Kidney disease is one of those things that people rarely talk about and this is because when it is diagnosed, it’s usually at a late stage. One in three American adults are currently at risk for developing kidney disease and 26 million American adults have kidney disease and don’t know it. Many times it’s every day habits that lead to kidney disease. The good news is that kidney disease is preventable and there even certain foods and herbs that can keep your kidneys healthy.
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In most cases, kidney disease has no symptoms and often isn’t diagnosed until the very advanced stages, but according to the National Kidney Foundation, these are some of the symptoms:
- Tiredness
- Weakness
- Painful urination
- Foamy urine
- Pink or dark urine, usually meaning there’s blood in the urine
- Increased need to urinate, especially at night
- Puffy eyes
- Swollen all over the body
- Increased thirst
What people have to understand is that kidney disease, just like any other chronic illness, doesn’t happen overnight. The job of the kidneys is to maintain a balance of water and minerals and remove waste by-products from your blood after digestion. Many times when something else is off, like you’re not able to control your blood sugar or your blood pressure is through the roof, this causes your kidneys to fail. High blood pressure and diabetes are the two leading causes of kidney disease. Sometimes people suffer from urinary tract infections, heart attacks or abuse drugs, or not enough blood is flowing to the kidneys and even not drinking enough water can also have an effect on your kidneys.
Keep Your Kidneys Healthy
There are things that you can do in order to keep your kidneys healthy. First of all you have keep your blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol levels under control. Also, cut back on salt because this makes your kidneys work harder. Lose weight if you’re overweight and kick out any bad habits, including smoking and alcohol. There are foods and herbs that can also help you keep your kidneys clean, such as:
Vegetables: Cabbage, bell peppers, cauliflower, garlic, onions, olive oil
Fruits: Apples, cranberries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, cherries, red grapes
Protein: egg whites, fish
Herbs: Celery root, marshmallow root, dandelion root, parsley, horsetail, goldenrod
In the Latino community, diabetes and heart disease are very high. This is why we have to lead a healthy lifestyle by exercising more and avoiding foods that are high in sugars and sodium. Eating more vegetables, fruits and fiber can help keep you get the nutrients and antioxidants your body needs, but it also helps keep these types of diseases away. Remember that when you let yourself gain weight, you are risk to develop a chronic disease. March is kidney health month and it’s a great time to start thinking about the small steps you can take to lead a healthier lifestyle.
10 Surprising Facts Everyone Should Know About Kidney Disease