Renal Health: 10 Don’ts For A Healthy Kidney

by Shatakshi Gupta

Every organ has its unique function in our body. But some organs are so important that we can’t live without them. One such organ is Kidney. It plays an important role in our body. Kidneys help in removing waste and extra fluid from the body. Along with this, they also help in removing acid to maintain a healthy balance of water, salts and minerals. Without this healthy balance, our nerves, muscles and other body tissues cannot function properly.

 In such a situation, it becomes necessary to maintain our renal health. In today’s life, we make many mistakes that can hamper our renal health. Interestingly, we are not aware of many such activities that disrupt the healthy functioning of Kidneys. Today, we will tell you about 10 such things that you should avoid for healthy kidneys.

Relying heavily on painkillers

There are many over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)available in the market, which help in reducing your pain.  But they can harm your kidneys, especially if someone already has a renal disorder.  Therefore, it is better if you avoid taking NSAIDs on a regular basis.

Don’t be a person with Sweet Tooth

Consuming too much sugar can lead to obesity, which increases your risk of high blood pressure and diabetes, both of which can lead to kidney problems. Hence, you should not only be careful with the consumption of sugary foods. Apart from this, regular consumption of biscuits, condiments, cereals and white bread should be avoided as they all contain sugar.

Consuming excessive salt

Diets that are high in salt can increase blood pressure and thus increase the risk of kidney disease. Salt also hinders the filtration process of the Kidney. If you too are in the habit of taking excessive salt, start reducing it gradually.You can enhance the flavour of your food with other spices.

A big no to processed food

Also read: A Perfect Diet After Kidney Transplant

Processed foods are rich in sodium and phosphorus.  People suffering from kidney disease and even a healthy person should avoid eating packaged food. Consuming phosphorus and sodium-rich processed foods can be harmful to the kidneys and bones.

Prolonged sittings

Sitting in one place for a long time can also develop kidney disease. A sedentary lifestyle can negatively affect renal health. Daily physical activity is linked to better blood pressure and better metabolism, which helps keep the kidneys healthy.

Sleep deficiency

A sound sleep is extremely important to maintain your overall health. Kidney functions are regulated by the sleep cycle, which helps coordinate the kidney’s workload within 24 hours.

Dehydration

Keeping ourselves hydrated helps our kidneys in flushing sodium and toxins from the body. Drinking less water develops painful kidney stones. Patients with kidney problems require less fluid intake. But people with healthy kidneys should drink 3-4 litres of water daily.

Smoking

Smoking is not only harmful to our lungs and liver but it also harms our overall health.  People who smoke are more likely to have protein in their urine, which is a sign of kidney damage.

Cut down on excessive meat diet

Animal protein generates high amounts of acid in the blood, which can be harmful to the kidneys and cause acidosis. Acidosis is a condition in which the kidneys are unable to eliminate acid fast enough.

No to booze

If alcohol is consumed in moderation once a month or fortnightly, then it does no harm. But if you are consuming alcohol regularly, then you are cutting your own throat. Regular consumption of alcohol can cause kidney damage. Dipsomaniacs are usually at risk of chronic kidney disease.