The kidneys can be damaged for various different reasons and some of these are beyond your control, such as age and genetics. If you are concerned about developing kidney disease, there are some things you can do to help these organs and avoid damaging them, such as losing weight, changing your diet, and drinking health-promoting herbal teas (as long as they are approved by your doctor). Know that you should also continue to follow your doctor's directions regarding diet, medications, and fluid intake.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Making Lifestyle Changes
Step 1. Stop smoking
Smoking increases the risk of kidney disease, as well as other serious health problems. If you are a smoker, you should stop as soon as possible to reduce the chances of suffering from kidney disease. Ask your doctor for medications and detox programs that can help you.
Step 2. Reduce your alcohol consumption
A drink or two a couple of times a week is an acceptable amount, but drinking more can damage your kidneys. overdoing alcohol increases the risk of kidney disease. It is considered an overdose for women when it exceeds three drinks per day (or more than seven per week), while for men it is excessive when it exceeds four drinks per day (or fourteen per week).
If you can't limit your consumption, ask your doctor for help
Step 3. Get slim
If you are overweight, your kidney function can weaken as these organs have to work harder. In this case, losing weight becomes a crucial issue and you must also commit to maintaining a normal weight; if you can't do it yourself, see your doctor. Some techniques to increase the chances of succeeding in your intent are:
- Keep a food diary
- Drink more water;
- Do more physical activity;
- Eat more fruits and vegetables.
Step 4. Increase the exercise
Physical activity offers general health benefits and can help improve kidney function as well; so commit to training a little every day. Even a simple half-hour daily walk is healthy for overall well-being.
If you are unable to dedicate a full half hour, divide the exercise sessions throughout the day; for example, you can find two 15-minute moments or three 10-minute moments
Method 2 of 3: Change Power
Step 1. Drink more water
It is essential to avoid stones, but also to improve kidney function; if you are worried about developing some disease, you should consume more water. Aim to drink between 6 and 8 250ml glasses (about 1.5-2 liters) each day. if you are at risk of stones, you should increase the dose.
If your doctor recommends a specific daily fluid intake for your needs, follow their recommendations
Step 2. Eat a moderate amount of protein
A diet that is too rich in these nutrients can "tire" the kidneys; you must therefore limit their consumption if you want to keep them healthy. Make sure that only 20-30% of your daily calories come from protein; for example, if your diet includes a daily intake of 2000 calories, those derived from protein should not be more than 400-600.
You can understand whether or not you are meeting this goal by keeping track of what you eat and paying particular attention to the calories that come from high-protein foods, such as meat, eggs, fish and dairy products
Step 3. Reduce your sodium intake
It can contribute to kidney problems, so you should avoid foods with a high salt content and limit their intake as much as possible. one way to do this is to personally take care of the preparation of the dishes, in addition to minimizing the amount of industrially processed products.
- If you are used to eating processed foods, read the label on the package carefully and avoid those that include salt among the ingredients.
- Take note of how much you take each day; you should limit yourself to a maximum amount of 2300 mg if you are under 51 and no more than 1500 mg if you have exceeded this age threshold.
Step 4. Choose low-fat foods
They can help protect the kidneys, as well as the heart and arteries. Avoid those that are particularly rich in it, such as fried foods, baked goods and greasy dishes; instead opt for thinner ones like:
- Lean cuts of meat
- Lean cheeses;
- Skimmed milk;
- Skinless poultry;
- Fruit;
- Vegetables;
- Legumes.
Step 5. Limit your phosphorus intake if you have been advised to do so
If your kidney dysfunction is more severe and your doctor has advised you to take little, you should follow his advice and reduce the amount of this chemical in your diet. Among the foods that contain it in significant quantities are:
- Cured meat;
- Meat with the addition of phosphorus;
- Dairy products;
- Drinks;
- Refined foods.
Step 6. Pay attention to your potassium intake if you have been advised to do so
It is important to maintain a balanced intake of this element; if you have been told to eat a low potassium diet, you should avoid or cut down on certain foods that are particularly high in potassium. Among these consider:
- Salt substitutes;
- Oranges
- Bananas;
- Potatoes;
- Tomatoes;
- Brown or wild rice;
- Bran;
- Dairy product;
- Wholemeal flour bread and pasta;
- Legumes;
- Nuts.
Method 3 of 3: Using Herbal Remedies
Step 1. Consult your doctor before starting to take herbal supplements
They can improve the health of various body systems, but you shouldn't take them if you have kidney disease. If you want to use them for the purpose of improving kidney health, you need to talk to your doctor first. In fact, many plants contain a significant amount of electrolytes, such as potassium, magnesium, phosphorus and sodium, which can aggravate any existing problems; furthermore, some may interact with drug therapy.
Step 2. Drink kidney-friendly herbal teas
If you have seen your doctor and recognized that your kidneys are healthy, you can take some herbal remedies to support their function. To make a cup of tea, use one teabag of medicinal plant or one teaspoon of dried leaves for every 250ml of boiling water. Pour the water over the leaves and leave to infuse for about 10 minutes; you can drink two or three cups a day. Some of the herbs most used to improve kidney function are:
- Dandelion leaves
- Parsley leaves;
- Corn beard;
- Common Altea;
- Bearberry.
Step 3. Stop using herbal remedies if you experience adverse effects
Some herbal teas can cause negative reactions in some people, although they are generally mild in nature. If you find that your body reacts to one of the herbs you are taking, stop taking it and contact your doctor.
