Taking care of your kidney health is crucial to maintaining overall well-being. While the heart typically gets all the attention, the kidneys play an equally important role in keeping your body healthy. It is estimated that about 10% of the global population suffers from chronic kidney disease, making it essential to take proactive measures to keep your kidneys in optimal shape.
Your kidneys remove excess water and waste from your body through urination. People with chronic kidney disease are unable to do this and therefore have to undergo renal replacement therapy either through a dialysis or kidney transplant.
This is why it’s very important to look after your health and keep your kidneys in tip-top shape. Here are five ways to look after your kidneys:
1 Know your numbers
One of the primary culprits of chronic kidney disease is high blood pressure. Unfortunately, many people live with undetected and untreated blood pressure which could lead to deteriorating kidneys. Be sure to check in with your local doctor to be in the know of your hypertension numbers.
FeelBetterFast offers the following health assessment tests done by a nurse or pharmacist:
- Blood pressure
- Cholesterol
- Glucose
- Weight
- Smoking status
Once the tests mentioned above have been taken, the nurse will provide you with a health report showing your numbers and how these could be improved with practical and medically-sound advice.
2 Drink enough of the right fluids
Drink enough water. Many health articles advise drinking up to eight glasses of water when the rule of thumb is to drink whenever you’re thirsty.
And we cannot emphasise enough the importance of regularly drinking water. Many people, when they get thirsty, would reach for a glass of soda or fruit juice. These are generally high in sugar and could lead to other health problems like obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and, of course, kidney disease.
3 Avoid easy meals or fast foods
Processed foods are high in salt, sugar, and trans fats, which can be detrimental to your overall health, including your kidneys. Opt for fresh, whole foods like fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins.
4 Quit smoking
Smoking constricts the blood vessels in your body and this lowers the amount of blood that reaches your kidneys. Prolonged consumption of tobacco products can lead to deteriorating kidneys.
5 Eat foods high in antioxidants
Inflammation is the body’s way of fighting off disease and healing itself. However, chronic inflation which can be caused by a range of conditions like obesity, smoking and/or drinking alcohol wreaks havoc on your body, especially your kidneys. Antioxidants help fight inflammation in your body. Fresh fruits and vegetables are high in antioxidants and can help reduce chronic inflammation and other problems down the road.
References:
Health24
Cleveland Clinic
Healthline