Your kidneys remove excess water and waste from your body through urination. People with chronic kidney disease are unable to do this and therefore have to undergo renal replacement therapy either through a dialysis or kidney transplant.
This is why it’s very important to look after your health and keep your kidneys in tip-top shape. Here are five ways to look after your kidneys:
1 Know your numbers
One of the primary culprits of chronic kidney disease is high blood pressure. Unfortunately, many people live with undetected and untreated blood pressure which could lead to deteriorating kidneys. Be sure to check in with your local doctor to be in the know of your hypertension numbers.
2 Drink enough of the right fluids
Drink enough water. Many health articles advise drinking up to eight glasses of water when the rule of thumb is to drink whenever you’re thirsty.
And we cannot emphasise enough the importance of regularly drinking water. Many people, when they get thirsty, would reach for a glass of soda or fruit juice. These are generally high in sugar and could lead to other health problems like obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and, of course, kidney disease.
3 Avoid easy meals or fast foods
Regularly consuming processed foods like ready-made frozen meals and junk food can lead to an array of health problems, with kidney disease being only one of them. Processed foods contain high amounts of salt, sugar and trans fats to keep it fresher for longer.
4 Quit smoking
Smoking constricts the blood vessels in your body and this lowers the amount of blood that reaches your kidneys. Prolonged consumption of tobacco products can lead to deteriorating kidneys.
5 Eat foods high in antioxidants
Inflammation is the body’s way of fighting off disease and healing itself. However, chronic inflation which can be caused by a range of conditions like obesity, smoking and/or drinking alcohol wreaks havoc on your body, especially your kidneys. Antioxidants help fight inflammation in your body. Fresh fruits and vegetables are high in antioxidants and can help reduce chronic inflammation and other problems down the road.
Regularly check in with your family doctor to stay informed about your health. With GetSavvi Health you get unlimited GP visits for yourself and your whole family. Click here, fill in the form and a GetSavvi Health consultant will be in contact soon to tell you more about the best plan for your lifestyle.