How To Have Healthy Kidneys

Drink Plenty Of Water

If you want to keep the kidney healthy, then drinking more water is a better treatment. For this, every normal healthy person should consume an average of 4-5 litres of water per day.

Water easily flush out many types of toxic elements present in the body with urine and keeps the digestive system functioning properly.

It does not cause constipation problems. Apart from this, water keeps the blood flow in the body and prevents the blood from becoming thick. By drinking more water, the level of blood pressure also remains balanced.

Limit Your Alcohol Intake

Drinking too much alcohol can harm many parts of the body, including the kidneys.

The National Kidney Foundation warns that regular heavy drinking affects the kidneys and their function and doubles the risk for kidney disease. Consuming more than three drinks a day for women and more than four drinks a day for men is considered heavy drinking, according to the foundation.

A small amount of alcohol one or two drinks every now and then tends not to have any serious effects, Peev says. But its important to remember that drinking in moderation is key.

Living A Healthy Lifestyle

1Drink enough water to stay hydrated. Staying properly hydrated is one of the best ways to keep your kidneys healthy. Without adequate water, your kidneys can lose some of their ability to filter your blood, and may even become damaged throughout your lifetime.XTrustworthy SourceCleveland ClinicEducational website from one of the world’s leading hospitalsGo to source

Drinking water helps your kidneys flush sodium, urea, toxins, and waste out of your body.

Increasing your fluid intake to approximately 2 liters of water each day can help maintain proper kidney function. You may wish to increase your intake even further if you are outside in the heat or do not have air conditioning in the summer months.

Some individuals may need more or less water, depending on factors like regional climate, level of physical activity, and certain medications taken on a regular basis.

Talk to your doctor about your specific hydration needs.

If you’re currently overweight, talk to your doctor about a healthy weight-loss plan involving a restricted diet and increased exercise.XTrustworthy SourceCenters for Disease Control and PreventionMain public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human ServicesGo to source You may also want to ask your doctor for a referral to a registered dietitian, who can help you plan meals that will help you achieve your weight loss goals while ensuring you get all the nutrients and vitamins your body needs.

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S To Keeping Your Kidneys Healthy

Start by asking your doctor for blood panel readings of your BUN and creatinine levels and your eGFR numbers.

Test
Kidney damage	Greater than 60 mg/min

Scores from these tests tell you how strong your kidneys are now. Because kidney diseases can be symptom-free, you may not notice anything wrong before youve suffered irreparable damage. To prevent getting in that situation, I advise you to:

Drink lots of water. This is the most important step in keeping your kidneys strong. At a minimum, I recommend you drink one-half ounce of water for every pound you weight, so a 200 pound man would drink 100 ounces of water every day. That may sound like a lot, but its really just ten 12oz glasses a dayabout one 12 oz glass every two hours. Drink more after strenuous exercise or if you live in a dry climate.

Take daily probiotics. Probiotics help your kidneys process waste materials and contribute to overall digestive health. A recent clinical trial involving patients with chronic kidney disease found that the group taking probiotics improved kidney function test scores as well as overall quality of life.

Drink green juice. Green foods aid in detoxification. I juice cilantro, a kidney-friendly herb, with water, lemon juice, and honey. If you dont juice, a greens supplement is a good alternative.

Eat kidney-supportive foods, in addition to cilantro and its relative parsley, try these:

Lose weight. Obesity has been linked to an increased likelihood of developing kidney cancer.

Can I Continue Working

If you’re well enough, you can keep working for as long as you feel able.

Talk to your employer as soon as you feel your condition is affecting your ability to do your job so you can find a solution that suits both of you. For example, it may be possible for you to work part-time.

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 requires employers to make reasonable adjustments to help a person with a disability.

This might, where possible, include changing or modifying tasks, altering work patterns, installing special equipment, allowing time off to attend appointments, or helping with travel to work.

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Kale Food Good For Kidneys

Kale is a curly, green veggie that is considered to be the healthiest vegetable in the world, perfectly suitable for those detected with kidney disease symptoms.

• Kale contains 45 flavonoids and is a powerful antioxidant as well as anti inflammatory source, which is important for those with kidney disease, chronic inflammation and cardiovascular diseases.
• Kale contains high amount of antioxidants that zap free radicals and can help in detoxification of the kidneys or kidney flush.

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Take Care With Antibiotics

These bacteria-fighting drugs can damage your kidneys if you use them too often. It can happen even if youâre perfectly healthy, though itâs more serious if your kidneys donât work as well as they should. Some types, like penicillin, sulfonamides, and cephalosporins, are more likely to cause problems.

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Eat Plenty Of Fruits And Vegetables

Study after study has shown that people who eat more fruits and vegetables are less likely to develop kidney disease.

Aim for at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables every day! One serving is:

• 1/2 cup cooked or canned
• 1 piece of fruit

Diet patterns that include plenty of fruits and vegetables, like the DASH or Mediterranean diet, are amazing for both kidney and heart health!

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What Are The First Signs Of Kidney Problems

In the early stages, CKD has no symptoms and needs to be diagnosed through testing. The first symptoms do not show up until the disease is well advanced. However, you should still keep an eye out for them.

Symptoms of kidney disease include:

• Trouble sleeping and/or sleep apnea

• Dry, itchy skin

• Increased need to urinate, especially at night. However, this is more likely a sign of a urinary tract infection if you are female or an enlarged prostate if you are an older male.

• Blood in your urine can also be a sign of tumors, kidney stones, or an infection

• Bubbles in your urine are caused by elevated albumin levels

• Persistent puffiness around your eyes

• Swollen ankles and/or feet

• Increased muscle cramps

Most of these are not specific to kidney disease, but you should get them checked out anyway. If you experience these symptoms after a blow to the lower back or a fall, this might indicate physical damage to your kidneys.

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Got Lemons On Your Counter Top Use Those

Lemons are a wonderful fruit that have incredible healing powers. Apart from boosting the immune system, lemons contain antibiotic, anticancer and antiseptic properties. Theyre the storehouse of Vitamin C, B complex, iron, calcium, magnesium, silicon, copper, and potassium. This fruit increases the levels of citrate. This reduces the pain of kidney stones and even dissolves them quickly.

Difficulty In Sleeping During Night

When kidneys fail to filter waste products properly, toxins remain present in human blood instead of leaving from the body via urine. This may cause difficulty in sleeping. In addition, there is a close connection in between chronic kidney disease and obesity, while the problem of sleep apnea becomes common among individuals suffering from chronic kidney diseases.

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Keeping Your Kidneys Healthy

There are a number of things you can do to keep your kidneys healthy, including:

• If you have diabetes, make sure that your blood sugar control is excellent. Follow your doctors advice about insulin injections, medicines, diet, physical activity and monitoring your blood sugar.
• Control high blood pressure. Have your blood pressure checked regularly. Medications used to lower blood pressure , such as ACE inhibitors or angiotensin blockers, can slow the development of kidney disease.
• If you have one of the risk factors for kidney disease, have a kidney health check at least every two years .
• Treat urinary tract infections immediately.
• Control blood cholesterol levels with diet and medications if necessary.
• Drink plenty of water and choose foods that are low in sugar, fat and salt, but high in fibre. Stick to moderate serving sizes.
• Drink alcohol in moderation only.
• Stay at a healthy weight for your height and age.
• Try to exercise moderately for at least 30 minutes a day.

Whats Your Take On Berries

Berries are the most flavorful, juicy pops of color. So what do you pick first? Stick to cranberries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and grapes. Yes, grapes are classified as berries. Studies show that a berry enriched diet could improve renal function in rats.

Cranberries are great for protecting you from gastrointestinal trouble and half a cup of dried cranberries contains 2 mg of sodium, 25 mg of potassium, and 5 mg of phosphorus. Blueberries are bursting with antioxidants, Vitamin C, manganese, and other nutrients that boost immunity and improve bone health. Half a cup of fresh blueberries contains 4 mg of sodium, 65 mg of potassium, and seven mg of phosphorus.

Now, half a cup of fresh raspberries is different from all berries as they contain zero mg of sodium, 93 mg of potassium, and seven mg of phosphorus. They are excellent for neutralizing free radicals and prohibit the growth of tumor forming cells. The naturally sweet and delicious jewel-coloured strawberries contain anthocyanins and ellagitannins. Half a cup of strawberries contains 1 mg of sodium, 120 mg of potassium and 13 mg of phosphorus.

Did you know canned fruit can actually be great for kidney patients? If its difficult finding fresh or frozen fruit go for canned ones. They lower your chances of consuming more potassium. The potassium from the fruit leeches out and gets mixed with water in the can. Just remember to rinse your fruit before eating.

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Regular Reviews And Monitoring

You’ll have regular contact with your care team to monitor your condition.

These appointments may involve:

• talking about your symptoms such as whether they’re affecting your normal activities or are getting worse
• a discussion about your medicine including whether you are experiencing any side effects
• tests to monitor your kidney function and general health

It’s also a good opportunity to ask any questions you have or raise any other issues you’d like to discuss with your care team.

You may also want to help monitor your condition at home for example, by using a home blood pressure monitor.

Contact your GP or healthcare team if your symptoms are getting worse or you develop new symptoms.

Control Your Blood Sugar

People with diabetes, or a condition that causes high blood sugar, may develop kidney damage. When your bodys cells cant use the glucose in your blood, your kidneys are forced to work extra hard to filter your blood. Over years of exertion, this can lead to life-threatening damage.

However, if you can control your blood sugar, you reduce the risk of damage. Also, if the damage is caught early, your doctor can take steps to reduce or prevent additional damage.

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How To Maintain Healthy Kidneys

This article was medically reviewed by Scott Tobis, MD. Dr. Scott Tobis is a board certified Urologist. With more than seven years of experience, he specializes in treating patients for urologic conditions such as urologic cancers, prostate enlargement, vasectomy, kidney stones, frequent/urgent urination, erectile dysfunction, incontinence, and blood in the urine. Dr. Tobis holds a BS in Cellular and Developmental Biology from The University of California, Santa Barbara, and an MD from Dartmouth Medical School. He completed his internship in General Surgery and residency in Urologic Surgery at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and his fellowship in Urologic Oncology and Robotic Surgery at The City of Hope National Medical Center. Dr. Tobis is a diplomat of the American Board of Urology.There are 20 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 100% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 203,064 times.

Measuring How Your Kidneys Work

It is difficult to calculate the exact rate at which your kidneys work. The best measure of kidney function is called the glomerular filtration rate . The GFR can be estimated using a mathematical formula. This formula uses the level of creatinine in your blood to estimate how well your kidneys are filtering waste from your blood. It can indicate if there is any kidney damage.

The higher the filtration rate, the better the kidneys are working. A GFR of 100 mL/min/1.73 m2 is in the normal range. This is about equal to 100 per cent kidney function. Based on this measurement system, a GFR of 50 mL/min/1.73 m2 could be called 50 per cent kidney function and a GFR of 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 could be called 30 per cent kidney function.

If your doctor orders a blood test to learn more about your kidney function, an eGFR result is provided automatically, along with your creatinine results.

Your doctor may also test for other signs and conditions that may indicate you have chronic kidney disease. These may include tests for:

• protein in your urine
• blood in your urine
• high blood pressure

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Lets Look At The Stars Of The Allium Family

Onions and garlic add fantastic flavor when your food has less salt. French onion soup and garlic knots are not the only ways to have them. You can add onions to your wraps, toasties, burgers, sandwiches, salads, or burritos. The fiber acts as prebiotic and feeds the healthy gut bacteria.

1 small onion contains 3 mg of sodium, 102 mg of potassium, and 20 mg of phosphorus. Weak kidneys have a tough time removing excess phosphorus out of your system. Thats why its best to stay in the range of 800 to 1000 mg per day when you have kidneydisorders.

3 cloves of garlic contain 14 mg of phosphorus, 36 mg of potassium and 1.5 mg of sodium. Allicin, an aromatic compound found in garlic, has anti-inflammatory properties. Studies have also shown allicin to have beneficial effects in CKD just as a pharmacological drug. Step up your garlic game by adding them to pesto sauces, vegetable sautees, soups, mashed potatoes, and more.

Managing Your Kidney Health

Kidneys are the unsung heroes of our bodies and perform a number of important jobs. They control your blood pressure, clean your blood, create urine, and manage Vitamin D production.

There are several ways to maintain kidney health. Here are our top four:

• Avoid smoking. People who smoke are three times more likely to have reduced kidney function. If you smoke and youd like to take this first step, thats great news. You can call the Quitlink on 13 78 48 or visit www.quitnow.gov.au.
• Be mindful of food and exercise. Eat a balanced diet consisting of fruit, vegetables, wholegrains, proteins and low-fat dairy products. And where possible, minimise long periods of time sitting and be active on most days during the week.
• Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water and avoid sodas and fruit juice.
• Minimise alcohol. Excessive drinking can lead to high blood pressure, and this increases the risk of kidney disease. We recommended limiting your intake to less than two standard drinks per day.

Even if you know what is kidney disease, it can be difficult to tell if you have it. If you are in early stages, you will feel normal. There are no obvious signs you can lose up to 90 per cent of kidney function before symptoms appear. Youre most likely to notice kidney disease in the middle stages, as levels of waste in your blood increase and you start to feel unwell.

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High Blood Pressure And Kidney Disease

High blood pressure is increased pressure inside the arteries that carry blood from your heart to all parts of your body. Untreated, high blood pressure can damage your kidneys.

Also, high blood pressure can develop as a result of kidney disease or renal artery stenosis . Your kidneys control the amount of fluid in your blood vessels and produce a hormone called renin that helps to control blood pressure.

Make Healthy Food Choices

Choose foods that are healthy for your heart and your entire body: fresh fruits, fresh or frozen vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat or fat-free dairy products. Eat healthy meals, and cut back on salt and added sugars. Aim for less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium each day. Try to have less than 10 percent of your daily calories come from added sugars.

Tips for making healthy food choices

• Cook with a mix of spices instead of salt.
• Choose veggie toppings such as spinach, broccoli, and peppers for your pizza.
• Try baking or broiling meat, chicken, and fish instead of frying.
• Serve foods without gravy or added fats.
• Try to choose foods with little or no added sugar.
• Gradually work your way down from whole milk to 2 percent milk until youre drinking and cooking with fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products.
• Eat foods made from whole grainssuch as whole wheat, brown rice, oats, and whole-grain cornevery day. Use whole-grain bread for toast and sandwiches substitute brown rice for white rice for home-cooked meals and when dining out.
• Read food labels. Choose foods low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt , and added sugars.
• Slow down at snack time. Eating a bag of low-fat popcorn takes longer than eating a slice of cake. Peel and eat an orange instead of drinking orange juice.
• Try keeping a written record of what you eat for a week. It can help you see when you tend to overeat or eat foods high in fat or calories.

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