5 Tips For Healthier Kidneys
Do you know why it’s so important to have healthier kidneys?
Your kidneys are responsible for filtering, absorbing and re-absorbing water, salt and ions in your body. They are the organs that remove toxins from your blood. They are the most important organs in your urinary system.
Now that you understand how important healthy kidneys are, read on and follow these tips.
Try these tips for healthier kidneys
1. Follow a healthy diet
Excessive consumption of foods high in fat and sugar makes your kidneys work overtime, as these foods overload your kidneys with toxins.
The result is a buildup of toxins that makes your kidneys work harder than usual to keep your body clean.
It is also important to keep your cholesterol level under control. People with high cholesterol often also have kidney problems (and serious problems if they already had kidney failure).
Choose a diet rich in:
- vegetables
- fruit
- healthy fats
2. Avoid Drug Overuse
Overuse of anti-inflammatories and painkillers can cause kidney damage and lead to other irreversible consequences.
So always take the medication your doctor has prescribed, but be careful with over-the-counter medications and avoid addiction or overuse.
3. Don’t eat too much salt
Salt is already standard in almost everything we cook and eat. However, this does not mean that you should abuse salt, as it will make it difficult to get healthier kidneys.
Because salt is already used in almost everything, you have to be extra careful not to eat too much of it. When you eat too much salt, your kidneys have to work overtime. If you consume more salt than you are able to remove, problems can arise.
But how can you reduce salt intake? First, use less salt when cooking. This is the easiest step.
You should also reduce the consumption of salty products, such as:
- fast food
- Soft drink
- Canned foods
It is best to prepare everything you eat yourself. If this doesn’t fit into your lifestyle, try eating plenty of leafy greens and drinking plenty of water.
4. Stay Hydrated
Because your kidneys are responsible for removing toxins through your urine, they need a lot of fluid, especially water. The vast majority of kidney problems stem from dehydration.
Despite this, many people get bored of drinking water. If you experience this too, we recommend having a healthy drink, such as hibiscus water, two or three times a day.
The rest of the recommended two liters of water per day should be normal, natural water.
If you live in a warm climate or do a lot of physical activity, you may need a larger amount of water.
5. Moderate your protein and dairy consumption
Your body is a machine where excess can lead to serious problems.
Eating too much protein or dairy is related to kidney stones and kidneys not functioning properly.
- Kidney stones can form when too much calcium, oxalate and phosphorus builds up in your kidneys.
- If the kidney stone is small, it can be broken down and removed through the urinary tract. If it is larger than the urethra, surgery is usually required.
Ideally, you should not consume more than two glasses of milk or 40 grams of cheese per day. It is also recommended to eat vegetable proteins.