What Is Bad For Your Kidneys

But What If I Dont Need To Lose Weight

IF has typically been touted in the media as a weight loss strategy so it makes sense that people who dont want/need to lose weight might think its not for them. Hopefully you can now see that the benefits of IF extend way beyond weight loss, its a strategy to improve overall metabolic health as well as to prevent and treat chronic diseases.

Studies in normal weight individuals have demonstrated all of the benefits of IF Ive already discussed without the weight loss, so the health benefits dont come from weight loss alone. This also shows that provided you maintain an adequate caloric intake IF can be implemented without any associated weight loss.

How Can I Minimize My Potassium Build

One of the best ways to reduce potassium buildup is to make dietary changes. To do that, youll need to learn which foods are high in potassium and which are low. Be sure to do your research and read the nutritional labels on your food.

Keep in mind that it isnt just what you eat that counts, but also how much you eat. Portion control is important to the success of any kidney-friendly diet. Even a food thats considered low in potassium can spike your levels if you eat too much of it.

Some High Sodium Foods

• Breads, cereals, and crackers
• Canned soups and stews
• Canned vegetables
• Condiments, like ketchup, mustard, soy sauce, and salad dressings
• Cottage cheese and some other cheeses
• Pretzels, chips, cheese puffs
• Foods with seasoning packets and Helper foods
• Frozen dinners
• Processed meats, like bacon, hot dogs, and deli meats
• Tomato and vegetable juices spaghetti sauce

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Toxicity Of Bitter Almonds

Bitter almonds contain toxic levels of hydrocyanic acid , which is a poisonous compound. Though bitter almonds help cure spasms, itch, and pain, overconsumption of these could lead to serious conditions. Some of them include nervous breakdown, choking, and death. It is strictly not recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women.56

Not Drinking Enough Water

Staying well hydrated helps your kidneys clear sodium and toxins from the body. Drinking plenty of water is also one of the best ways to avoid painful kidney stones. Those with kidney problems or kidney failure may need to restrict their fluid intake, but for most people, drinking 1.5 to 2 liters of water per day is a healthy target.

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Very Nutritious And Low In Calories

Just 2 fresh apricots provide (

• Vitamin A: 8% of the Daily Value
• Vitamin C: 8% of the DV
• Vitamin E: 4% of the DV
• Potassium: 4% of the DV

Furthermore, this fruit is a decent source of beta carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, all of which are potent antioxidants that help fight free radicals in your body .

Its best to enjoy apricots whole and unpeeled, as the skin boasts large amounts of fiber and nutrients. Be sure to discard the stone, as its inedible.

Summary Apricots are low in calories and fat while also an excellent source of vitamins A and C.

Ways To Keep Your Kidneys Healthy

• Takeaway

Overview

Your kidneys are fist-sized organs located at the bottom of your rib cage, on both sides of your spine. They perform several functions.

Most importantly, they filter waste products, excess water, and other impurities from your blood. These waste products are stored in your bladder and later expelled through urine.

In addition, your kidneys regulate pH, salt, and potassium levels in your body. They also produce hormones that regulate blood pressure and control the production of red blood cells.

Your kidneys are also responsible for activating a form of vitamin D that helps your body absorb calcium for building bones and regulating muscle function.

Maintaining kidney health is important to your overall health and general well-being. By keeping your kidneys healthy, your body will filter and expel waste properly and produce hormones to help your body function properly.

Here are some tips to help keep your kidneys healthy.

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Almond Milk And Heart Health

Since there is absolutely no cholesterol in almond milk, it is a healthy food to incorporate into your diet, while taking advantage of the many nutritional benefits. Consuming this healthy milk ensures that you are taking in vital potassium, which is a primary nutrient that acts as a vasodilator and reduces tension and strain on the heart.

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Benefits Of Intermittent Fasting

IF has a great many benefits that go well beyond weight loss. Many things happen during IF that can protect organs against chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, age-related neurodegenerative disorders, autoimmune diseases and cancer.

Some of the known benefits of IF include:

• Reduces inflammation and oxidative stress
• Improves blood sugar control
• May help you live longer

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What Not To Eat

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.

What Causes Kidney Disease

Kidney diseases happen when your kidneys are damaged and cant filter your blood. The damage can happen quickly when its caused by injury or toxins or, more commonly, over months or years.

High blood pressure and diabetes are the two most common causes of chronic kidney disease. Other causes and conditions that affect kidney function and can cause chronic kidney disease include:

• Glomerulonephritis. This type of kidney disease involves damage to the glomeruli, which are the filtering units inside your kidneys.
• Polycystic kidney disease. This is a genetic disorder that causes many fluid-filled cysts to grow in your kidneys, reducing the ability of your kidneys to function.
• Hypertensive nephrosclerosis. Kidney damage caused by chronic, poorly controlled hypertension.
• Membranous nephropathy. This is a disorder where your bodys immune system attacks the waste-filtering membranes in your kidney.
• Obstructions of the urinary tract from kidney stones, an enlarged prostate or cancer.
• Vesicourethral reflux. This is a condition in which urine flows backward refluxes back up the ureters to the kidneys
• Nephrotic syndrome. This is a collection of symptoms that indicate kidney damage.

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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.

Almonds Are High In Fiber

Kidney disease patients, especially ones undergoing dialysis often have digestive issues which lead to constipation. Constipation in kidney disease patients can add to the stress that they already have to undergo.

Fiber acts as a lubricant in the small intestine, it binds to the consumed food and allows easier passage to the large intestine and to the rectum. Since almonds have a sufficient amount of insoluble fiber, it can be beneficial for kidney disease patients suffering from digestive problems as well.

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Packaged Instant And Premade Meals

Processed foods can be a major component of sodium in the diet.

Among these foods, packaged, instant, and premade meals are usually the most heavily processed and thus contain the most sodium.

Examples include frozen pizza, microwaveable meals, and instant noodles.

Keeping sodium intake to 2,300 mg per day may be difficult if youre eating highly processed foods regularly.

Heavily processed foods not only contain a large amount of sodium but also commonly lack nutrients .

SUMMARY

Packaged, instant, and premade meals are highly processed items that can contain very large amounts of sodium and lack nutrients. Its best to limit these foods on a renal diet.

Swiss chard, spinach, and beet greens are leafy green vegetables that contain high amounts of various nutrients and minerals, including potassium.

When served raw, the amount of potassium varies between 140290 mg per cup .

While leafy vegetables shrink to a smaller serving size when cooked, the potassium content remains the same.

For example, one-half cup of raw spinach will shrink to about 1 tablespoon when cooked. Thus, eating one-half cup of cooked spinach will contain a much higher amount of potassium than one-half cup of raw spinach.

Raw Swiss chard, spinach, and beet greens are preferable to cooked greens to avoid too much potassium.

However, moderate your intake of these foods, as theyre also high in oxalates. Among sensitive individuals, oxalates can increase the risk of kidney stones (

How Can Kidney Disease Affect My Other Nutritional Needs

If you have kidney disease, meeting your nutritional needs may be easier than you think. The trick is getting the hang of what you can eat and what you should reduce or remove from your diet.

Eating smaller portions of protein, such as chicken and beef, is important. A protein-rich diet can cause your kidneys to work too hard. Reducing your protein intake by practicing portion control may help.

Its important to note that protein restriction depends on your level of kidney disease. Talk to your healthcare provider to find out how much protein you should be consuming each day.

Sodium may increase thirst and lead to drinking too many fluids, or cause bodily swelling, both of which are bad for your kidneys. Sodium is a hidden ingredient in many packaged foods, so make sure to read the labels.

Instead of reaching for the salt to season your dish, opt for herbs and other seasonings that dont include sodium or potassium.

Youll also likely need to take a phosphate binder with your meals. This can prevent your phosphorus levels from getting too high. If these levels get too high, it can cause an inverse drop in calcium, leading to weak bones.

You may also consider limiting your cholesterol and total fat intake. When your kidneys dont filter effectively, eating foods heavy in these components is harder on your body. Becoming overweight due to a poor diet can also put added stress on your kidneys.

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What Is Kidney Dialysis

Because there is no cure for CKD, if you are in late-stage disease, you and your healthcare team must consider additional options. Complete kidney failure, left untreated, will result in death. Options for end stages of CKD include dialysis and kidney transplantation.

Dialysis is a procedure that uses machines to remove waste products from your body when your kidneys are no longer able to perform this function. There are two major types of dialysis.

Hemodialysis: With hemodialysis, your blood is circulated through a machine that removes waste products, excess water and excess salt. The blood is then returned to your body. Hemodialysis requires three to four hours, three times a week and is performed at a clinic, hospital or dialysis center.

Peritoneal dialysis: In peritoneal dialysis, a dialysis solution is run directly into your abdomen. The solution absorbs waste and then is removed via catheter. Fresh solution is added to continue the process of cleaning. You can perform this type of dialysis yourself. There are two types of peritoneal dialysis: continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis , which involves a change in dialysis solution four times a day and continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis . CCPD uses a machine to automatically fill, remove wastes, and refill the fluid during the nighttime.

Eat The Right Amount And The Right Types Of Protein

Why? To help protect your kidneys. When your body uses protein, it produces waste. Your kidneys remove this waste. Eating more protein than you need may make your kidneys work harder.

• Eat small portions of protein foods.
• Protein is found in foods from plants and animals. Most people eat both types of protein. Talk to your dietitian about how to choose the right combination of protein foods for you.

Animal-protein foods:

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Is Aloe Vera Juice Bad For Your Kidneys

According to the NIH: aloe latex is hard on the kidneys and could lead to serious kidney disease and even death. Speak to your doctor before consuming any aloe vera juice.

similarly, What diseases does aloe vera cure?

The bioactive compounds from Aloe vera are claimed to be very effective in treatment of various ailments, such as burns, allergic reactions, rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatic fever, acid indigestion, ulcers, diabetes, skin diseases, dysentery, diarrhea, piles and inflammatory conditions of the digestive system and other

in the same way, Should I drink aloe vera on empty stomach? Aloe vera drink should ideally be consumed on an empty stomach. 20ml should be mixed with a glass of water.

likewise Who should not take aloe vera juice?

Children younger than 12 years might have stomach pain, cramps, and diarrhoea, according to the site. And aloe should not be consumed by people with intestinal conditions such as Crohns disease, ulcerative colitis, or obstruction, as aloe latex is a bowel irritant. Aloe latex can also worsen haemorrhoids.

Is it good to drink aloe vera at night?

According to Ayurveda expert, Dr. Ashutosh Gautam, Aloe vera has the potential of curing a range of ailments and provides complete nourishment to the body. Consuming this drink during bedtime is a good way to boost your bodys metabolism, which would further accelerate the pace of your weight loss programme.

What Should You Do

• Do not take any medicine, drug or substance unless you are under a healthcare provider’s supervision.
• Do not take pills or substances given to you by a stranger or even a friend.
• If you do take a medication or other substance and feel ill, contact your healthcare provider immediately.
• If you need to have an imaging test or colonoscopy, let your healthcare provider know if you have kidney disease or are at risk for getting it.

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Tips To Be Water Wise For Healthy Kidneys

Keep your kidneys healthy by being water wise. This means drinking the right amount of water for you. A common misconception is that everyone should drink eight glasses of water per day, but since everyone is different, daily water needs will vary by person. How much water you need is based on differences in age, climate, exercise intensity, as well as states of pregnancy, breastfeeding, and illness.

About 60-70% of your body weight is made up of water, and every part of your body needs it to function properly. Water helps the kidneys remove wastes from your blood in the form of urine. Water also helps keep your blood vessels open so that blood can travel freely to your kidneys, and deliver essential nutrients to them. But if you become dehydrated, then it is more difficult for this delivery system to work. Mild dehydration can make you feel tired, and can impair normal bodily functions. Severe dehydration can lead to kidney damage, so it is important to drink enough when you work or exercise very hard, and especially in warm and humid weather.

Drinking Alcohol In Excess

Regular heavy drinking more than four drinks a day has been found to double the risk chronic kidney disease. Heavy drinkers who also smoke have an even higher risk of kidney problems. Smokers who are heavy drinkers have about five times the chance of developing chronic kidney disease than people who dont smoke or drink alcohol to excess.

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