If there is one organ in your body in charge of removing toxic waste from your unhealthy diet, it is your kidney. This article will show you 6 ways to keep your kidney healthy and functional even as you get older.
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Why are kidneys important?
Filters are important, and we’re not just talking about how to look like a celebrity in your next selfie. While filters are required for improved image quality, the same is also applicable for our bodies – internally.
If you consume unhealthy foods and beverages, you are giving your kidneys more work to do.
The kidneys act as highly efficient filters that remove waste and toxic substances from the body while returning vitamins, amino acids, glucose, hormones, and other vital substances to the bloodstream. 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.
How do I make sure my kidneys are healthy?
Prevention is better than cure. The key, doctors say, is to look for symptoms of CKD early.
“In many instances, there is treatment available for kidney disease but in only a few instances, unfortunately, is there a cure,” says nephrologist Vasil Peev, MD. “That’s why it’s important to intervene early and engage in prevention efforts for the disease.”
Here are doctor-recommended ways to keep your kidney healthy.
Effective Ways to Keep Your Kidney Healthy
1. Exercise and maintain a good fit
More than just your waistline, exercise is beneficial to your overall health, and kidney health. It has the potential to reduce the risk of chronic kidney disease, and can also lower your blood pressure and improve your heart health – both of which are important in keeping your kidney healthy.
And when we say exercise, it is not necessary to run marathons to reap its benefits. Walking, running, cycling, and even dancing are all great ways to start with. Just find an activity that keeps you occupied, and always have fun while doing it!
2. Ditch the junk food
Do you enjoy junk food, soda, and processed meats? It’s time to make a U-turn. Everything you eat and drink is processed by your kidneys, including anything unhealthy, such as a lot of fat, and salt.
Remember, poor diet and nutrition can lead to high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, and other kidney-harming conditions over time. If you want to keep your kidney healthy, go munch on a healthy diet that includes a variety of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.
3. Manage your blood sugar
Sorry to say, but your sweet tooth may be contributing to your kidney disease. Diabetes, or a condition characterised by high blood sugar levels, can harm the kidneys – and millions of Britons have already been diagnosed with this disease.
When your body’s cells are unable to use the glucose or sugar in your blood, your kidneys must work extra hard to filter it. As a result, controlling your blood sugar lowers your risk, so try to limit your intake of sugary drinks, milkshakes, cookies, and candies to keep your kidney healthy.
4. Limit over-the-counter drugs
NSAIDs are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, like ibuprofen and naproxen. They can damage your kidneys if you take too many at once or take them too often. Using proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for an ulcer or GERD for a long time can also raise your chances of chronic kidney disease.
Some antibiotics, such as penicillin, sulfonamides, and cephalosporins, are more likely to cause side effects as well. Therefore, you should only take them if your doctor says you need them.
5. Drink water, and drink water
The cliché advice to drink eight glasses of water per day isn’t magical, but it’s a good goal because it encourages you to stay hydrated. Regular, consistent water consumption is beneficial to keep your kidney healthy.
Water aids in the removal of sodium and toxins and reduces your chances of developing chronic kidney disease. If you don’t drink enough, the tiny filters inside your kidneys can get stopped up and lead to kidney stones and infections. Four to six cups a day is typically about right, but you might need more if you’re sick or out in the heat!
6. Quit smoking
Smoking does more harm than good, not just to your lungs, but to your overall health. Tobacco use reduces blood flow to vital organs such as the kidneys and increases the risk of kidney disease.
In fact, a study discovered that a group of participants who went through a smoking cessation programme experienced less decline in kidney function than a group of active smoker participants.
Smoking increases your risk of developing kidney cancer and damages blood vessels, slowing blood flow to your kidneys. It can also cause interactions with certain blood pressure medications, which is important because uncontrolled hypertension is a leading cause of kidney disease.
Keep your kidneys clean and healthy
Kidneys are life-sustaining organs that perform a number of functions to keep blood clean and chemically balanced. As a result, your diet and physical activity are critical in protecting them, so watch what you eat, stay fit, and avoid vices that can harm your overall health.
So eat nutritious food, exercise regularly and control your weight. These healthy practices are not new and definitely not specific to kidney health. In the long run, you’re not only protecting and keeping your kidney healthy, but your whole body as well!