Foods to watch out for when you have kidney problems
The kidneys, also called kidneys, are pairs of organs located on the dorsal side of the lower abdomen. It filters metabolites and wastes and excretes them in the urine, while maintaining a constant amount of water, electrolytes, and acidity in the body, and plays an essential role in producing and activating various hormones necessary for metabolism. The total weight of both kidneys is only about 0.4% of the total weight, but if the kidney function is severely deteriorated or damaged, it will cause problems in maintaining normal metabolism and homeostasis. In addition, the continued deterioration of kidney health can affect the development of adult diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure, which can lead to kidney-related diseases and, in the worst case, life-threatening fatal consequences. Because the kidneys are responsible for filtering out metabolites and waste products from our body, they are immediately affected by the type of food we consume. Habit of excessive consumption of foods high in sodium and high in chemical seasonings and artificial sweeteners causes deterioration of kidney function and at the same time increases the risk of developing related diseases such as pyelonephritis, renal failure, and glomerulonephritis. It’s possible. So today, let’s look at various food information to be careful about when your kidneys are not getting better.
Foods to watch out for when you have kidney problems
1. Processed meat
Eating too much processed meat such as ham, bacon, and sausage can cause kidney health to deteriorate. These processed meats go through various processing processes, such as hardening, fermentation, and smoking, in order to extend the shelf life and add flavor and flavor. Various additives such as sodium nitrite and sodium pyrophosphate added during processing can cause deterioration of kidney health. Especially if you suffer from kidney disease, you must improve this habit of eating processed meat. In addition, excessive consumption of these processed meats increases the level of inflammation inside the blood vessels, which increases the risk of high blood pressure, stroke, inflammatory bowel disease, and cancer, so intake should be controlled.
2. Carbonated Beverages
It is said that various types of carbonated drinks, which are characterized by a refreshing refreshing taste and sweet taste, have a bad effect on the kidneys when consumed continuously. Carbonated drinks contain phosphorus to prolong shelf life and prevent discoloration. Unlike natural phosphorus, phosphorus contained in carbonated drinks is not bound to protein, but is absorbed in the intestine and may cause stones. In addition, sugars contained in high content in carbonated beverages also adversely affect kidney health and may cause high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, etc., so intake should be reduced.
3. Refined carbohydrates with a lot of processing
Processed foods, fast foods, and instant foods that are highly processed and high in refined carbohydrates often contain excess sodium. Excessive intake of these foods can put a strain on the kidneys, weakening kidney function and causing related diseases. In addition, refined carbohydrates rapidly raise blood sugar levels and rapidly stimulate insulin secretion from the pancreas, which also affects the occurrence of diabetes.
4. Foods High in Potassium
Potassium is a nutrient that maintains blood pressure in the body and has an essential effect on the excretion of sodium and waste products from the body. Foods high in potassium include avocados, bananas, seaweed, apricots, kiwis, oranges, sweet potatoes, and potatoes. In particular, if you have kidney disease, you are advised to pay attention to your intake because the body cannot properly remove potassium, which can lead to abnormal symptoms such as fatigue, muscle weakness, and weakened heart function when the blood potassium level increases.
Other foods to watch out for
Dairy products, which are rich in protein and high in various vitamins and minerals, are essential for health promotion. Especially if you have kidney disease, it’s a good idea to limit your intake because the protein rich in dairy can cause protein build-up in your blood. And while unrefined whole grain bread has many health benefits compared to regular white bread, it is high in potassium and phosphorus, just like the dairy products introduced earlier, so if you have kidney health problems, you should be careful.