The kidneys play a very important vital role in the human body by filtering toxins and regulating blood pressure, and they need a great deal of care to maintain their proper functions.
In a report published by Yahoo, writer Julie Stewart says that about 37 million Americans suffer from chronic kidney disease, a disease that includes the gradual deterioration of kidney function that increases the odds of heart disease, stroke, and early death, and the most dangerous is that 9 out of every 10 people with this disease don't know they have a kidney problem.
Diabetes, high blood pressure, and advanced age are among the factors that increase the risk of developing chronic kidney disease, but there are some simple techniques and habits that can be followed to reduce the risk of developing this disease and maintain the health of the kidneys.
Avoid excessive consumption of meat and protein
Eating too much meat can cause problems for your kidneys. When your body digests proteins, it produces byproducts that must be filtered from the blood and eliminated by the kidneys.
This process may stress diseased kidneys, and there is scientific evidence that eating a lot of protein may also harm healthy kidneys.
Johns Hopkins University conducted a 20-year study on a group of volunteers who do not suffer from kidney disease and who consume large amounts of meat, especially red and processed meat, and found that the risk of developing chronic kidney disease increases by 23% compared to people who eat less. of meat.
If you eat a lot of meat, or consume a lot of protein, you should pay close attention because this harms the integrity of the kidneys.
Increase fiber intake
The process of fiber metabolism (metabolism or metabolism) releases beneficial compounds that improve insulin sensitivity and reduce inflammation, two important factors for kidney health, says researcher Juan Jesus Carreiro, professor of nephrology at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden.
Carrero adds that this process also reduces the production of toxins that damage the kidneys.
A study published in the "British Journal of Nutrition" found that the risk of developing chronic kidney disease was reduced by 11% for every 5 grams of fiber consumed per day.
Cut back on soda
In a study published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, each additional serving of sugar-sweetened beverages - such as soft drinks and fruit drinks - during one week was associated with an 18% increased risk of developing chronic kidney disease.
Dr. Carrero explains that eating large amounts of sugar raises the level of glucose in the blood, and may eventually lead to damage to the blood vessels in the kidneys.
Additionally, many sugary drinks, especially sodas, contain high amounts of the mineral phosphorous that boosts the risk of kidney damage.
It is best to replace soft and sugary drinks by drinking more water and enjoying fresh fruit juices.
stay away from salt
A Japanese study found that people who eat high amounts of salt (about 4,500 milligrams of sodium per day) had a 29 percent increased risk of kidney failure.
Excessive salt intake damages the kidneys in several ways, most notably through high blood pressure, pressure on the kidneys, and exhaustion of the renal tubular unit (the nephron), which is the filter responsible for filtering blood, removing waste, and controlling fluid concentration.
Processed and canned foods contain large amounts of sodium, so it is necessary to take good care of the diet in order to maintain the health of the kidneys.