Protect your kidneys in 10 simple ways
Protect your kidneys in 10 simple ways
Most people know how to protect their heart (eat less fat, exercise more), but do you know how to care for your kidneys? A diabetic patient of mine thought he was healthy until a kidney function test showed that his kidneys were only functioning at 40-percent capacity.
The kidneys’ job is to help remove various toxins (drugs and food wastes), and expel them through the urine. The kidneys are silent and efficient workers, but if they get sick, the whole body suffers.
As we grow older, our kidneys also start to age, hence the need to protect them. Another problem with kidney disease is that majority of patients have no warning symptoms. Occasionally, some patients may notice leg swelling, which prompts a doctor’s consult.
Here, we have summarized the 10 best ways to protect your kidneys:
1. Limit your salt intake. Too much salt is not only bad for your blood pressure, it’s also bad for your kidneys. Many Filipinos die of kidney disease, which can be partly attributed to our high salt intake and fondness for fish sauce, soy sauce, bagoong, plain salt,
and salted fish. Even our instant noodles, chips, and nuts are teeming with salt. According to Dr. Montemayor, it doesn’t matter if you dilute your soup with lots of water. As long as you drink all the soup, you’ll still get all the salt in it. Hence, if you like eating instant noodles, just use half of the seasoning and add half of the water only.
The problem with salt is that it encourages the body to retain water, and can increase your blood pressure (which damages the kidneys). Learn to read nutritional labels and limit eating salty foods.
The kidneys’ job is to help remove various toxins (drugs and food wastes), and expel them through the urine. The kidneys are silent and efficient workers, but if they get sick, the whole body suffers.
As we grow older, our kidneys also start to age, hence the need to protect them. Another problem with kidney disease is that majority of patients have no warning symptoms. Occasionally, some patients may notice leg swelling, which prompts a doctor’s consult.
Here, we have summarized the 10 best ways to protect your kidneys:
1. Limit your salt intake. Too much salt is not only bad for your blood pressure, it’s also bad for your kidneys. Many Filipinos die of kidney disease, which can be partly attributed to our high salt intake and fondness for fish sauce, soy sauce, bagoong, plain salt,
and salted fish. Even our instant noodles, chips, and nuts are teeming with salt. According to Dr. Montemayor, it doesn’t matter if you dilute your soup with lots of water. As long as you drink all the soup, you’ll still get all the salt in it. Hence, if you like eating instant noodles, just use half of the seasoning and add half of the water only.
The problem with salt is that it encourages the body to retain water, and can increase your blood pressure (which damages the kidneys). Learn to read nutritional labels and limit eating salty foods.
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