The kidney is the number one, the most important, excretory organ in the body. Its basic function is to cleanse the blood, and to eliminate all the excess waste from out body. Therefore you have to pay attention to your diet in order to prevent your kidneys from being damaged.
health tips:
1. Limit the work load on the kidney: Proper nutrition is essential for normal body function. The kidney job is to eliminate the harmful waste from the blood and flush it away from your body through urination. In general terms, the blood in the human body is filtrated more than 20-25 times in a day. Therefore, you should try to decrease the amount of work on your kidneys as much as possible.
2. Drink plenty fluids: Why should we drink 6-8 glasses of water every day? The lack of fluids in the body leads to toxin accumulation in the kidneys which, in time, can cause serious damage. When there is no enough fluid pressure to push the toxins through the urinary tract, it occurs toxin build up in your kidneys.
3. Eat cleansing foods: Fruits and vegetables are rich in nutrients which help the kidneys remove the excess acid from the body through urine. Food loaded with antioxidants protects the body cells from damage caused by free-radicals.
-Egg whites are loaded with proteins of the highest quality and essential amino acids, and have less phosphorus than other protein sources like egg yolk or meat.
-Cabbage- Is a good source of vitamin C, vitamin K, fiber, vitamin B6 and folic acid. On the other hand, it is low in potassium and cheap so anyone can afford it.
-Red bell peppers- Are rich in lycopene, vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin B6, folic acid and fiber. Also, they`re low in potassium which is great for kidney proper function.
-Grapes- Are very effective for kidney detoxification because they have the ability to eliminate excess uric acid from the body.
-Cranberries- Proanthocyanidin is a powerful antioxidant which is found in cranberries. Also, they contain quinine which converts to hippuric acids, a substance which significantly stimulates toxin elimination from the body.
4. Magnesium Intake: Magnesium deficiency can lead to high blood pressure and toxin accumulation, which can cause serious kidney damage. Therefore, magnesium is essential for proper kidney function and you can find it in dark green vegetables, seeds, nuts and whole grains.
5. Cut the Sodium, Salt and Protein: if you consume any of these foods in excess, your kidneys will have to work harder in order to eliminate them. Sodium, when consumed in excess, can cause high blood pressure, heart attack or stroke. Excess protein (more than 1 gm. / kg of body weight) can lead to kidney malfunction because they have to work harder to eliminate the blood urea nitrogen from the body. Renal damage can also be caused by drinking too much water when it`s not necessary.
6. Calcium mineral supplements: Too much calcium and vitamin D supplement can lead to the formation of kidney stones and even to kidney failure. Elevated calcium in the blood, or hypercalcemia, is associated with many complications, including bone and kidney problems.
Renal friendly recipe for healthy kidneys:
Vegetable patties
Portions: 6
Serving size: 2 cutlets
Ingredients:
1 cup of grated cabbage
1 cup of grated carrots
2 cups of chopped French beans
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cumin powder
1 teaspoon red chili powder
½ cup all-purpose white flour
4 brown bread slices
Instructions:
First, steam the cabbage and carrot in a pan. When half cooked, add the chopped French beans and coo until completely done.
When cool, add spices, flour and bread slices (soaked in water and drained by squeezing between the palms), coriander leaves and lime juice.
Make 12 balls and flatten each into a patty (the size of a small burger).
Heat a saucepan over medium heat. Add the oil and place patties in the saucepan, two or three at a time without crowding.
Flip patties over when cooked, about 2-3 minutes on each side. Serve hot.