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How Do You Improve Kidney Function

Monitor Weight And Eat A Healthy Diet

How To Improve Kidney Function By Eating These 3 Foods

People who are overweight or obese are at risk for a number of health conditions that can damage the kidneys. These include diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease.

A healthy diet thats low in sodium, processed meats, and other kidney-damaging foods may help reduce the risk of kidney damage. Focus on eating fresh ingredients that are naturally low-sodium, such as cauliflower, blueberries, fish, whole grains, and more.

How Is Your Glomerular Filtration Rate Measured

The glomerular filtration rate measurement comes from the name of the filtering units inside your kidneys, called the glomeruli.

Glomeruli are complex structures made of tiny blood vessels called capillaries, along with protein mesh and layers of tissue that continuously filter your plasma. Each glomerulus is housed within a structure called a Bowmans capsule. Based on 2020 research, between your 2 kidneys, you have about 2 million glomeruli.

A number of formulas are used by groups like the National Kidney Foundation to calculate GFR. But the measurement essentially takes into consideration your gender, age, body size, and your blood creatinine level.

Creatinine is a waste product that your body creates as muscle breaks down. Everyone has some creatinine in their blood. Average levels range from:

  • 0.9 to 1.3 milligrams per deciliter in adult men
  • 0.6 to 1.1 milligrams per deciliter in adult women

These levels can vary. For example, in a 2009 research review, creatinine levels fell by an average of 0.4 milligrams per deciliter in pregnant women.

Because they can change with age and size, creatinine levels alone are not good indicators of kidney health. The GFR takes these other elements into account.

Most GFR results simply provide you with a measurement of 60 or higher, since you can have stage 1 or 2 kidney disease, but still have normal kidney function. This changes when your GFR drops below 60. Under 60, you begin to have some loss in function.

Dont Take Supplements Containing Creatine

Creatine provides the muscles with energy. It is stored in the brain, kidneys, and liver. Athletes and weightlifters use creatinine as a popular supplement to build muscle and improve performance. If you wish to lower your creatinine level, you may want to minimize your creatine intake.

Additionally, some medications such as antibiotics, cardiovascular drugs, chemotherapy drugs, diuretics, and lithium can also impair your kidney health. Consult with your doctor before taking any medications and supplements to protect your kidneys.

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The Importance Of Creatinine Levels

After many years study, and lengthy clinical trials, creatinine was found to be the best indicator of kidney function. Why? Well, there are a few reasons for this, and they are as follows:1. Creatinine is produced at a relatively constant rate

2. Creatinine is mainly eliminated from the body via the kidneys.

3. Creatinine has virtually no reabsorption within the kidneys meaning there is no recycling of creatinine back into the blood stream. Reabsorption would cause a skew in the results, making this molecule a poorer choice for assessing kidney function.

* Heres a tip, next time you have your renal function checked make sure you abstain from any strenuous exercise beforehand as this will give you false decrease in renal function.

As you can see the very nature of this molecule and the way the body handles it make it a perfect choice to assess kidney function, but more importantly, I hope this demonstrates one important factor that I have been alluding to: Lowering creatinine levels should not be your end goal, because it is just a measure of kidney function, it is not the problem/cause of your kidney disease.

For example if there was a treatment to lower creatinine levels but it did nothing else, it wouldnt be very beneficial treatment, right? Right. This is because you would still have under functioning kidneys, and as an example, possibly have high potassium, low vitamin D levels, and low haemoglobin levels.

Treatment For Kidney Failure

#1 Supplement to Improve Kidney Function Naturally (100% ...

The treatment choices for kidney failure include:

  • dialysis
  • kidney transplantation
  • non-dialysis supportive care.

Dialysis or kidney transplantation is needed when there is less than 10 per cent of kidney function left. These options are also known as renal replacement therapy . Some people choose non-dialysis supportive care rather than dialysis or kidney transplantation.

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Practical Tips To Improve Kidney Lab Results

Chronic Kidney Disease, as you may well know, means that your kidneys are not working as well as they once did. It is often a progressive disease which means it can get worse over time.

One way to combat this is to start undergoing a renal diet. By choosing the right foods to eat, you can greatly help lessen the burden on your kidneys. You could go with these kidney-boosting food items for starters.

However, you also need to learn to keep tabs of your kidney disease lab results to make sure you are in the right track and are keeping your kidneys in the safe zone.

If you are still starting to do something that can improve your numbers, here are some guides that nephrologists and health professionals follow, which can work for you, too!

Glomerular filtration rate

GFR tells you how well your kidneys are filtering blood. The goal is to keep your GFR from going down to delay kidney failure. A GFR level below 60 is indicative of kidney disease, while a value of 15 or less signifies kidney failure.

How to improve GFR values?

This is where renal dieting comes in. And this renal diet education for patients is not just limited to improving your GFR, but your other numbers as well .

1. Limit your sodium intake.
2. Manage your blood sugar levels.

What Are Good Gfr And Creatinine Numbers

GFR and creatinine are usually measured and reported together. GFR is the best measure of kidney function, but creatinine can also be a helpful indicator of your kidney health. It’s a bad sign if your GFR goes down or your creatinine goes up. In general, a “good” GFR number is above 60, and a “good” creatinine number is below 1.2.

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Kidney Damage From High Blood Pressure

One of the most common causes for kidney damage is high blood pressure, which can occur as a result of a wide number of different risk factors .

Think of your kidneys as one of your bodys natural filtration pumps, which function ideally at normal blood pressure. Hypertension due to heart disease, high cholesterol, or any number of other conditions that can increase your blood pressure puts an excess strain on this filtration system.

Over a long time exposed to high blood pressure, the blood vessels in the kidneys can be damaged, worn down, or hardened, which limit the kidneys ability to filter your blood and perform its vital functions.

Symptoms Of Kidney Disease

Kidneys: How to improve your kidney function

In the early stages of kidney disease, people can have no symptoms. In fact, some people have no symptoms until over 90 per cent of their kidney function has gone. This is unfortunate because early detection of kidney disease and treatment is the key to preventing kidney failure.

Symptoms of kidney disease can include:

  • tiredness
  • bad breath an
  • a metallic taste in the mouth.

These symptoms can be caused by other conditions, but if you are in a high-risk group for kidney disease, speak with your doctor.

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How To Improve Kidney Function: Can Natural Remedies Help

This article was co-authored by Zora Degrandpre, ND. Dr. Degrandpre is a Licensed Naturopathic Physician in Vancouver, Washington. She is also a grant reviewer for the National Institutes of Health and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. She received her ND from the National College of Natural Medicine in 2007.There are 17 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 47,625 times.

Your kidneys are responsible for filtering toxins out of your body, so youll want to keep them healthy and in working order for as long as possible. Luckily, there are many ways to support your kidney health. In general, if you dont have any kidney diseases, then following a healthy dietary and lifestyle routine should maintain your kidney function. If you do have kidney issues, then you should see a doctor before trying any home treatments. The doctor may want you to take some medications or undergo a procedure to support your kidneys. After this, you can try some lifestyle management methods to improve your kidney function on your own.

Serum Creatinine Normal Range

Serum creatinine is measured by milligrams of creatinine per deciliter of the blood.

The Mayo Clinic shared that the normal range of creatinine in the blood is generally:

  • Men: 0.6 to 1.2 mg/dL 53 to 106 mmol/L
  • Women: 0.5 to 1.1 mg/dL 44 to 97 mmol/L
  • Teenagers: 0.5 to 1.0 mg/dL
  • Children: 0.3 to 0.7 mg/dL

Meanwhile, the creatinine clearance is measured in milliliters of blood filtered per minute . The normal levels are:

  • 97 – 137 ml/min for males
  • 88 – 128 ml/min for females

For CKD patients, you may find your creatinine clearance below:

Stages of Renal Failure

CR: < 35 ml/min

Less than 30 ml/min

Important Note: For Serum Creatinine tests, see numbers in “SC and for Clearance Rate tests see numbers in CR.

It is essential to note that this chart is for general reference. As mentioned, the serum creatinine normal range is dependent on a range of factors such as age, gender, hydration, or body mass. Hence, you must not interpret your lab results by yourself. Consult your doctor as they will evaluate and interpret your numbers and explain them to you.

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Be Aware Of The Amount Of Otc Pills You Take

If you regularly take over-the-counter pain medication, you may be causing kidney damage. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , including ibuprofen and naproxen, can damage your kidneys if you take them regularly for chronic pain, headaches, or arthritis.

People with no kidney issues who take the medicine occasionally are likely in the clear. However, if you use these medicines daily, you could be risking your kidneys health. Talk with your doctor about kidney-safe treatments if youre coping with pain.

If youre at high risk of kidney damage or kidney disease, its a good idea to have regular kidney function tests. The following people may benefit from regular screening:

  • people who are over 60 years old
  • people who were born at a low birth weight
  • people who have cardiovascular disease or have family with it
  • people who have or have a family history of high blood pressure
  • people who are obese
  • people who believe they may have kidney damage

A regular kidney function test is a great way to know your kidneys health and to check for possible changes. Getting ahead of any damage can help slow or prevent future damage.

Control Your Salt Intake

How to improve kidney function:

A small amount of salt each day is good for you, as long as its not refined The problem is if you consume too much, either in pre-made meals or as a condiment. Frozen meals tend to contain table salt, which is just sodium chloride and doesnt contain the balance of minerals and trace elements that your body needs.

  • If you consume too much salt, your kidneys will need to retain more water to be able to process it, which causes an imbalance of fluids in your body.
  • At the same time, it causes increased blood pressure, which damages nephrons over time.

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What Are The Best Ways To Improve Renal Function

The kidneys perform many essential duties that keep humans healthy. They filter blood to remove waste, produce urine, and control blood pressure. Kidneys also regulate a number of vitamins and hormones that promote bone, tissue, and organ health. It is crucial to keep the kidneys in proper working order to ward off kidney disease and prevent numerous related health problems. There are many different ways to improve and preserve renal function, such as exercising regularly, following dietary guidelines set by a physician, and limiting the use of over-the-counter and prescription painkillers.

Making simple lifestyle changes can significantly improve renal function and overall health. By exercising regularly, giving up smoking, and maintaining a consistent sleeping pattern, the kidneys are able to better regulate hormones and vitamins in the blood. Individuals who exercise drink plenty of water, and avoid smoking are less likely to experience high blood pressure, a major cause of chronic kidney disease and renal failure. Getting enough sleep helps to reduce stress levels and stabilize the immune and digestive system.

Can You Reverse Kidney Disease At Home

YES You can reverse kidney disease at home using natural treatment, home remedies & diet control.

You know that you can look much younger than your actual age by having a balanced nutritious diet, shedding some weight & getting enough sleep, etc., Not only you will look younger but also you will start to feel more energetic . In the same way, nature can make your kidneys healthier & more efficient.

I was skeptical when I heard about naturally reversing kidney disease, but I gave it a try, and the result was just amazing my CKD reversed from Stage 3b to CKD Stage 2 within 6 weeks.

90% of Kidney Disease Sufferers have no idea that this exists!

Need proof? Check out these Inspiring Success Stories.

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How To Treat Low Kidney Function

Although there is no cure for chronic kidney disease , your doctor can work with you to treat and manage your existing symptoms, reduce underlying issues, and find ways to slow down disease progression. Some of the treatments are universal, while others depend upon the stage of CKD you are in.

A healthy diet and lifestyle combined with appropriate medications for symptom control is the most common treatment for kidney disease in its early stages. Renal replacement therapy, such as dialysis or a kidney transplant, is reserved for end-stage kidney disease .

What Not To Eat

7 Simple Tips of How to Improve Kidney Function Naturally

1. Apricots: Great for fiber but full of potassium, apricots are not ideal for those with kidney disease. The potassium content is even higher in dried apricots, so those need to be avoided entirely as part of any renal diet.

2. Avocados: For a healthy individual, avocados are nutritious and beneficial, but for those with kidney problems, these fruits can be harmful. Avocados contain almost double the amount of potassium of bananas.

3. Bananas: Full of potassium, bananas can reduce kidney efficiency. Tropical fruits in general are high in potassium, but pineapples prove to be more kidney-friendly.

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Keeping potassium levels low prevents hyperkalemia, a dangerous condition where your blood has too much potassium. When combined with renal failure, hyperkalemia can cause serious damage to your heart.

4. Brown Rice: Brown rice contains more potassium and phosphorus than white rice, so it can place unnecessary strain on already damaged kidneys. With portion control, some brown rice can be consumed as part of a balanced renal diet.

5. Canned Foods: Soups, as well as canned vegetables, are popular because of their convenience. The high sodium content is what gives these items a long shelf life but also makes them dangerous for impaired kidneys.

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It is best to look for low-sodium options if you do purchase canned foods.

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Mutrakrichantak Churna: Helps In Treating Edema In Chronic Kidney Disease/fluid Accumulation

An Ayurvedic product named Mutrakrichantak Churna, which contains herbs like Punarnava, Varuna, Shigru, Apamarg, etc., is beneficial in naturally reviving kidney failure.

It also helps to reduce accompanying fluid accumulation and kidney tissue inflammation. 1 to 2 teaspoons need to be taken twice a day for a week to get the benefits.

Lower Your Salt Intake

A high sodium intake can put a strain on your kidneys. Diets that have excess salt can also contribute to high blood pressure. Additionally, a high salt intake has been shown to shoot up the amount of protein in the urine, which could lead to serious kidney damage

A high sodium intake can put a strain on your kidneys. Diets that have excess salt can also contribute to high blood pressure. Additionally, a high salt intake has been shown to shoot up the amount of protein in the urine, which could lead to serious kidney damage

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Experimental Treatments For Ckd

Research is ongoing to find new treatments and interventions that will someday soon render dialysis and kidney donation unnecessary. The Harvard Stem Cell Institute is just one of many institutions exploring a wide variety of options, such as experimental treatments.

Harvards current kidney disease research path has three tiers:

  • Short-term: This research is intended to repair damaged kidneys by using regenerative medicineor cell replacement therapyusing mesenchymal stem cells . These cells are our bodys natural defense against kidney damage.
  • Medium-term: This involves identifying the types of kidney cells most susceptible to damage in order to target the specific cell types with appropriate medications.
  • Long-term: The long-term goal is to use stem cells and nanotechnology to create an artificial kidney that can be used in transplant surgerieseliminating the need to rely solely on human kidneys. Thus far, scientists have created a rat kidney that is being tested on lab animals.

Clinical trials are also being run by the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases to test the effectiveness and safety of pirfenidone in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy.

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