Doctors explain how a high-salt and a high-protein diet harm your kidneys
Kidney controls blood pressure, regulates the formation of red blood cells and keeps the bones strong.
Kidneys are made of nephrons, glomerulus and tubule. The glomerulus filters the blood, the tubule keeps the required essential substances and removes the wastes from the body.
What are kidney diseases?
Kidney diseases occur when the kidneys are damaged and are unable to filter the blood normally. The common kidney diseases are chronic kidney disease caused by high blood pressure, kidney stones formed when mineral in the blood crystallize in the kidneys, glomerulonephritis which an inflammation of the glomeruli, polycystic kidney disease in which cysts grow in the kidneys and urinary tract infections which are bacterial infections in the urinary system and is commonly seen in females.
What are the early signs of kidney disease?
As per experts, kidney disease is treatable if you notice the symptoms early and work on it.
The common signs of kidney disease are trouble sleeping, dry and itchy skin, need to urinate often, blood in urine, lethargy, puffiness around eyes and having foamy urine.
Swelling in legs and ankles, reduced urine output, poor appetite and muscle cramps are commonly seen in people who have malfunctioning kidneys.
How can one cut down the risk of kidney disease?
To reduce risk of kidney diseases, one needs to control high blood pressure if hypertensive, control blood sugar if diabetic, avoid smoking, maintain healthy weight, drink enough water, adopt healthy food choices, limit alcohol intake, take medications as prescribed by doctor, should be careful of use of over the counter medicines, and exercise regularly.
How can diet help cut down the risk of kidney disease?
A proper diet can help alleviate the risk of kidney disease, experts say. A low sodium diet is good for health. Having low sodium will put less pressure on kidney functioning and hence would give more time for the organ to heal and slow down the progression of the disease.
Salt intake should be limited in your diet because it can harm your kidneys (3-4 gm per day). A well-balanced diet rich in vegetables and fruits, as well as fibers, minerals, vitamins, and omega-3 is recommended.
Foods rich in protein, phosphorus and potassium should not be consumed, the doctor adds.
Who is more at risk of developing kidney issues?
Smoking, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus can lead to kidney disease.
Men are twice as likely to suffer from nephrotic syndrome than women. Another major comorbidity that triggers this condition is diabetes in adults which not only restricts the kidney functions but gradually leads to its failure as well. Patients with diabetes and hypertension, which account for more than 60% of chronic kidney disease cases in India, are at a higher risk because these are the main risk factors for renal disease.
- 10-Mar-2022
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