.
In contrast, plant-based foods generally contain low biological value proteins, which means certain essential amino acids may be lacking. Several plant-based foods can be combined to improve protein quality in such cases.
With kidney disease, one may experience a loss of appetite and lose a lot of weight. Hence it is recommended to eat smaller, energy-rich meals frequently in order to avoid this.
A kidney patient’s menu: what to order?
Although there are several foods that are good sources of several nutrients including protein, vitamins, and minerals, one should choose foods that are low in sodium, potassium, and phosphorus, as well as proteins. If one must consume potassium-rich vegetables, it is highly recommended that the vegetables, especially leafy ones, be leached before cooking.
The following is a list of foods to consider, not an exhaustive one.
Foods that are safe to consume
Vegetables such as fenugreek leaves, lettuce, pumpkin, bottle gourd, white pumpkin, white gourd, snake gourd, cucumber, onion, garlic, and turnip can be safely consumed.
Bulgur and buckwheat are low in potassium and phosphorus when compared to other whole grains
White rice and white bread are low on potassium and phosphorus, and a better choice over brown rice and wheat bread
Olive oil is the preferred oil as it is low in phosphorus.
Foods containing high biological value proteins such as milk, milk products, egg white, poultry, and fish. If these items are included in the meal, other high-protein foods such as soya, paneer, and dal may not be included.
If consuming plant-based foods, combine multiple foods to provide better protein quality, such as cereal with pulse, nuts with beans, etc.
High-energy and low-protein foods such as sugar, sago (sabudana), ghee, oil, unsalted butter, honey, and jaggery.
Blueberries, red grapes, pineapple, and cranberries are rich in vitamins and antioxidants.
Consume, but in limits
Ladyfinger, bitter gourd, french beans, broad beans, radish, carrot, sweet potato, potato, yam, brinjal, cauliflower, cabbage, mango, tomato, capsicum/bell pepper, and beetroot.
Wheat bread and brown rice are high in potassium and phosphorus.
Fruits like apple, guava, papaya, pineapple, pear, and orange are comparatively low in potassium.
Beverages like tea, coffee, and chocolate drinks have large amounts of potassium, hence restrict their intake. Restrict alcohol consumption too.
Foods that must be avoided
Leafy vegetables such as spinach, mustard leaves, colocasia leaves, drumstick, jack fruit, lotus stem, mushroom, sward bean, and double beans should be avoided.
Canned, processed, or preserved foods should be avoided as they contain high amounts of sodium/salt to increase their shelf life or are high on the glycemic index. Examples: processed meat, bakery products such as cake, puffs, cookies, and pastries, macaroni, packaged noodles, pasta, and cornflakes.
Avoid salted food like papadams, pickles, chutneys, various sauces, nuts, salted chips, salted popcorn, and tomato ketchup.
Avoid salty and fried foods as they increase thirst. Also avoid low sodium salt, as it may contain a high amount of potassium.
Dairy products are usually high in potassium, phosphorus, and protein. Hence avoid cheese, salted butter, etc.
Avoid large amounts of fluids in general as they stressed the kidneys. Avoid dark-colored-colas, coconut water, fruit juice as they are high in phosphorus and potassium.
Fruits high in potassium such as avocado, banana, and apricot.
Dried fruits such as dates, raisins, and prunes.
With this information, we hope readers will understand the importance of kidneys in our bodies and take good care of them. Although the disease may still occur, it can be managed with proper diet and medication for many years. Healthy Living!