What can I do to keep my kidneys healthy?

Kidneys are the filtering organs in your body. As we all know, the kidneys filter the blood in our body. During the process of filtration, kidneys remove the waste material and excess fluids. When kidneys are not able to do the filtering process properly, toxins start accumulating in the body. You are more likely to develop kidney disease if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and a family history of kidney diseases.

Kidney disease can be prevented or managed if we manage the health conditions that cause kidney damage. To maintain kidney health, we must follow the steps described below to help keep our whole body healthy, including our kidneys.

It must be noted that early-stage kidney disease might not show any symptoms. The only way to know about your kidney health is by getting your kidneys tested. Only your health care provider can help you decide how often you should get your kidneys tested.

Make physical activity a part of your daily routine.

One must be active for at least 30 minutes or more on most days of the week. If you are unable to maintain a proper physical activity schedule now, you must ask your healthcare provider or fitness trainer about the types and amounts of physical activity that are appropriate for you. You can ask the ways that could be easily adapted to add more activity to your life.

Maintain a healthy weight

Physical fitness is not assessed by your body weight alone. But we cannot ignore the importance of a healthy weight. A muscular, physically active, and fit person can show heavy on the weighing scale. This would never mean that they should cut down on body weight. If you are overweight or have obesity, along with a moderate or sedentary activity level, you must work with your health care provider or dietitian to create a realistic weight-loss plan for you.

The first step to keeping your kidney healthy is- Make healthy food choices.

Your health depends on many factors, like the food you eat, the environment you live in, the lifestyle you follow, etc. One must consciously choose the foods one eats. You must eat the foods that are healthy for you. These include fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat or fat-free dairy products. One must eat healthy meals and keep a special check to cut salt, fats, and sugars.

• Changing normal food habits to healthy food habits
• Replacing a part of salt with a mix of spices.
• Try baking or broiling instead of frying.
• Reduce high-fat food gravy or reduce added fats.
• Select foods that have little or no added sugar.
• Include preparations from whole grains, like whole wheat products, brown rice, oats, and every day.
• Read food labels to select foods low in saturated fats, trans-fats, cholesterol, salt, and added sugars wisely.

Get enough sleep

One must aim for 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night. Although, it seems a little difficult in the present world. Sleeping relaxes your mind. It keeps you calm and helps you in recovering from problems. If you are having difficulty sleeping, try the steps to improve your sleep habits.

Explore stress-reducing activities

Stress is a leading cause promoting the effects of lifestyle disorders. Learning the ways to manage stress, relax, and cope with problems can help you improve your emotional and physical health. Physical activity has always helped to reduce stress. Certain mind and body practices such as meditation and yoga can also help.

Stop smoking and drinking alcohol.

Smoking, as we know, is harmful to health. If someone is suffering from kidney or any other disease and is smoking or using other tobacco products, one should try to stop it as soon as possible.
Drinking too much alcohol can hamper your kidney function and increase your blood pressure. If you drink alcohol, reduce it by limiting it to one daily drink.

Manage diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease

Diabetes and blood pressure are the two most commonly occurring lifestyle disorders. If you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or any other cardiovascular disorder could affect your kidney health in the long run. The way to protect kidneys from damage is to keep the blood glucose numbers and the blood pressure in range.

Checking your blood glucose, or blood sugar, the level is an important way to manage your diabetes. Your health care team may want you to test your blood glucose twice a day.

The blood pressure goal for people with diabetes is usually below 140/90 mm Hg. One must never avoid the prescribed medicines. One must talk to their health care provider about certain blood pressure medicines, like ACE inhibitors and ARBs. These medicines may protect your kidneys. One should avoid frequent consumption of over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications. It has been observed that regular consumption of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen and naproxen, can also damage your kidneys.
 
One must also keep a check on blood cholesterol levels. The two kinds of cholesterol found in your blood are LDL and HDL. LDL, commonly known as “bad cholesterol,” can build up and clog your blood vessels. It contributes as a factor causing a heart attack or stroke. HDL is also known as “good cholesterol,” helps remove the “bad cholesterol” from your blood vessels. Cholesterol levels should be kept in the normal range to prevent heart attacks and stroke.

Ayurvedic kidney treatment

Looking for an ayurvedic medicine for kidney damage? Kidney failure is a serious condition, but there are ayurvedic treatments that can help. Here are the top 10 ayurvedic treatments for kidney failure, as well as tips on how to choose the best treatment for you.

Also Read : Know all Nephrotic Syndrome Effects on Kidney and How to Cure it With Ayurveda