How to Eat to Maintain Kidney Health
The kidneys, for their small size, perform an incredible amount of work for our bodies. Filtering up to 200 quarts of our blood every day, they cleanse nearly two quarts of toxins and other wastes out of our system. By eating a diet that maintains kidney health, you will take some of the stress off these powerful organs and help ensure they continue their job well into your later years. Of course, if you are having an health-related issues, particularly with your kidneys, consult your physician before starting any change to your diet.
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Instructions
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Consult with your physician. If you are currently experiencing pain, are under treatment for diabetes or currently on any medications, please talk to your doctor or nutritionist regarding the best course of action in terms of your diet.
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Assess your current diet. Doctors recommend that a low protein diet is most beneficial to maintaining kidney health. A diet high in animal, dairy or even legume proteins should be avoided. When eating meat, small amounts of grilled or broiled meats are best. Grilled, broiled or steamed seafood in small quantities is also acceptable. Stay away from all cured meats, such as salami and ham.
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Add low-potassium vegetables to your diet. Potassium can be taxing to your kidneys and some vegetables have higher levels than others. Avoid greens such as spinach, potatoes, tomatoes, mushroom and squash and instead look for carrots, corn, cabbage, green beans and asparagus.
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Remove as much salt as possible. Pre-made and packaged foods are loaded with sodium. Buy foods with little added salt or none at all. When cooking, use herbs and spices to flavor your foods instead of salt. If using a salt substitute, be careful, because many of these are high in potassium.
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Lower your intake of custards and puddings. When it comes to dessert, try fresh fruit or sorbets instead.
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Tips & Warnings
When ordering out, tell the waitstaff to leave the added salt off your meal and put the sauce on the side. Most sauces and gravies have a tremendous amount of salt in them. Read the labels. If you are not currently a label reader, now is a great time to start.
