How to keep your Kidney healthy?

“Healthy” a word which we normally use in our day to day life but do we really know it’s exact meaning. “We want to live healthy”, “We want to eat healthy” etc but what exactly this “HEALTHY” is ? In short healthy is something we all are looking for, a Burger might be  healthy for a child & unhealthy for adults; Green vegetables might be healthy for adults & unhealthy tasteless for children . So the definition of HEALTHY varies for everyone.

Keeping aside this so called healthy definition let’s focus on some points to keep our Kidneys stronger & well functioning. Kidneys plays a major part in a human system as it Filters, secretes Hormones, regulates Blood Pressure & many more functions so in order to live long & a smooth functioning of life we need to keep it safe .

So here we have compiled some points how we can take care of our 2 bean shaped Kidneys-

Kidney Healthy Foods –

There’s no dish in the world which claims that “I’m the best healthy Kidney Food”, we all are aware what should be eaten and what should be avoided but still we get fascinated towards junk- fried food items because they tastes far better than bitter gourds, Bottle gourds or any other green leafy vegetables.

It’s just a matter of priority to which we give prime importance to. Here we are sharing some eatables that your Kidneys will surely like-

1. Apples: They are a good source of Pectin-a soluble Fibre. It lowers Cholesterol and Glucose levels, has high antioxidant levels also a good source of Vitamin C.

 2. Spinach: High source of Vitamins A, C, K &  Folate. The beta-carotene found in spinach helps to boost immunity and protect vision.

3. Cauliflower: Rich in vitamin C, Folate and Fiber

  • Proteins: Eat small portions of protein foods. Protein found in plants and animals sources like-  Animal Source protein- Chicken, Fish, Meat, Eggs, Dairy and Plant source protein – Beans, Nuts, Grains, Soya etc.
  • Fresh Fruits: Fresh fruits are obviously necessary for healthy functioning of body & they contains essential nutrients which is very necessary for overall body.
  • Water: It is the most important drink for the body. The cells use water to transport toxins into the bloodstream. Kidneys then use water to filter toxins out of the body. You don’t need to drink gallons of water in a day but it should be sufficient so that body doesn’t feel dehydrated.
  •  Cabbage: It is a leafy vegetable relatively low in potassium and very low in sodium content

2.Foods to Avoid for Kidney Health –

  • High Sodium Diet should be Sodium affects the blood pressure. It also regulates the water balance in body
  • Healthy kidneys keep sodium levels in check
  • Avoid Oily- spicy foods
  • Avoid packaged food items
  • Avoid Alcohol consumption

3. How to improve Kidney Functions-

  • If suffering from High Blood Pressure then try to control your blood pressure
  • Manage Blood Sugar levels
  • Avoid NSAIDs (Non- Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs)
  • Moderate protein consumption
  • Exercise regularly
  • Control your weight
  • Follow a balanced diet
  • Quit smoking
  • Drink  in moderations
  • Stay hydrated
  • Monitor cholesterol levels

 4. Chronic Kidney Disease-

  • It is a condition which leads to loss of kidney functions over a period of time.
  • If Kidney gets damaged then it can’t filter waste materials out of the body, waste builds to high levels in blood & later develop serious complications like – High Blood Pressure, Heart disorders, Anemia, Weaker Bones, Nerve damage, Poor nutrition etc.

Causes of Chronic Kidney Disease-

  • High Blood Pressure
  • Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
  • Heart Disease
  • A family history of Kidney Disease

Symptoms of Chronic Kidney Disease:-

  • Fatigue
  • Shortness of breath
  • Swelling in hands & feets
  • Swollen or puffy face
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Urine discoloration
  • Weight loss
  • Poor appetite
  • Itchy skin
  • Muscle cramps

Diagnosis-

  1. Kidney Function Tests
  2. Urine tests- Routine & Microscopic
  3. Imaging tests- USG, MRI, CT Scan

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