KIDNEY-FRIENDLY FOOD

KIDNEY-FRIENDLY FOODS

You should not wait until you have a chronic kidney disease (CKD), before you start eating "kidney-friendly foods" or meals. 

The kidney is the organ of the body that performs "sewage functions" in our bodies. 

The kidney stabilizes or balances the minerals in our bodies, produces hormones that help our bodies' functions, and ensures that no poison enters our blood stream and other vital parts of our bodies. 

The kidney also conveys or removes the body's waste products through our urine and excreta. 

It's the kidneys that also ensure that our body fluids are balanced. In other words, the amount of fluids leaving the body at a particular time should not reduce the amount left in the body. 

A problem occurs when the kidneys are impaired and fail to function accurately. In this situation, fluid can build up in the body so that waste product could accumulate in the blood stream and cause unexpected problems to other parts of our bodies.

When our kidneys functions fail, our bodies would retain the body’s waste products that should be expelled from our system, and the body will become distressed. 

And this is the time a doctor tells us our kidneys are failing or have failed. 

Sufferers could manifest bloated stomachs, faces, limbs and other parts of the body. 

For this reason, science and scientific studies recommend that we consume "kidney-friendly foods", and the foods that help other important organs of our bodies to function properly. 

These "organ-friendly foods" should always be incorporated into our everyday meals, in order for us to benefit from what they do in our body systems. 

Thus, consuming "kidney-friendly" meals become an important method for helping individuals to shield or protect their kidneys from potential harm or further damages. 

"Kidney-friendly foods" are diets that are enriched with vegetables, whole grains, fruits, nuts and seeds, which are usually plant-based. 

In addition, beans meals, poultry, low-fat dairy products and fish are preferable diet options for those who desire to maintain ‘clean’ kidneys. 

Most of the foods listed above are low in sugars, fats and sodium.

Here are specific "kidney-friendly foods" everybody should be eating:

Cabbages

Carrots

Onions 

Bell peppers 

Cucumbers

Arugula 

Turkey and chicken chest

Macadamia nuts 

Egg white 

Red grapes

Pineapples 

Radish

Cranberries 

Etc. 

On the other hand, there are foods you should eat in moderation or avoid eating completely. 

These are foods and seasonings that actually increase the chances of waste products accumulating in your blood and cause the disruption of the proper functions of your kidneys. These would eventually lead to kidney damage or kidney disease.

Foods that are high in salt or sodium can increase your BP, which is known to be a precursor to kidney damage or disease. 

The usual alternative is to season your meals with healthy spices and herbal condiments. 

When I began my journey of natural diet lifestyle, I discovered how easy it is to not need extra salt in my meals. Every natural food has their unique taste, making it unnecessary to add extra salt or sugar to a meal.

Here are a list of some of the foods you should eat moderately, or remove entirely from your menu. Maintaining healthy kidneys or preventing further damages of your kidneys should be more important to you than enjoying the benefits of some foods. 

Avocado 

Though a super-food, avocado should be avoided or eaten in moderate quantities, because of its high content of potassium. 

Canned/processed foods 

These are usually high in sodium, which is used as a preservative. However, it's advisable to read all food labels when purchasing a canned food. Some canned food can be used where the natural ones are scarce, provided the percentage of sodium in them does not exceed 6%.

Bananas 

This is another healthy food, but its high content of potassium makes it an unhealthy food for anyone suffering from a kidney disease. 

To protect your kidneys, you must carefully choose what you eat, especially when you suspect or when your doctor has told you there's a problem with your kidneys. 

Working with a dietician may actually be your best option if you want to be on the safe side. In addition, ensure that you do not consume any food that has more than 5% or 6% sodium content, and also avoid eating foods containing added sugars.