Kidneys are vital organs; they help remove waste products from the blood. Sometimes, unfortunately, this filtering system breaks down and the kidneys lose their ability to remove waste products. As a result, toxins build up and poison our blood. The consequences can be severe.
Before we delve a little deeper, let's get some basic information about kidney disease.
Who gets kidney disease?
Although most people with diabetes are likely to have kidney disease, other factors such as genetics, blood pressure and blood sugar control do also play a role. So, the better a person keeps blood pressure and diabetes under control, the lower the chances of kidney disease developing.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms, though not specific, may range from fluid buildup, loss of sleep, stomach upset and poor appetite to difficulty concentrating. It is, therefore, essential to see your physician regularly. The doctor can check blood (for waste products), urine (for protein) and blood pressure, among other complications.
How to prevent kidney diseases
Exercise and eat healthy
Lack of exercising and eating junk food may lead to obesity, a condition that interferes with insulin levels and increases your blood glucose levels. If the levels of glucose in the blood remain high for a long duration of time, your kidneys may get damaged.
It is therefore important to reduce unhealthy fats, processed or refined flour and alcohol. In addition, getting at least 30 minutes of exercises at least five days a week will help prevent obesity. It does not have to be a high-performance exercise; light jogging, brisk walking or dancing can help prevent diabetes.
Here are some essential fruits that help keep the kidneys healthy.
· Lemon
These fruits are high in citrate and potassium, which may help in dissolving certain kinds of kidney stones especially those formed by excess uric acid deposits. Taking a glass of lemon water in the morning helps flush waste from your tissues.
· Grape seed extract
It is believed that the extract contains antioxidants which provide the kidneys with an anti-inflammatory agent. This agent, it's believed, assists in reversing kidney disease.
· Cherry juice
This juice has high potassium and may help kidney function and prevents stone formation. As a matter of fact, potassium together with sodium and calcium helps regulate blood pressure in the body and keep the kidneys healthy. If you are suffering from kidney disease, unfortunately, you may not need increased potassium. Always consult your doctor before using foods to treat serious diseases.
A good combination of vegetable juices helps neutralize the body's acids and helps dissolve clumps that may form kidney stones.
Control high blood pressure
High blood pressure may cause damage and narrowing of the blood vessels thus affecting the nephrons of the kidneys as well as other organs such as the heart. Blood pressure influences the rate at which the disease progresses; even a slight increase in blood pressure can worsen your kidney disease.
Healthy eating and exercising helps to control high blood pressure. Also include more vegetables, poultry, nuts, fish and whole grains, but reduce caffeine and sodium intake in your diet. Avoiding tobacco, eating less salt and losing weight are other ways to reduce your blood pressure.
Always consult your doctor for advice on these and other treatment options.
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