Based on the National Kidneys Foundation, kidneys disease is responsible for the deaths of over 90,000 Americans every year. This is more than breast cancer and prostate cancer. If we’re looking to live long and healthy lives, it is essential to take care of our kidneys. However, our habits may hinder us from doing this.
You don’t have to wait until it’s too late to change these behaviors. Simple adjustments in your food, supplementation and even your sleep habits will help keep kidney diseases from occurring soon. Changes in habits can also help protect against other diseases, such as diabetes. For the benefit of your kidneys, think about making these changes to your routine.
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15. Use Herbs Instead Of Salt:
Consuming a lot of salt can upset the blood sugar balance and causes your kidneys to struggle to get rid of water. According to research from 2018 published in The Journal of Clinical Hypertension, this can lead to kidney disease. Unfortunately, many Western diets are known to indulge in salt.
It is recommended that the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends that you limit your salt consumption to one teaspoon daily of 2300 mg. It’s less than one-third of the amount that most people consume. Pay attention to the high levels of sodium in prepared and processed food items, as kidney damage could be a surprise to you.
14. Pain Relievers:
According to research published in The New England Journal of Medicine, The heavy use of painkillers such as Advil causes 5,000 cases of renal failure within the U.S. each year. How much is enough? Researchers found that the riskiest moment to use painkillers is when you are fasting. If you use pain relievers and eat food regularly to treat headaches, you’ll be safe.
As per Stanford physician Dr. Grant Lipman, pain relief drugs reduce blood flow to the kidneys. As time passes, this may cause kidneys to suffer a serious strain. Dr. Lipman states that one in five marathoners will experience the possibility of kidney damage.
13. Don’t Lock It Don’t Hold It:
Intentionally holding the bladder full of urine for an extended period can be extremely harmful to your kidneys. This can cause different kidney conditions like bacteria-related infections, the retention of fluids in the kidneys’ tissues as well as irritation of your kidneys, etc. Many people retain their urine for a longer time, like 2 hours, which is extremely harmful to kidneys. Long-term drinking can cause crystal formation, which can damage the delicate organs inside the body, and cause them to be more susceptible to cancer.
12. Foods processed for processing:
To remain fresher over time, refined food items typically contain high levels of sodium that can harm your kidneys. But sodium isn’t the only nutrient that can harm kidneys in processed foods as per NEPHCURE Kidney International. Other culprits include potassium as well as Phosphorus.
Although kidneys typically filter the levels of potassium, too much potassium can cause stress on the kidneys. This is also true for phosphorus. Patients with weak or debilitated kidneys must reduce amounts of potassium or the amount of phosphorus they consume. If you consume processed food in moderation, you will not have this issue.
11. Steer Clear Of Soda:
Like other drinks, soda contains the same nutrients as other drinks, namely sugar. A typical 12-ounce soda contains the same amount of sugar as three and donuts. Researchers have concluded that drinking more than two drinks a day can double the risk of developing kidney disease.
It’s not just about the sugar. In 2007, researchers discovered that drinking cola can increase kidney risk because of the phosphoric acid it contains. The acid could interfere with gene mutations and harm kidneys in time. Limiting your intake of soda to a single drink per day can significantly increase your overall health. You can also limit your soda consumption to once each week.
10. Stay True To Your Prescription:
Use your medication according to the prescription. Even even if you feel more comfortable taking a break or stopping your medication may harm the kidneys. Particularly drugs for pain or blood pressure cause strain on your kidneys if you are taking these medications frequently. Certain medications can trigger a “rebound” when the patient suffers another renal failure or heart attack.
Kidneys are benefited from regularity. If you alter your medications every day, it will throw your whole body off. Discuss with your physician whether the medication you’re taking could affect the kidneys. Certain antibiotics pose a significant risk to the health of your kidneys.
9. Do your homework on the supplements you are taking before you Use These:
If you regularly take Vitamins or supplements you should be aware. The high dosages of certain supplements are harmful to kidneys. A study published in 2012 by the American Society of Nephrology pinpoints the primary sources of the problem: cranberry bark, oil of wormwood the geranium plant, licorice, and vitamin C.
Particularly high doses of vitamin C or cranberry can increase the risk of developing kidney stones. If you suffer from a pre-existing medical condition, such as diabetes or auto-immune disease be sure to consult your physician before using supplements. The most natural supplements, such as turmeric can harm your kidneys when combined with certain drugs.
8. Don’t be too hard at The Gym:
You can “exercise yourself to the point of death.” Rhabdomyolysis, often known as Rhabdo is a disorder that is caused by the breakdown of muscles. If muscles are damaged it releases enzymes that cause kidney damage. In 40% of the cases, it can lead to kidney failure.
Rhabdomyolysis can be dangerous, but it is not common. It is a rare condition. Dr. Maureen Brogan of New York Medical College states that the majority of cases happen during the initial class. For example, if someone is too hard when they’re first starting cycling are at greater risk. Muscles must be built up gradually, so don’t force your body too far.
7. A High Consumption of Red Meat Could Possible Toxic:
Consuming excessive amounts of red meat could have serious consequences for your kidneys, lungs, and heart. Proteins in meat are broken into amino acids by the liver. The liver later transports them into the bloodstream. The amino acids are utilized to create the red meat proteins. But, these cells do not provide amino acids to other organs which causes an imbalance in the amount that your kidneys and the other organs can absorb. Therefore blood pressure and fluid retention as well as kidney problems are commonplace with diets that are high in protein.
6. Do Your Best To Avoid Overeating:
When it comes to holidays and celebrations many pamper themselves by eating a lot. Overindulgence can cause kidney strain as per the Dr. Sreedhar Mandayam of Baylor College. The more you consume the more your kidneys have to work to filter through the various food items according to Dr. Mandayam.
The most harmful combination of eating too much is the consumption of a large number of carbohydrates, protein, and fat. Unfortunately, the majority of Christmas and Thanksgiving dinners contain these. You can indulge on a few occasions but be mindful not to indulge often. Be mindful of the portion sizes you consume as well as only eating when hungry, and not tired or bored.
5. Substitute Sugar:
High levels of blood sugar can cause dehydration, which in turn increases the pressure of the kidneys. The high levels of sugar in urine themselves increase the pressure. The kidneys eliminate the sugar via water, and the result is concentrated urine. The accumulation in this urine could result in kidney stones or cystitis, which is a painful inflammation in the urinary tract. As kidney stones get bigger and inflamed, they hinder urinary flow, which prevents kidneys from working properly.
4. Don’t Use Butter:
Recent health trends advocate the substitution of margarine for butter. For your kidneys, this is not a wise alternative. Butter is loaded with saturated fats, which in large quantities, can harm kidneys. As per the National Kidney Foundation, these fats can raise LDL cholesterol (the “bad” kind) which can harm kidneys.
You can eat butter in small quantities but you shouldn’t consume it daily. If you prefer margarine choose one that has no trans fats and “hydrogenated” oils. Trans fats are more harmful than saturated fats when it comes to raising LDL cholesterol.
3. Heartburn Drugs:
Although certain heartburn medicines are safe to use every day Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) aren’t. The research conducted in Kidney International suggests that PPIs can reduce stomach acid can affect the kidneys in the long run. The habit of taking PPIs increases the risk of developing chronic kidney disease by 26%.
Fortunately, H2 Blockers (a distinct type of medication for heartburn) haven’t caused these symptoms. If you have to take a daily dose of heartburn medication discuss with your physician about switching to an H2 blocker. If you take PPIs often, perhaps once every few days, you aren’t required to worry.
2. Caffeine Consumption:
Coffee consumption isn’t harmful to the kidneys. If you consume a lot of cups of coffee each day, it’s a good idea to be aware of the dangers as per the National Kidney Foundation. Caffeine creates sudden spikes in blood pressure. While research is still in the process of determining the impact this can have on kidneys, it is a fact that you might be cautious.
The Dr. Jessica Saville of the National Kidney Foundation recommends drinking less than four cups of caffeine daily. Be aware that coffee additives, like cream or flavored syrups that are used in lattes, can increase the number of fats and sugar that you consume. They also harm your kidneys as time passes.
1. Lack of Sleep:
Insufficient sleep is one of the things that affect the kidneys in a major way. If you do not have enough rest the body is unable to recover and the kidneys have to fight to keep your blood pressure to proper levels. This causes your heart to work harder and also results in your kidneys having in releasing more proteins to assist in removing blood. All the work your kidneys are doing is reflected in the bloodstream, which in turn results in higher blood pressure. It is recommended to get at minimum 8 hours of sleep each night, and nap during the day instead of sleeping at night.
