5 Foods To Maintain Kidney Health
Kidneys are responsible for excreting waste from our body and help in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. They are a small bean shaped organs placed in the abdomen region of our body. & their function is to filter out waste from our body in the form of urine. Proper functioning of kidneys is of utmost importance, as the waste fluids, if not thrown out of the body can cause several health issues that can be serious in nature.
Fluid and electrolyte levels in the body are maintained by proper functioning of kidneys. Problems like high blood pressure and diabetes tamper their functioning causing chronic kidney diseases (CKD). A balanced diet is the best way to keep our kidneys healthy and running.
Below are some options to add to your diet to maintain a healthy kidney functioning.
1. Cauliflower As A Part Of Dialysis Diet
Cauliflower, a vegetable rich in vitamin c and an excellent source of folate and fiber. The compounds that are presence in abundance in cauliflower help the liver in detoxifying substances that could damage cell membranes and DNA. When these toxins are neutralized by the liver, they don’t cause much harm to the kidneys. There are a number of ways in which cauliflower can be consumed. It can be a part of salad in a raw form, cooked with spices as a curry or just boiled or mashed. Mashed form of cauliflower can be a great replacement of mashed potatoes in a dialysis diet.
2. Onions As Strong Anti-Oxidants
Onions have strong anti-oxidants characteristics that work to reduce ailments. They are rich in chromium, a mineral that helps with carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism. Onions can be consumed raw in salads or for flavoring cooked dishes. Onions of different variety such as red, brown and white can be equally beneficial and have similar properties and functions.
3. Red Bell Peppers Have Lycopene, An Antioxidant
Red bell peppers are a power house of Vitamin C, vitamin A and vitamin B6, that makes them a perfect inclusion in our diet for not only kidney health but also certain type of cancers. Lycopene, an antioxidant, which is present in abundance in red bell peppers is also helpful in curing a lot of diseases. Adding them in raw form to the salad is the most common way of having bell peppers. They can also be used in omelet in finely chopped form or can also be stuffed with any of your favorite meat.
4. Fish Helps Lower Low-Density Lipoprotein Or LDL Cholesterol
Fish is considered to be one of the best sources of protein. It contains omega-3s fats which are anti-inflammatory and are helpful in fighting various heart and kidney diseases. The omega-3s fats not only help in lowering bad cholesterol i.e., low-density lipoprotein, but also help in increasing good cholesterol i.e., high-density lipoprotein. Not all fish available in the market have omega-3s, only a few of them do and those are good for health. Fish with highest content of omega-3s include albacore, tuna, herring, mackerel, rainbow trout and salmon.
5. Egg Whites Have High Protein Content and Less Phosphorous Content
Egg whites are a great source of protein for the kidneys when compared to other sources. Chicken and other sources of protein have phosphorous content in high quantities while it is negligible in egg whites making them a perfect ingredient for the Kidney diet. There are a lot of ways in which egg whites can be included in your diet. You can have an egg white omelet or egg white sandwich or just hard boil the eggs and add the egg white to tuna or a garden salad to add an extra portion.
While the above-mentioned foods help you keep your kidneys healthy, there are certain foods and lifestyle habits to avoid in order to prevent your kidneys from damage.
It is always better to avoid sodium rich foods for people with chronic kidney disorders. A maximum of one tea spoon full of salt a day is the recommended quantity for an average person. Red meat and other animal meat, though rich in protein should be consumed in limited quantities as the phosphorous content is high and also increases the cholesterol content in our body. Excess consumption of protein may harm the kidneys. Limiting the content of sodas, even better if completely avoided as the flavored soda and cola contain artificial sweeteners and are also high in phosphorus content that are harmful for the kidneys.
Also, crackers, potato chips, deli meats, cheese spreads and instant potato mix are all examples of processed foods which are again harmful for the kidneys because of their high sodium and phosphorous additives. Having an active lifestyle is the best way to avoid kidney diseases. Including workout of any kind or a long walk or jog go a long way. Apart from these workouts, practicing yoga is one of the best forms of exercise. Poses like sphinx pose, sitting half spine twist, cobra pose, seated forward bend, two-legged forward bend, bridge pose and boat pose are very helpful for people with kidney diseases. It is always recommended to practice any form of physical exercise under supervision from experts.
