Hello, my name is Katherine, and I've been working with kidney disease patients for 7 years, now.
Today, I'll tell you everything you need to know about protein in the urine,
or proteinuria - a symptom of kidney disease. I'll show you how to identify it, how to treat it
and, most importantly, how to get rid of it quickly.
Because here on 00kidney I always look at the solution rather than at the problem.
And proteinuria can be lowered and even completely cured in many cases with the right good habits.
There are also home remedies that are proven to help this symptom that I want to show you today.
So, if you are new here on 00kidney, welcome to our journey together to a better kidney health!
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If your doctor told you that there are high amounts of protein in your urine, proteinuria,
the first thing you will want to know is if your kidneys are working properly.
There are tests you can do and symptoms that can be observed.
So let's see immediately How to Lower Protein in the urine.
Here's what you need to know about Proteinuria, also called albuminuria in some cases
First, if there's a leakage of protein in the urine, it usually means that
the kidneys aren't working properly. Protein is normally found in the blood.
When blood gets filtered through the kidneys, the kidneys are supposed to remove waste and
toxins without touching protein. If protein leaks in the urine,
it means that the filters in the kidneys aren't doing their job at 100%.
Second, this can also cause a foam in the urine which is, in many cases,
the first symptom of kidney disease. But unfortunately, it's very hard to
spot it - people generally mistake it for the normal bubbles they see in the urine.
So, don't rely on the bubbles you see in the urine to self-diagnose kidney disease.
Get tested and pay close attention to protein in the urine, or albumin.
Today, you can even do this test at home, you can use a simple test kit containing
a urine testing strip that you dip into a fresh sample of your urine.
Follow the instructions on the kit and find the results by matching the color of the strip
to color blocks on the container. Less than 30 mg per deciliter is good,
if it's more that this it can be a sign of kidney problems.
You can buy urine testing strips at most pharmacies and drugstores.
Many insurance companies will cover or reduce the cost of the strips if you have a
prescription from your health professional. Third, even a test showing that you have
proteinuria is not enough for a complete diagnosis.
For example, High protein in urine can also be caused by dehydration, high blood pressure,
and other various diseases. This is why your doctor will
probably tell you to repeat the test, and also to get tested for kidney function,
if you keep having protein in the urine. Now, if you only have this symptom and don't
have any other symptoms of kidney disease such as fatigue, swelling of hands and feet, kidney pain,
Chest pain and shortness of breath, it usually means that you caught the problem in time.
So, how serious is proteinuria? If it is present alone, without other
symptoms of kidney disease, it can be managed and, in many cases, even completely cured.
But having this symptom means that the kidneys are being damaged.
It's not like the house is on fire, but the smoke detector is absolutely ringing.
There's still time to get things right, but you have to act now.
So, if you're not sure, if you don't know if you have kidney disease, get tested.
A strategy to stop the progression of kidney disease should be based on the stage of
kidney disease you're in. Main goal would be not to
make kidney disease progress. Ok guys, if I'm going too fast here is
because I have already talked in depth about the symptoms and stages of chronic kidney disease.
If you want to know more about the correlation between kidney disease and proteinuria,
this video up here may help you. Today I want to show you what you
can do to get rid of proteinuria and, most importantly, to stop the progression of kidney
disease IN THE EARLY STAGES. Because, in most of the cases,
getting rid of protein in the urine means finding a way to improve kidney function.
Therefore, the goal of treatment is to manage the underlying condition.
There are many ways to lower protein in the urine.
So, we'll first take a look at the necessary dietary changes. But we'll also see what home
remedies that are proven to work. Dietary changes
The diet is very important if you want to stop the progression of kidney disease.
If you only have proteinuria, and not kidney disease in stage 3 or 4 you won't need to
avoid foods rich in phosphorus and potassium. Which is great because a lot of healthy foods
are rich in these nutrients. So you may benefit even
more from a plant-based diet. The main focus should be to reduce protein,
sodium and sugar intake to the minimum, especially if coming from meat and processed foods.
Best way to achieve this? Take a look at this slide. These are all
the processed foods you don't want in your diet. Start replacing processed foods, sugar or sodium
rich foods including sweetened drinks, added sugars, fatty foods, processed meats with
foods rich in all those nutrients your kidneys need.
follow a healthy diet of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes and nuts
Now, this is not a vegan diet, it's the smart way of eating
to support the recovery of your kidneys.
In fact, lean protein and fish are also included.
But focus on healthy fruits and vegetables. Now, if you want some ideas and recipes to find
healthy foods to eat on a daily basis, there's a playlist I've made, here.
The goal here is to keep blood pressure and blood sugar levels in check.
These are the two main causes of CKD, ok? BUT THEY CAN ALSO CAUSE PROTEINURIA.
So, the next two steps are decisive to get rid of proteinuria.
So, first step, take care of high blood sugar levels and diabetes, if you have them.
Diabetes is a disease in which your blood glucose, or blood sugar levels are too high.
If you have a fasting blood sugar level less than 100 mg/dL is normal,
anything between 100 to 125 mg/dL is prediabetes and If it's 126 mg/dL or higher it's diabetes.
Diabetes is a serious disease and can cause several complications, including heart disease,
eye damage, nerve damage but also kidney damage and proteinuria.
So, if you have it, absolutely find a way to manage it. In some cases, medications are needed,
but for many patients, lifestyle and dietary changes are enough.
The winning strategy is really simple and effective.
Eat smart, so you can keep a healthy weight, which is really important to manage diabetes.
Your doctor will also recommend to get plenty of exercise to help treat this condition.
And there are home remedies that can help you. More about them in a moment.
Now, the best way to improve your kidney health, is to improve your heart health.
Take all the necessary steps to keep a healthy blood pressure.
Remember that you can check your blood pressure at home easily, and you should do it regularly.
Most of the steps I'm describing in this video... the healthy diet,
the treatments... will help reaching the goal of lowering blood pressure to the right levels.
This is because, if you want to get rid of proteinuria,
it's vital to keep your blood pressure under control.
Your doctor can prescribe drugs that lower blood pressure and
protect the kidneys from additional damage. Lifestyle changes such as stop smoking,
drinking only in moderation and avoid irregular sleep patterns, are really important.
But also, avoid painkillers. Regular use of NSAIDs like naproxen, ibuprofen... has been proven to
cause life lasting kidney damage, so avoid them. Now, if the dietary and lifestyle changes are
not enough, a little help from the three home remedies I'll show you will go a long way.
First, there is Reishi mushroom.
This mushroom, also known as Ganoderma lucidum, has a multitude of benefits.
They include a boost to the immune system, treating Fibromyalgia,
strengthening mental health and lowering blood sugar levels and blood pressure.
And, most important, this fungus has a powerful effect in protecting the kidneys.
Recent research also added new information on how Reishi can positively impact kidney health.
The efficacy of reishi is attributed to both immune modulation and effect on the outer membrane
of the nephron, the filtering unit of the kidney. This is what a study on people suffering
from proteinuria found out. According to the researchers, Reishi makes
the kidney less permeable, to help proteinuria and help stop erosion of the nephron.
Basically, the test subjects got an improvement in the ability
of their kidneys to retain protein, so they lowered the protein in the urine.
Exactly what we want. The results were observed
on a small number of participants, but all the participants of the study had an improvement.
Reishi mushrooms are sold as an extract and can be easily found on amazon .com or in herbal shops.
The dosage is 2g per day of extract. This dosage was tested and
is considered safe for up to a month. Consult your doctor before taking this remedy
if you have chronic kidney disease, hypertension, diabetes or if you are taking medications.
And be sure to find a brand that has obtained his certifications from external agencies.
Look for brands that carry the United States USP seal or the International NSF seal.
These are third-party organizations that ensure supplements contain the ingredients
listed on the label, without impurities. Another remedy that can help you:
Rehmannia is one of the 50 fundamental herbs in traditional Chinese medicine.
It is a longevity herb with a marked tonic action on the liver, pancreas and kidneys.
Also known as Chinese Foxglove, today the root of this herb is used to aid metabolic function and
supports urinary health, but it is also supposed to have anti-inflammatory, blood pressure lowering
and blood sugar lowering effects. A recent study shown that the dried
root of Rehmannia glutinosa can improve renal health in patients
suffering from chronic glomerulonephritis. When 200-mg capsules were administered twice a
day, in combination with an antihypertensive drug, the test subjects showed a reduced
proteinuria compared to the control group. This remedy is not as thoroughly studied as the
remedies I usually show you, so caution may be advised if you want to try it.
Rehmannia is however considered safe, especially in the recommended dosage.
Now, maybe the most powerful remdy in getting rid of proteinuria is
Omega-3 fatty acids Ok, I've kept the best for last.
Omega-3 fatty acid has been shown, during clinical trials, to be of help in reducing
proteinuria in patients with kidney problems. But there's also evidence that it can help with
high blood pressure, one of the leading causes of CKD, but also cholesterol levels, triglycerides,
inflammation and more. During long term,
double blind, clinical trials this supplement has also shown to reduce the progression of CHRONIC
KIDNEY DISEASE EVEN IN THE ADVANCED STAGES. But Omega 3 fatty acid has too many benefits
to be neglected in a healthy diet. It's great for your body and mind:
omega 3 can fight depression and anxiety, but also heart disease, Metabolic Syndrome,
Age-Related Mental Decline, joint pain, sleep quality... it can even help prevent cancer.
Ok, this supplement is something we all should take in any case.
I take omega 3, many of my family members take omega 3, my friends take it...
If you are not getting enough of this essential nutrient from the diet, supplement it.
When choosing a supplement, be aware that some brands can contain as little as
8% of active ingredients, and may not be beneficial to your health.
So, to find the right brand, look at the EPA and DHA content.
EPA and DHA are the fatty acids present in Omega 3, the active components of fish oil.
Look for a brand that contains at least 300mg of combined EPA and DHA for two pills serving,
so you don't have to take too many pills per day.
This, combined with the other tips of today's video, can help reduce the protein in the urine,
slow down and in some cases even stop the progression of kidney disease by
managing the conditions causing it. Protein in the urine can be either a
worrisome symptom or the reason to start your healthier life.
Now, if you want to know more about how to protect and improve the health of your kidneys,
you may be interested in this video up here. This is all for today, subscribe to 00kidney now
so you won't miss any of my future videos. Thank you for watching, see you next
time.