Spokane Urology is expanding with a second location! Please note referrals are required.
Your kidneys are natural blood filters, cleansing it of waste and regulating all salts, water, and chemicals that move through your body. It’s important that they stay healthy so that you can stay healthy, and it’s probably not a surprise to learn that what you eat matters.
Some foods help improve kidney performance, while too much of others may damage their tiny filters, called tubules. This is especially the case for the one in three adults at risk of kidney disease, according to the National Kidney Foundation.
The two leading causes of kidney disease among Washington residents are diabetes and high blood pressure, two conditions directly affected by nutrition. What you eat also contributes to your chances of developing urinary tract infections, kidney stones, and kidney cancer.
Here’s how: After your digestive system breaks food down, the fats, acids, and other components are absorbed into the bloodstream, which is then fed to your kidneys to be filtered. Your kidneys push the cleansed blood into circulation and pass leftover fluid (urine) to the bladder.
So what foods are good for the kidneys, and which should you pass on? Luckily, your focus needs to be more on food categories than specific food items, which allows you to have variety in your diet. Here are six food categories that carry nutrients that are good for the kidneys.
Earth-grown proteins such as beans, nuts, and seeds tend to be good sources of fiber and healthy fats, including omega-3 fatty acids. But eat in moderation: some nuts and seeds, including chia and almonds, are high in oxalates, which contribute to kidney stones. Soybeans, pecans, and flax seeds are nice alternatives.
The waste from animal proteins includes acids that are harder for the kidneys to filter and can overwork them. Aim to replace processed and red meats with skinless poultry, fish, eggs, and low-fat yogurt, at least a few days a week. Yogurt and other high-calcium foods also can help regulate oxalate levels.
Your kidneys like carbs, especially whole grains like brown rice, oats, and barley. Research finds whole grains may benefit people with kidney disease. Further, these foods fill you up while delivering healthy doses of iron, magnesium, zinc, phosphorous, and other minerals.
The colors of vegetables reveal their nutritional profiles, so make your plate a rainbow. Red represents lycopene, which research links to cancer prevention (including prostate cancer). Yellow and orange veggies pack vitamins A and C. And leafy greens carry vitamin K. Most veggies carry immunity-supporting antioxidants and heart-healthy fiber.
It probably isn’t a big surprise that foods that are good for the kidneys include fruits (and vegetables); however, did you know that fruits are also nutritionally color-coded? Combine several servings of oranges, apples, pears, berries, and cherries daily. Be watchful of bananas if you have kidney disease, however. Bananas are rich in potassium, which can be hard for kidneys to filter. If you’re craving something tropical, opt for pineapple.
Instead of the salt shaker, reach for the seasonings in your spice rack to perk up the taste and nutrition of your foods. Garlic powder, allspice, cumin, turmeric, and other easy-to-find spices deliver minerals and antioxidants – a tasty option for people with kidney stones.
An estimated one in seven adults have kidney disease, yet 90% don’t know it, the National Kidney Foundation reports. If you experience symptoms such as pain on either side of your lower back, consult your doctor. A simple blood or urine test can determine kidney health.
Among common kidney conditions:
UTIs are common – more than half of all women and 12% of men experience at least one – but their prevalence does not make them less serious. Untreated, a urinary bacterial infection can travel from the urethra and bladder to the kidneys, which can become serious. Further, UTIs tend to recur after the first infection. Symptoms include acute pain in the lower back or side, nausea, and fever.
When hard deposits of minerals and salts bind in your kidneys, tiny stones form. Kidney stones can be so small that they go unnoticed for months or even years, but if they enter the ureter (urine tube), they can become painful. If the stone gets lodged in the ureter and causes urine to back up, the waste can cause an infection. Common signs include significant pain and blood in the urine.
Kidney cancer occurs when cells mutate and begin to grow uncontrollably, forming tumors that can overcrowd healthy cells. It ranks among the 10 most common forms of cancer, with more than 70,000 adults diagnosed every year. Nearly 90% of kidney cancers develop in the tubules (renal cell carcinoma), and for this reason, kidney cancer and kidney disease are closely linked. In addition to pain in your sides, common symptoms include fatigue and unexplained weight loss.
Put foods that are good for the kidneys on tonight’s menu!
Your kidneys come with only one set of filters, and it’s up to you to keep them clean. When planning your next meal or snack, add in more of the above foods that are good for the kidneys.
The physicians at Spokane Urology can help you with your kidney health questions. Contact us by phone at 509-747-3147 to set up an appointment. In the meantime, read up on the kidney conditions and other illnesses we treat on our services website.
