Eating nutritious food is for general good health. But some specific foods can harm your kidneys if you have kidney disease or are at risk for developing it. To maintain a healthy kidney, fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains like brown rice or whole wheat pasta, and lean proteins such as chicken breast or fish with no added fat contribute a lot to maintaining the kidney healthy food plan.
As you have learned that eating healthy food helps the kidney, this article will help you to understand the food to avoid and the best practices to follow.
Many foods contain essential vitamins and minerals, but some can affect the kidneys. If you have kidney disease, you and your doctor need to figure out how much potassium and phosphorus are in the foods you eat. Too much potassium, phosphorus, or sodium in your diet can cause problems. Your doctor may recommend a special diet to help keep these minerals at healthy levels in your body.
Specific food to avoid if you have a kidney problem and planning for a healthy food solution include the following:
- Processed Meat Consumption
- Excess Alcohol Consumption
- Processed food
- Dairy products
- Salty food
- Sugar Sweeten
- Sugar
- Milk Chocolate
- Sugar
- Meat Consumption:
Meat is high in protein and iron, which is good for your kidneys. However, it’s also high in cholesterol. If you have kidney stones or are prone to avoid red meat. Processed meats like hot dogs and bacon also contain nitrates that can cause kidney problems if eaten regularly.
- Excess Alcoholic consumption
Alcohol consumption causes dehydration because alcohol is a diuretic agent; it causes water loss by increasing urine production while inhibiting appetite and causing abnormal kidney functions.
Alcohol increases the risk of kidney stones and may lead to constipation. Limit your intake to less than one drink per day (1-2 glasses) if you are at risk for high blood pressure or a heart condition. Caffeine can also cause dehydration; limit it to less than 300mg per day (1-2 cups). Carbonated drinks cause bloating and discomfort for some people, so avoid them if possible.
- Processed food:
Processed foods are foods that have been processed, refined, or altered from their natural state. These include white bread, pasta, grains, and canned and frozen foods. Processed foods are typically high in sodium and sugar and can lead to kidney problems.
- Dairy Products:
Dairy products are a preferred food for children and adults alike. Dairy products can increase the amount of calcium in your urine, which increases your risk of kidney stones.
In addition, dairy foods also contain oxalic acid (a substance that can damage kidneys), so it is good to limit how much you eat per day (2 servings).
- Salty Food:
The body needs salt for proper functioning; however, too much salt can lead to high blood pressure and contribute to heart disease or stroke (you may already know this from hearing it from your doctor).
Maintain the kidney with moderated salt food by avoiding processing and canned food products which is a detriment to the kidney.
Avoid salty foods such as chips or pretzels that contain high amounts of sodium chloride (salt) which can increase blood pressure if consumed over a long period – even just once per day can lead to hypertension (high blood pressure). Sodium chloride also causes inflammation within the body’s arteries by raising uric acid levels in the bloodstream which leads directly to atherosclerosis (hardening) due to its effect on platelets; cholesterol plaque buildup inside artery walls leads to cardiovascular disease or stroke.
- Sugar_Sweetened Beverages:
Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are a type of beverage that contains high levels of sugar. SSBs include soda, energy drinks, sports drinks, and other sweetened drinks. These beverages have been linked with chronic kidney disease (CKD) since they contain high levels of fructose.
The body processes fructose differently than other sugars, which means it takes longer for your body to break down and use it for energy instead of storing it as fat or using it directly for energy production as glucose does.
- Sugar:
Sugar is one of the most harmful foods to your health. It can cause blood sugar levels to rise and can cause damage to your kidney health. High blood sugar levels have been linked to diabetes and kidney disease. Sugar also increases weight gain, making it a risk factor for type 2 diabetes (the most common form of the disease).
- Milk Chocolate:
Milk chocolate contains a lot of sugar and phosphorus. If you have kidney problems, you should avoid milk chocolate because it can increase the risk of kidney damage.
If you’re looking for something sweet with less sugar and more nutrients, try dark chocolate instead. Dark chocolate has more antioxidants than regular milk chocolate does and also contains fewer calories per ounce (1 tsp vs 2 tsp).
Foods contain oxalate, a substance that can damage the kidney and cause problems if you have diabetes or other conditions affecting blood flow to the kidneys. It’s also found in some fruits and vegetables such as carrots, spinach, and beets. The body naturally filters out oxalates through urine so they don’t build up in the body over time but this process isn’t 100 percent effective so it’s important to avoid these foods if you’re at risk for developing kidney disease.
Top Surprising Food That May Harm Your Kidney Best practices for a healthy kidney.
Limit sugary drinks like soda or fruit juice to one serving per day.
Eat foods with a low glycemic index (GI), which means they cause less blood sugar spike after eating than high GI foods do. Examples of low GI include vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, and sweet potatoes; fruits like blueberries and strawberries; whole grains such as brown rice or quinoa; nuts seeds such as almonds, and walnuts; lean meats and fish without added fats or oils (such as chicken breast).
Try not to drink alcohol if you have kidney problems because it can damage the kidney.
Conclusion
Remember that you are responsible for your health, and the best way to protect your kidney is to eat a healthy diet.
Protect your kidney from all kinds of diseases by practicing good health measures and ensure to visit your doctor for proper recommendations.
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