The importance of kidneys in maintaining our overall wellbeing simply can’t be overlooked. The key functions of this crucial organ are to eliminate the waste from our body and maintain the balance of our body fluid level. Importance of a wholesome diet to maintain a healthy kidney is huge. Today, on 8th March, which is World Kidney Day, we’re going to share with you details of some of the best foods that are excellent to maintain healthy kidneys. You can be rest assured of having healthy kidneys by incorporating these foods in your regular diet. One of the easiest yet most important ways to attain healthy kidneys is to drink plenty of fluids. As the key function of this organ is to remove waste from our body, fluids greatly help in detoxification of our body. Apart from the fluids, there’re certain healthy foods that also assist to detox our body and thus, maintain good health of the kidneys. So, here’s a quick rundown of some of the best foods that can do wonder for your kidneys.
Cabbage
One of the best and easily available vegetables is cabbage that can help you maintain healthy kidneys to a great extent. It contains high amount of antioxidant vitamin C that improves the body’s resistance to inflammation and alleviates constipation, which is a common complication in patients having kidney disease. High salt or sodium diet often leads to poor kidney health, as a result of which the kidneys start retaining water in the body, thereby causing swelling in eyes, face or any other part of the body. Cabbage, being low in sodium, is highly recommended to maintain healthy kidneys. In addition, cabbage is also low in calories, making it beneficial for weight control. Maintaining a healthy weight is critical to maintain the wellbeing of the kidneys.
Cauliflower
Another great way to protect the kidneys is to prepare recipes with cauliflower. This healthy veggie not only detoxifies your body but protects it from different diseases as well. This cruciferous vegetable is rich in vitamin C and a good source of fiber and folate. Cauliflower, being low in sodium and potassium, aids in maintaining fluid levels in the body. In addition, it’s packed full of glucosinolates, thiocyanates and indoles – compounds that aid the body in neutralizing toxic substances. It also helps avert kidney stones and lowers the risk of chronic renal failure as well as other kidney diseases. It helps in oxidation of fats and reduces inflammation to promote healthy functioning of the kidneys. You can boil or steam it, add it to salad, or season it with spices like curry powder, turmeric, pepper and herb seasonings. You can pair this vegetable with pasta or mash it as a diet replacement of dialysis.
Garlic
Garlic may enhance kidney function by helping eliminate or reduce certain kidney-related malfunctions including infection. Garlic or Allium sativum contains a chemical compound namely allicin, which makes it rich in medicinal value. It can inhibit the kidneys’ production of blood pressure enhancing hormones. It can also increase urine production and reduce the re-absorption of salts by the kidneys. Fresh garlic or garlic supplements, in forms of capsule, liquid extract, oil or powder are widely available. The appropriate dose and form may vary, depending on your overall health and age, but this perennial plant native to the central Asia can do wonder in maintaining healthy kidneys.
Apple
Apple is considered to be one of the kidney-friendly superfoods that help the crucial organ perform better. Due to its low potassium content, apple acts as a natural cleanser for your body. It cleanses the kidneys without triggering frequent urination. Apple is also a rich source of vitamin C and the antioxidant quercetin, which is associated with cancer prevention and heart health. It’s a good source of pectin, which is a soluble fiber responsible for lowering glucose levels. It also reduces the risk of kidney stone formation. So, try to have at least one apple a day. For a delicious treat, sprinkle apple together with cinnamon and help your kidneys perform at the optimum level.
Egg
One of the least-expensive foods that greatly help in curing kidney-related diseases is an egg. While the egg is one of the key sources of protein that plays an immensely crucial role to maintain our overall wellbeing, patients having renal failure need to follow stringent dietary principles to protect their residual kidney function. So, they can consume some amount of egg white and not the egg yolk. Egg white is a common and good source of high-quality protein that can meet the fundamental physical demand while producing less urea nitrogen that needs to be discharged by the kidneys. Consuming only or mostly the egg white can be beneficial for patients with renal failure and can improve the efficiency of the kidneys.
Fluids
Fluids are immensely crucial for healthy kidney functioning. So, maintain your kidney health by being “water wise”. According to general conception, everyone should drink eight glasses of water each day but this may vary depending on your overall health condition. For instance, if you have kidney disease, your doctor may advise you to restrict your daily fluid consumption. Some of the best kidney-friendly fluids include wine (at moderate level), cranberry juice, lime and lemon-based citrus juices and of course, water. You can also research online or read some popular food journals to know about some healthy drinks that can be prepared at home and are good for kidney health.
Kidney Beans
Kidney beans are rich in nutritional values that improve kidney health. They contain a high amount of both soluble as well as insoluble fibre, which aid to stabilize the blood sugar. Being low in fat, they promote cardiovascular health and aid in keeping the blood pressure low. They are also a great source of low-fat protein and contain a low amount of sugar, sodium and cholesterol. Kidney beans also come loaded with an abundant quantity of proteins. You receive a protein content of approximately 15g when you consume about 177g of kidney beans. A 3.5 oz serving of these beans contains approximately 9g of fibre, which is around 30 percent of the recommended daily amount without almost any saturated fat. They also help to boost the magnesium and potassium level in the body, deficiencies of which may increase the risk of kidney stones development.
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