Have you ever noticed that final powerful spray of water at the carwash before your
vehicle gets a rapid blow dry?
The water jets pulverize any remaining remnants of dirt.
That’s one way to view how our kidneys work.
Their job is to flush out toxins from the blood by way of urine.
The National Institutes of Health reports that our kidneys filter an excess of 200 quarts
of blood daily.
That translates into 2 quarts of waste each day.
They don’t get holidays or weekends off; they work day and night.
Thankfully, our kidneys can wash away impurities while retaining vital nutrients floating around
in our blood.
Keeping our internal filters healthy and functioning properly is invaluable for nourishment and
detoxification of our bodies.
So naturally, whatever we eat and drink has a dramatic impact on our kidneys’ health.
A steady diet of unhealthy food and drinks can strain their performance, and put us at
risk.
The good news is, it’s never too late to improve your diet and lifestyle, even if your
kidneys are already impaired.
In today’s video we will see how our kidneys react to too much consumption of 8 different
foods and beverages.
1.
Red meat We’ve all heard that protein is good for
our health.
But too much of anything can be harmful.
For example, a diet that is high in red meat, which contains lots of animal protein, can
damage our kidneys.
The reason?
Our kidneys need to metabolism this protein.
When there’s a conveyor belt of rich protein headed toward the kidneys for cleansing, they
just can’t keep up with the pace.
When kidneys can’t eliminate waste products, there will be a build-up of acidic residue
in our body.
It’s always good to talk to your health care professional about the diet that’s
right for you.
2.
Alcohol Just like eating too much red meat can strain
our kidneys, the same is true with too much alcohol; they will be unable to properly filter
our blood.
Also, too much alcohol can cause dehydration.
This creates a domino effect: if our blood is dehydrated, our cells and organs will not
be able to function properly.
3.
Table Salt While our bodies require sodium to maintain
proper fluid balance – especially in our electrolytes - an excess amount will cause
kidneys to retain water.
Too much salt can also increase the amount of protein that is eliminated in urine.
4.
Caffeine Caffeine is a stimulant which millions of
people depend upon every morning to help them become fully awake.
But all of that caffeine in coffee, tea and sodas can jolt your kidneys into overdrive.
The stimulant accelerates blood flow, which in turn increases blood pressure.
Caffeine has another effect – it can lead to dehydration, just as salt can.
Too much dehydration can lead to kidney stones.
Most health experts recommend you drink no more than 2 cups of coffee or 3 cups of tea
daily.
Soda and energy drinks are beverages you may want to eliminate completely.
Another source of caffeine is cocoa, which should also be consumed moderately.
5.
Artificial Sweeteners Refined sugar has had a bad rap lately.
That’s why companies began creating artificial sweeteners.
It may sound better for our health, but they can still negatively impact kidney function.
Try instead to steer away from artificial sweeteners and use stevia or honey to flavor
your food and beverages.
6.
Dairy Products While dairy products are an excellent source
of protein, they should be consumed in moderation, especially for anyone who has kidney disease.
The reason?
Too many dairy products will increase calcium in urine which can lead to kidney stones.
Also, as kidneys are overworked, they won’t be able to regulate protein waste and it will
rise to an unhealthy level.
When kidneys are diseased, they can’t remove the daily excess phosphorus that our bodies
can’t use.
When phosphorus levels rise, bones may begin to lose calcium.
Skin conditions could also appear.
Further, the potassium contained in dairy products can accumulate in the blood, which
can trigger heart and muscle problems.
7.
Carbonated Beverages Sodas and energy drinks are usually the chief
instigator for kidney problems; they are loaded with caffeine, sugar or artificial sweeteners.
They may taste better than thirst-quenching water or lemon water but they aren’t providing
any health benefits for your kidneys.
8.
Genetically Modified Foods (GMOs) In recent years, crops have been the recipient
of various forms of herbicides and pesticides.
This includes everything from strawberries to rice.
These chemical alterations can create even more problems for those who are already suffering
from some type of kidney ailment.