How to Prevent Kidney Disease

The kidneys play an important role in our bodies:

• They help purify the blood as they remove toxins and excess fluids that accumulate in our body. This is then expelled as urine. Every day our kidneys purify about 200 liters of blood, a complex process that must be performed to perfection in order to maintain our health.
• kidneys regulate the amount of calcium in our bodies, we are eliminating the quantity that we do not need. They also help regulate the production of vitamin D in the body. This is the reason why when we eat a diet that is rich in calcium, the minerals can end up accumulating in our body in the form of kidney stones.
• They regulate the amount of acid by removing any excess, satisfying our bodies with just what we need. Therefore people with high uric acid tend to develop kidney stones, which are formed from this substance.
• Moreover, kidneys release various hormones that regulate blood pressure and stimulate the production of red blood cells.

Drinking water is very important for our bodies. It is essential for the proper functioning of various organs including kidneys. An adequate amount of liquid will optimize the purification process of the blood, helping eliminate toxins and excess acids, sodium, sugars or minerals.

This habit not only helps prevent kidney failure but it is also essential for preventing urinary tract infections that can affect the kidneys and to prevent the formation of kidney stones, which are far more common in those who consume very few fluids. The recommendation is to drink 2 liters of water per day, and up to 3 liters if you have suffered from kidney stones in the past.

Did you know that diabetes is the main cause of kidney failure? This chronic condition is followed by hypertension, both diseases are closely related to our diet and weight.

The consumption of fats, sugars, junk food and caloric foods can often lead to the scourge of obesity, a condition fraught with complications which are very much life-threatening as they affect our overall health and that of our kidneys. If you want to prevent kidney disease, make sure you keep a healthy weight and eat a balanced and healthy diet.

A good level of sugar in your blood is a guarantee for health, helping to prevent chronic and major diseases such as diabetes, but also preventing kidney failure.

Moderate your intake of sugar, sweets, breads, pastries, cakes and beverages, and perform an annual blood test that allows your doctor to check your glucose levels and overall health. This is very important to promote your well-being.

We've already explained that hypertension is one of the most common triggers of renal failure. If your goal is to prevent kidney disease, then it is important to know what the proper blood pressure readings are and to then maintain habits that prevent them from rising up.

Regulating and minimising your consumption of salt, red meat, sausages, foods rich in fat, caffeinated drinks and alcoholic drinks will be key to ensure good blood pressure and heart health.

Physical activity does not only help you clear your head, it also reduces stress and keeps you in shape. It is therefore key to good overall health. By exercising often, you help control your blood pressure, improve heart function, reduce blood glucose and blood cholesterol and thus, you will stay healthy.

All these effects also encourage your kidneys to work, so you should spend at least 30 minutes a day doing some kind of physical activity.

To prevent kidney disease, it is also important to pay attention to some habits that can affect the organs and jeopardize your overall health. Therefore it is recommended to:

• Avoid taking non-prescription drugs: because kidneys are responsible for filtering and purifying the blood, excessive medication may end up affecting them and causing harmful substance to accumulate in this area. This can result in kidney stones and in some cases kidney failure. Therefore, they should be taken only when prescribed by a specialist. Decrease your consumption of counter medications such as antipyretics, analgesics or anti-inflammatories. If you are suffering from a chronic pain, consult your doctor before taking any substance for an extended period.
• Ditch cigarettes: this habit not only affects the health of your lungs but also decreases blood flow to the kidneys, compromising their performance and increasing significantly the risk of suffering from renal cancer.

By following these recommendations, you will get to keep the general health and well-being of these organs intact.

This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.

If you want to read similar articles to How to Prevent Kidney Disease, we recommend you visit our Diseases & secondary effects category.