Our kidneys do a lot to keep our system running clean and efficiently. But what exactly does it do and how do we take care of it? What foods are good for the kidney? Read on to find out and other tips.
What Does the Kidney Do?
Before we get into foods good for the kidney, let us first take a look at what exactly are our kidneys and what are their basic functions.
First of all, we have two kidneys. They can be found near the back, on both sides of the spine, underneath the rib cage. These bean-shaped organs will be around the same size as your fist.
Our kidneys have a number of functions and uses, but their main roles are to filter and clean toxins and wastes, and flushing them out through our urine.
More specifically, they filter our blood for waste, regulate electrolyte supply running in our bodies, and the secretion of important hormones. When our kidneys aren’t working as they should, wastes or toxins may build up in our bodies, leading to complications and illnesses.
Some complications that can arise from unhealthy kidneys are chronic kidney disease, kidney stones, or infections.
Tips To Take Care of Your Kidneys
Now that we know why our kidneys are important, let’s read up on how to take care of them. Here are some tips on how to keep our kidneys healthy.
Drink plenty of fluids.
Keeping ourselves hydrated is a great way to care for our kidneys. Observe your pee. Straw-colored pee is a good color that means we’re properly hydrated. Pay attention when the weather is particularly hot as this might mean you might need to drink more water.
Keep an eye on your blood pressure.
Regularly check your blood pressure. High blood pressure can lead to complications for your kidney. If your blood pressure is higher than normal, consult your doctor for adjustments in lifestyle to keep yourself healthy.
Lessen smoking and drinking.
Besides other health concerns, excessive smoking or drinking can raise blood pressure levels: a common cause for kidney disease.
Manage your weight.
Being overweight can also raise our blood pressure levels. You can calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) to check and see if your weight is at a healthy level. You can manage your weight by not overeating and exercising regularly.
Adopt a healthy diet.
Eating too much unhealthy food might give our kidneys too much to work with. Aside from meeting our daily vitamin and nutritional requirements, healthy eating also ensures that we don’t overload and damage our kidneys. Read on to find foods good for the kidney.
Choosing Foods Good for Kidney
Here are some tips on finding foods good for kidney health.
Choose to eat foods with less salt and sodium.
Too much sodium in our bodies can lead to higher blood pressure. It also limits our kidney’s ability to function properly. Be more mindful about the amount of sodium you eat per meal. Choose food that is low in sodium.
Grapes, berries, and cauliflower are great options because they are full of vitamins while being low in sodium.
Make sure you’re getting the right kind of protein with the right amount.
We need to regulate the amount of protein we eat. Eating more than the protein we need makes our kidneys work harder than they should.
Choose chicken, unsalted fish, or eggs for your sources of protein. Nuts, beans, and grains are also good alternatives for your protein needs.
Choose heart-friendly foods.
Taking care of our heart and regulating our blood pressure is also a good way to keep our kidneys healthy. This means keeping away from fatty foods.
Choose lean meats, low-fat milk, yogurt, or fish when given the choice.
Key Takeaways
Our kidneys are responsible for a lot of important functions in our bodies. We need to keep our kidneys healthy to live long and fulfilling lives. To keep our kidneys healthy, we should hydrate, exercise, and maintain our weight. When choosing food, pick options that are good for our kidneys.
Key-takeaways
Learn more about Kidney Disease here.
