Foods to eat to maintain a healthy Kidney
Healthy kidneys do many important jobs. They keep your whole body in balance by:
▪︎Removing waste products and extra water from your body
▪︎Helping make red blood cells
▪︎Helping control blood pressure
Healthy kidneys remove wastes and extra fluid from your blood. But when your kidneys fail, wastes and excess fluid can build up in your blood and make you feel sick. Once you begin treatment for kidney failure, your symptoms will improve, and you will start to feel much better.Having kidney failure means that 85-90% of your kidney function is gone, and they don't work well enough to keep you alive. There is no cure for kidney failure, but it is possible to live a long life with treatment. Causes of kidney failureHigh blood pressure and diabetes are the two most common causes of kidney failure. They can also become damaged from physical injury, diseases, or other disorders.Kidney failure does not happen overnight. It is the result of a gradual loss of kidney function. Some people do not even know they have kidney disease until their kidneys fail. Because people with early kidney disease may not have any symptoms. Symptoms usually show up later in the progression of the disease and may include:
▪︎Trouble sleeping
▪︎Poor appetite
▪︎Weakness
▪︎Tiredness
▪︎Itching
▪︎Weight loss
▪︎Muscle cramps (especially in the legs)
▪︎Swelling of your feet or ankles
▪︎Anemia (a low blood count)
▪︎Trouble sleeping
TREATMENTS
Dialysis and kidney transplant are the two treatments for kidney failure. The dialysis treatments or transplanted kidneys will take over some of the work of your damaged kidneys and remove wastes and extra fluid from your body. This will make many of your symptoms better.
Dialysis: There are two types of dialysis- hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Both remove waste produces and extra fluid from your blood.
Hemodialysis uses an artificial kidney machine, while peritoneal uses the lining in the belly.Kidney transplant:
A kidney transplant is an operation that places a healthy kidney in your body.
Ways to manage Kidney problems
▪︎Taking medicines
▪︎Restricting salt
▪︎Limiting certain foods
▪︎Getting exercise
You will also need treatment for any other health problems you may have, including high blood pressure.A kidney-friendly diet should limit sodium, cholesterol, and fat and instead focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, and lean meats (seafood, poultry, eggs, legumes, nuts, seeds, and soy products), People who have already been diagnosed with CKD may also need to limit certain other nutrients. Eat foods made from whole grains—such as whole wheat, brown rice, oats, and whole-grain corn—every day. Use whole-grain bread for toast and sandwiches; substitute brown rice for white rice for home-cooked meals and when dining out.
Good foods that can help repair your kidneys include:
▪︎Apples
▪︎Blueberries
▪︎Fish
▪︎kale
▪︎Spinach
▪︎Sweet potatoes
▪︎Bananas
▪︎Avocados
▪︎Citrus fruits and juices, such as oranges and grapefruit.
▪︎Prunes and prune juice.
▪︎Apricots.
▪︎Dried fruits, such as dates and raisins.
▪︎Melons such as honeydew and cantaloupes
There is no cure for kidney failure, but it is possible to live a long life with treatment. Having kidney failure is not a death sentence, and people with kidney failure live active lives and continue to do the things they love.
What are the first signs of kidney problems?Generally, earlier stages are known as 1 to 3. And as kidney disease progresses, you may notice the following symptoms.
▪︎Nausea and vomiting
▪︎Muscle cramps
▪︎Loss of appetite
▪︎Swelling via feet and ankles
▪︎ Dry, itchy skin
▪︎Shortness of breath
▪︎Trouble sleeping
▪︎ Urinating either too much or too little.
Sources
mayoclinic.org
Everydayhealth.com
Niddk.com
National kidney foundation
