You are what you eat!
You must have heard that saying a million times.
But if you take a closer look at the statement, it is more than just a saying, it is a fact.
Food is not just the fuel that makes your body run and function, what you eat forms
the building blocks for your cells, so not just literally but actually, you are what you eat!
Your food can, and does, affect your health in multiple ways.
This statement especially holds up in cases of people with Kidney diseases.
Kidney Disease affects an estimated 37 million people in the U.S. which
is about 15% of the adult population; more than 1 in 7 adults) and approximately 90%
of those with Kidney Disease don’t even know they have it.
1 in 3 American adults (approximately 80 million people) is at risk for a Kidney Disease.
The thought of you having Kidney disease without even knowing of it can be pretty scary.
But making few changes to your diet and avoiding certain foods
is all it takes to protect your kidneys better.
Now Before you start replacing the ice cream in your fridge with green vegetables,
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So, without any further ado, let me tell you about
the 17 Foods that you need to avoid for a healthier and happier Kidney!
Milk
Yes Milk!
Although it might have a lot of health benefits it’s not as good for the Kidneys.
Milk contains high levels of Phosphorous, Potassium and Calcium and when your kidneys
are not functioning properly, it leads to a buildup of these minerals in the blood.
Your kidneys are unable to remove these excess
minerals from the blood and this can lead to fatal consequences.
Time to eat that cookie without the milk!
Avocado
If you are a millennial, you’re well versed with avocados and their numerous health benefits.
But there is a catch.
Avocado contains a large amount of Potassium which is very difficult
for an improperly functioning kidney to remove from the body.
This leads to an excessive buildup of Potassium which can be very dangerous.
Lay off that avocado toast!
Red Meat
Who doesn’t love a nice juicy steak or a rack of lamb,
but consuming too much of these can prove to be very harmful for a weak kidney.
These meats are high in protein content .
When you eat proteins, your body breaks it down into waste products
that must be cleaned from the blood by the kidneys.
Eating more protein than your body needs may put an extra burden on
the kidneys and cause kidney function to decline faster.
Salt
Your food would usually be tasteless, if not for a pinch of salt.
Salt comprises of sodium and much of sodium
in your diet can be harmful because it causes your blood to hold fluid.
The extra fluid raises your blood pressure and puts a strain on your kidneys.
So always eat your food with a pinch of salt but not anything more!
Peanut Butter
There is hardly anything better than peanut butter on bread,
it’s tasty and healthy...but is it really?
Peanut butter contains large amounts of phosphorous and too much of it in
your blood can cause damage to your body.
Since weak kidneys are unable to remove phosphorus, excess phosphorus in your
blood pulls calcium from your bones making it weak and more likely to break.
Better ease up on that Peanut Butter spread next time!
Soda and Cola Drinks
Nothing can beat the feeling of gulping down a cold can of
fizzy and refreshing soda on a hot sunny day.
But a recent study found that consuming at least two carbonated beverages per day is linked with
increased excretion of protein in the urine, which is a hallmark of kidney dysfunction.
Drinking soda or other carbonated beverages each day may lead to hypertension and diabetes,
which can cause kidney failure, reduced kidney function and kidney stones.
Time to replace those sodas with water or natural healthy juices!
Processed Foods
Having those “healthy” granola bars or brown bread everyday?
You may want to give that a break if you have kidney disease.
Processed foods like potato chips, cookies, deli meat, bread and cheese are significant
sources of sodium and phosphorus additives which has a damaging effect on kidneys.
Although an occasional bag of potato chips is fine as long as it’s taken in moderation.
Junk Food
You may try to restrict yourself,
but the junk food craving that kicks in time and again is hard to resist.
You would really hate me if I told you to quit Pizza, burgers,
french fries or onion rings for good but the truth is, they’re not good for your body.
A new study has suggested that a diet that relies mostly on junk food causes
similar blood sugar levels as Type 2 diabetes.
This may cause long-term damage to your kidneys and trigger diabetic kidney disease.
Alcohol
If you are a healthy person, your kidneys would be hard at work on any given time.
But when you have Kidney disease , your kidneys have to work overtime to function
normally and when you drink alcohol in such a condition, the kidneys are
unable to stop “dangerous levels of waste” from accumulating in the blood which can be fatal.
No more binge drinking at your college reunion!
Sugar
You must be familiar with the harmful effects of sugar on different parts of your body, but
you would be surprised to know that sugar intake does not have any effect on your kidneys directly.
Now, before you open that bag of candy, we would like to tell you
that sugar contributes to diabetes which increases the chances of kidney failure
and aggravates kidney damage, in case of an already weak kidney.
Bananas
Who knew Bananas could be harmful for you but for people with kidney diseases,
it is, as bananas have high levels of Potassium and damaged kidneys
will allow potassium to build up in the blood, causing serious heart problems.
Shellfish
Shellfish like clams, lobster, crabs and shrimp may be a good source of protein but research has
found that a toxin called domoic acid in shellfish and some fish that eat algae can harm kidneys.
The really troubling thing was that even tiny levels
of the toxin were enough to harm the kidneys.
So if you have kidney disease, you might want to stay away from your favourite seafood restaurant!
Butter
If you love butter on your toast but have kidney disease, it’s time to get rid of it.
Butter contains “bad” fats which raises your cholesterol level that can lead to
heart disease which can in turn cause serious kidney damage if you already have kidney disease.
Pickled Foods
Food in pickled form is usually loved by one and all.
But pickled food is loaded with sodium.
When your kidneys are not healthy, extra sodium and fluid will buildup in your body.
This can cause swollen ankles, puffiness, a rise in blood pressure, shortness of breath,
and/or fluid around your heart and lungs.
Canned Soups
Soups are usually considered healthy.
Nowadays, canned soups may be sold as low sodium but they are high in potassium.
This causes potassium buildup in blood as weak kidneys are unable
to remove potassium causing nausea, weakness, numbness and slow pulse.
So, don’t be fooled by those soup labels claiming to be low in sodium!
Brown Rice
Brown rice is unhealthy for me?
What are you guys talking about?
Although brown rice may be considered a healthy alternative to white rice,
when it comes to people with kidney disease, that may not be the case.
It is higher in potassium and phosphorus content than its white rice counterpart,
and by now we all know how bad potassium and phosphorus is for people with kidney disease.
Chocolate
Who doesn't love chocolate?
But Chocolate is known to be a source of unhealthy fat.
Chocolate can raise blood cholesterol and clog blood vessels, increasing the risk of heart attack
or stroke in people with CKD who already are more susceptible to these problems than most people.
We understand, it can be tricky to balance good nutrition with dietary restrictions, but a little
awareness in understanding the ingredients can go a long way for a healthier and happier kidney.
Was this video an eye opener for you realizing that some foods which are
good for everyone else can actually be bad for people with kidney diseases?
Let us know in the comments section below.