The kidneys are key organs for the proper functioning of the body, since they fulfill various functions and one of the most important is to filter and keep the blood free of waste products from the diet.
According to the US National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, these organs also work to remove acid from the body’s cells and maintain a healthy balance of water, salts, and minerals such as sodium, calcium, phosphorus, and potassium in the blood.
Experts say that in each kidney there are a million small structures called nephrons, which filter waste and excess water from the blood, which becomes urine. “Most kidney diseases attack the nephrons,” says the aforementioned source.
The United States National Library of Medicine ensures that some of the causes of these conditions are related to genetic problems, injuries or medications. A person is at greater risk of kidney disease if they have diabetes, high blood pressure, or have a close relative with a kidney problem.
Specialists say that kidney disease is “progressive” because the damage progresses slowly over years, causing toxins to accumulate in the body. When the kidneys fail, the person may need to undergo dialysis or a transplant to maintain their health. The best way to know if you have kidney disease is to have blood and urine tests.
How to take care of the kidneys?
Specialists say that, to keep them healthy, the first thing to do is control diseases that have a direct impact on them, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, and one of the ways to do this is by eating healthy foods such as fresh fruits, fresh vegetables. or frozen, whole grains and semi-skimmed or skimmed dairy products. It is key to reduce salt and the intake of foods with added sugar.
Specialists propose some recommendations that must be taken into account in the diet to prevent the development of kidney conditions.
1. Less salt and sodium: The ideal is to buy fresh food and cook it from scratch instead of eating the prepared ones. Sodium-free spices, herbs, and seasonings can be used in place of salt when cooking.
If you buy prepared food, you should check the amount of sodium on the nutritional information label, try the versions low in this mineral, and wash canned vegetables, beans, meat, and fish with water before eating them.
2. Indicated amount of protein: When the body uses protein, it produces waste that the kidneys are responsible for eliminating, so consuming more protein than the body needs makes these organs work harder. For this reason, it is advisable to eat smaller portions of protein foods and properly combine animal and vegetable protein.
3. Diet for the heart: It is key to include products that are healthy for the heart in the diet in order to accumulate fat in the blood vessels, heart and kidneys.
It is advisable to choose foods that are grilled, broiled, roasted or sautéed instead of fried, cook with nonstick cooking spray or a small amount of olive oil instead of butter, eliminate fat from meat and try to limit fats saturated and trans
4. Foods and drinks with less phosphorus: If the kidneys are not working properly, phosphorus can build up in the blood. When this mineral is abundant in the body, it can pull calcium out of the bones, making them thinner, weaker, and more likely to break.
5. Little potassium: Experts explain that when potassium levels in the blood are too high or too low, problems can appear. Damaged kidneys allow potassium to build up in the blood, leading to serious heart problems.
In addition to food, it is important to exercise. Physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day is recommended. In the same way, it is necessary to work to maintain an ideal weight.
Finally, to avoid kidney disease, care should be taken with the daily use of non-prescription medicines. For example, the regular consumption of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and naproxen, can affect these organs.
