14 Healthy Foods People With Kidney Issues Should Still Avoid

Kidneys are one of the vital organs in the human body. Unfortunately, they are also among the most susceptible to damage and often take the first hit from chronic diseases like hypertension or serious infections, both bacterial and viral. Those who have sustained kidney damage or suffer from chronic kidney disease should watch their diet to keep their kidneys and prevent other adverse health effects. Certain foods, even those considered healthy for most people, should be avoided by those who have kidney problems. In this article, we’ll explain which foods you ought to exclude from your diet to protect your kidneys, and why it’s important to do so.
General Considerations and Tips
The kidneys play several important roles in human health, such as filtering blood, regulating mineral levels, maintaining hormone levels, and removing waste products. When they are damaged, all or some of these functions are affected, and it might be more difficult for liquids, excess minerals, and waste products to be eliminated from the body. This is when diet regulation comes in, as it is capable of excluding certain minerals and other nutrients typically processed by the kidneys and prevent further damage.
In addition, choosing foods good for kidney health will help improve kidney function. The extent to which you should limit certain foods will depend on the severity of the kidney damage, with serious cases requiring dialysis, a strict dietary regimen, and other medical interventions you ought to discuss with a doctor. Earlier stages of the disease, on the other hand, may require fewer dietary restrictions.
Some of the key dietary tips to keep in mind are:
1. Limiting daily sodium intake to 2g or less. This means avoiding added salt, soy sauce, packaged foods, and fast foods, among other things. Signs that your kidneys cannot filter out excess salt from your diet include high blood pressure, swollen ankles, and shortness of breath. In severe cases, fluids can build up in the heart and lungs.
2. Reducing Your Phosphorous Intake to about 1,000 mg a day. Phosphorous is essential for healthy bones and teeth, and it helps cells to repair themselves, but excess levels of the minerals that don't get filtered out by the kidneys may have the opposite effect and lead to an increased risk of heart disease. This is why dark-colored sodas are not recommended for people with damaged kidneys, as these often contain phosphorous.
3. Watching Your Potassium Intake. Potassium is another mineral regulated by the kidneys. While it is important to keep your muscles healthy, excessive levels of potassium (over 2,000 mg a day) in the blood can lead to serious heart issues, so it is recommended to watch your potassium level if you suffer from significant kidney damage.
Below, we list 14 generally healthy foods that contain a lot of sodium, potassium, phosphorous, or other ingredients that can be harmful to those suffering from kidney issues.

1. Bananas
Bananas are well known for their high potassium levels, with just one medium fruit containing 422 mg of potassium on average. If you want to keep your potassium intake below 2,000 mg a day, it may be difficult when eating this tropical fruit. Other tropical fruits that also contain a lot of potassium are pomegranates and coconut water, to name a few.

2. Spinach
It's not just spinach that can harm your kidneys, other leafy greens like Swiss chard and beet greens have a similar nutrient profile. Like bananas, these greens are high in potassium, with 1 cup of the fresh greens containing up to 290 mg. In addition, these greens contain a lot of oxalates, which can accumulate in the kidneys and cause kidney stones, reducing the kidney function even further.
Cooking spinach will not reduce its potassium content, and it can be quite easy to consume a lot of it in cooked dishes that contain some spinach (e.g. 1 cup of spinach reduces to just 2 tablespoons of cooked spinach).

3. Certain Dried Fruit
Dried fruits are a common healthy snack, with dietitians often recommending them instead of sweet treats. However, many varieties of dried fruit can contain a lot of potassium in a relatively small volume, so it's easy to increase the recommended daily intake of potassium while snacking on dried fruit. For example, just 2 pitted dates containing 334 mg of potassium. Other dried fruit high in the mineral are prunes, raisins, and dried apricots.
The dried fruit most beneficial for those suffering from kidney problems is dried cranberries, a 1/3 cup serving of which contains just 16 mg of potassium.

4. Brown Rice
Brown rice is a whole grain that's quite high in both potassium and phosphorous, with just one 1/2-cup serving of cooked brown rice having 78 mg of potassium and 75 mg of phosphorus. Processing reduces the amount of these minerals in rice, so the same serving of white rice will contain just 35 mg of phosphorus and 29 mg of potassium.
Still, white rice also contains less of the other nutrients, so instead of replacing brown rice with white rice, it's better to opt for other grains, such as buckwheat, bulgur, or couscous, that both have a much lower phosphorus content and contain other beneficial ingredients. Keep in mind that the popular grain, quinoa, is even higher in phosphorus and potassium than brown rice, so it's not a good replacement.

5. Oranges and Orange Juice
Like other tropical fruit, citrus fruit, especially oranges and grapefruit, contain a lot of potassium, as do their juices.

One orange or grapefruit both contain around 333 mg of potassium. Just one 240 ml cup of orange juice contains even more - 473 mg of potassium, which is more than a quarter of your daily intake of the mineral.

You can replace orange juice and the fruit itself, you can opt for grape, apple, or cranberry juice and the respective fruit, all of which are more beneficial for the kidneys.

6. Canned Foods
The main problem with canned foods when it comes to kidney health is the high sodium content. Salt is necessary for preserving foods for a long time, so there is no way to avoid it, especially if you're dealing with canned soups or readymade meals. If you depend a lot on these foods, it's best to choose the low-sodium varieties when shopping for canned goods.
You can also rinse canned vegetables, like peas, beans, and tuna with water before eating them, which can reduce the sodium content by 33–80%.

7. Seafood and Other Animal Sources of Protein
People with serious cases of kidney damage are often asked to reduce their intake of animal protein, such as red meat and poultry, but especially seafood, mainly because chronic kidney damage can reduce how well the body can eliminate protein side products. Needless to say, processed meats are off the table, too, as these typically contain way too much salt even for people without any kidney problems. Dairy products are likewise not recommended, as they contain phosphorous and potassium in high quantities, and certain cheese varieties can also be quite high in sodium.
Certain seafood varieties, such as mollusks, squid, and octopus can also contain up to 85% of the recommended daily intake of phosphorous in just one serving, so they can be quite difficult to incorporate into a low-phosphorus diet. Also be wary of canned fish, which can be high in salt content.

8. Apricots
Apricots are another fruit people with a renal diet should best avoid, since both dried and fresh apricots are quite high in potassium: 1 cup of fresh apricots has 427 mg of potassium, on average. The same applies to apricot juice or nectar, so we recommend opting for some of the kidney-friendly juice substitutes we mentioned earlier.

9. Olives and Pickles
Fermented foods like kimchi, olives, pickles, and sauerkraut can do amazing things for one's gut health, but fermentation, unfortunately, requires the use of plenty of salt, rendering these foods potentially harmful for people with kidney problems. To put things in perspective, depending on the brine, 1 pickle spear can sometimes contain as much as 300 mg of sodium, or even more. Be wary of low-sodium varieties of pickled foods, too, as even these are often unsafe for those on a renal diet.

10. Whole Wheat Bread
Normally, whole grain bread is considered a healthier choice, but the same rule doesn't apply to those with damaged kidneys. Like brown rice, whole wheat bread is made of whole grains, which may contain a lot more beneficial nutrients and fiber than white bread, but along with it also comes double the amount of potassium and phosphorus, too.
Thus, those who are watching their potassium and phosphorus intake should actually opt for white bread, which is somewhat counterintuitive. You can also try other bread varieties that don't contain wheat, such as cornbread but make sure to take sodium content into account, too, as most bread varieties do contain a lot of salt.

11. Tomatoes
Tomatoes are another one of those staple foods that are, unfortunately, unavailable to those on a renal diet since they contain a lot of potassium: 1 cup of tomato sauce contains over 900 mg of it. You can replace a tomato sauce with a roasted red pepper sauce to go with pasta or other dishes, which offers significantly less potassium per serving.

12. Certain Breakfast Cereals
Choosing a breakfast cereal can be a daunting task for those with chronic kidney problems, as many cereal varieties available on the market contain dangerously high levels of potassium. In addition, a recent study conducted by the National Renal Foundation also showed that many companies misrepresent potassium levels in their products.
For this reason, opting for breakfast cereals made of corn or rice flour is the safest choice for those suffering from kidney problems, as the whole wheat or whole oatmeal choices typically contain more significant potassium.

13. Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes
Potatoes and sweet potatoes are among the most potassium-rich vegetables, with 1 medium baked potato offering 610 mg of potassium, a similar sweet potato containing only slightly less - 541 mg. Luckily, there is a trick that will help you reduce potassium levels in potatoes and yams by 50%.
Soaking and boiling the vegetable will help reduce its potassium content: simply cut the vegetable into thin pieces and soak for several hours, and then boil them for at least 10 minutes. Do keep in mind that you will still need to control the portion of the potatoes and yams you consume, even if you soak them.

14. Avocados
The last, but definitely not the least item on this list is the avocado - a constant feature in healthy recipes. Unfortunately, avocados are also among the most potassium-rich foods, period, containing more than double the amount of the mineral compared to bananas. 1 cup of avocado contains 727 mg of potassium, more than a third of the recommended daily intake for people with chronic kidney damage, so try to stay away from them.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

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Unexpected reasons why your immunity is at an all-time low

Unexpected reasons why your immunity is at an all-time low

You wash your hands often, stay away from sick people, never forget to take your vitamins and still catch the flu. Wondering why? Sometimes some not so obvious reasons are responsible for your weakened immunity. Here is a list of five weird reasons behind you often falling sick.

You live in a polluted place

The air around you is not only harming your lungs but your immunity too. Studies have found that polluted air suppresses the T cells, which are important for your immune system to be healthy.

What you can do?
As you cannot control the air quality outside, you can invest in an air purifier and face mask. This will help you breathe easily indoors as well as outdoors. 

You are consuming too much protein

Consuming excess animal protein can make your body produce more of 1GF1 hormone. The hormone is known to speed up ageing and hamper your immune system.

What you can do?
Make sure that no more than 10 per cent of your daily calorie intake should come from animal sources like meat and dairy. If this doesn’t help, you can cut down the animal protein intake to 5 per cent. 

You spend most of your day alone

People who are lonely are usually less resilient in the time of stress and thus their immune system suffers.

What you can do?
Spend some quality time with your friends, loved ones and neighbours. People with happy relationships have a greater resistance to infections as compared to lonely people, says study. 

You are sitting all day

If you have a nine to five job, your butt is planted on the chair most of the time. This slows down your metabolism, which can cause your body to absorb immunity-boosting nutrients much slower than normal.

What you can do?
Make sure to take a five-minute break in every half an hour. These little moves will boost your metabolism and activate your muscles.

Tip
Keeping a mug instead of a bottle will increase your number of rounds to the pantry and thus your overall movement.

this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     
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Top 5 Health Benefits Of A Paleo Diet

The Paleo diet has been highly popular among fitness enthusiasts and wellness gurus and for good reason. It is the only nutritional approach based on human genetics, focusing on the best ways for one to stay strong, lean and energetic over a long term. The primary idea behind the Paleo is to eat the way cavemen ate and if there is a particular food item that is probably too processed to have been found in ancient times, you should definitely give it a miss! After all, the term 'Paleo' is derived from the Palaeolithic era and it's the lifestyle of those times that the diet aims to help you replicate.
The diet is centred on protein-rich foods that can be derived from animal sources. Fruits and vegetables should also be included in the diet as they are rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals and phytonutrients which help in preventing or reversing health problem like diabetes, cancer and neurological disorders.

In comparison to other diets, the Paleo diet has given great results to a lot of people across the world and several celebrities swear by it as well. This is because it helps in improving blood lipid profile, sleeping patterns and stabilizing blood sugar levels. As a part of the diet, one is expected to cut out consumption of grains, legumes and dairy and increase consumption of whole foods in their most natural state.

Here are some of the ways in which you can leverage the most of the Paleo philosophy to get the maximum health benefits.

1. Include good protein sources
The Paleo diet encourages you to consume animal-based protein as it is essential for building up muscles. However, it is important to stick to pastured free-range poultry, grass-fed meat and wild caught fish. The Paleo diet also encourages greater intake of organ meats, collagen sources and bone broth instead of standard cuts. Additionally, protein makes one feel more satiated for longer periods of time, thereby reducing the overall calorie intake, making it one of the most essential components of this diet.
2. Improve your gut health
Sugary food items and processed food items always disturb the intestinal tract. Modern life and the stresses that accompany it, often make us reach out for junk food or highly processed foods which result in a leaky gut syndrome. Paleo takes out many of these inflammatory foods from your diet and brings in items that sooth your digestive tract. Animal-protein for instance promotes acid production which is great for gut health. Introduction of foods such as lemon, pineapple, coconut oil, turmeric and herbs have anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties that further reduce inflammation and protect your digestive system.
3. Limit the intake of fructose
Fructose or simple sugar is a part of almost all processed foods we consume today, including breads and condiments. Excess fructose consumption, which has become quite common in modern diets, can severely damage the liver and may lead to insulin resistance, obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes. Paleo focusses on eliminating all food sources that are rich in fructose, replacing them with easily digestible foods that are rich in antioxidants, making for a more wholesome and healthier diet.
4. Weight loss
Besides all the above advantages that the Paleo diet offers, the reason why it's so popular is definitely the weight loss that comes with it. Reducing the intake of processed foods (refined grains and sugary drinks) will limit the intake of carbs which aids in weight loss. Limiting carb, fructose and unhealthy food intake automatically decreases the amount of unwanted fat in our bodies.
5. Healthy Brain
The best source of protein and fats proposed by the Paleo diet is cold water fish like salmon. Salmon is rich in omega 3 fatty acids as it contains DHA which is good for the eyes, heart and most importantly for the functioning and development of the human brain.

It is true that many people feel that going on a Paleo diet regime is expensive as the ingredients and foods that one is expected to consume are quite pricey. However, one needs to look at the larger picture and understand that the health benefits of the diet far outweigh the slight dent in the budget it may create. Paleo necessitates that 35% of the calories consumed come from fats, 35% from carbs and 30% from protein, creating a balanced diet. It also results in clean eating whose advantages go far beyond just weight loss. It is certainly an investment but a highly worthy one!

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                                                                                                                                                           PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/  

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Diet Choices May Help Diabetics Stave Off Kidney Disease

Researchers looked at more than 6,200 diabetes patients, and found that nearly 32 percent of them developed chronic kidney disease and about 8 percent died during 5.5 years of follow-up.

Patients with the healthiest diets had a lower risk of kidney disease and of dying than those with the least healthy diets. Patients who ate more than three servings of fruit per week were less likely to develop chronic kidney disease than those who ate less fruit.

Patients with the lowest intake of total and animal protein were more likely to develop kidney disease than those with the highest intake, the researchers also found. Moderate alcohol intake was associated with a lower risk of kidney disease and death. Sodium intake was not associated with kidney disease risk, according to a journal news release.

"A healthy diet and moderate intake of alcohol may decrease the incidence or progression of [chronic kidney disease] among individuals with type 2 diabetes. Sodium intake, within a wide range, and normal protein intake are not associated with [chronic kidney disease]," concluded researchers.

Could the new findings place an added burden on people who already have to be careful of their food choices?

"Patients with both type 2 diabetes and kidney disease may be frustrated by the numerous dietary restrictions that are recommended by their health care team," Dr. said.

"Patients may even ask 'What can I eat?'" they added. "Perhaps the best dietary advice we can give to patients with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease is the same as the advice for those who want to avoid chronic kidney disease, and the same advice for preventing and treating hypertension, and the same dietary advice for everyone: Eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy products, and whole grains while minimizing saturated and total fat."

ps- this is only for information, always consult you physician before having any particular food/ medication/exercise/other remedies.

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KIDNEY STONES- ALL YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT IT

Kidneys are always hard at work, removing the toxic build up from our body. Sadly, at times, due to the food we eat & our body’s predisposition, a hardened mass can form in our kidneys from the crystals naturally present in urine. These pebble like ‘stones’ can hinder kidney functions. They can also travel to the ureter & lodge themselves there. Eliminating this can be excruciatingly painful. Kidney stone formation can happen to anyone & usually 5-10% of the population are affected by this condition. Men are more vulnerable than women. Women are protected by the hormone, oestrogen, which plays a vital role in preventing stone formation. But women are also at risk after menopause & sometimes a family history can make women prone to this condition. Lifestyle factors too are to be blamed. For instance, lack of sufficient fluid intake, obesity, eating deep fried foods, can aggravate stone formation.

Dehydration remains a major cause. Chronic dehydration causes a super-saturated urine utput, which can put you at risk. Everyone should drink at least 8-10 glasses of water & fluids, i.e., 2- 2 ½ litres , a day/ if you’ve suffered from stones before or have a family history, you require a daily fluid intake of 3 litres. Fluids can include buttermilk, fruit juices, tender coconut water also. Most fluid intake should be from water. Remember the less concentrated the urine is, the better.

Myths & misconceptions

Kidneys stones are formed from the deposits of many different kinds of chemicals, but the most common one, making up nearly 80% of all stones if calcium oxalate. For this reason, many people tend to think that cutting down on calcium intake can help prevent the formation of this kind of stone. This is a widespread misconception & is just not true. Cutting back on calcium can actually be harmful because inadequate calcium in your sustem can have the opposite effect & even hasten stone formation. For this reason, be sure to make calcium, from antural sources, an important part of your diet, especially if you’re over 50. Buttermilk with minimum salt is highly recommended. Avoid animal proteins, junk foods, chat items, pickles, processed & packaged foods, deep fried items & salty fare. Vegetables & fresh fruit juices are ideal but there are some restrictions. Avoid chickoo & grapes that have seeds. Home-made fresh foods are best.

Banana stem, vazhathandu, juice is highly recommended. Too much of this juice can actually cause the formation of oxalate. Even the sautéed form of banana stem as vegetable is good, as it has lot of fiber.

Oxalate foods- limiting high oxalate foods may help reduce the risk of forming oxalate stones. Foods that are rich in oxalate are- peanuts, tea, instant coffee ( more than 8 ounces a day), rhubarb, beets, beans, berries(, strawberries, gooseberries), chocolate, Concord grapes, dark leafy vegetables, oranges, tofu, sweet potatoes & draught beer.

Risks from metabolic factors- parathyroid disease changes the way your body metabolises calcium. With such a condition, regardless of your diet or lifestyle, you’ll be at risk of developing calcium oxalate kidney stones. Nearly 15% of kidney stones are the result of uric acid deposits. If you’re affected by gout, you’ld be more prone tp uric acid stones. Obesity & diabetes can leave one vulnerable also. Treating these metabolic conditions & going in for regulat screening for stones by taking an ultrasound of the abdomen & the kidneys every year is important.

Most small stones pass out in urine by themselves, but today there is help at hand for chronic sufferers & invasive treatment is kept at a minimum. The most preferred treatment for stone removal is called extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). In this technique, small stones, less than 1 cm are broken down into fragments by high energy shock waves from a device outside the body. For larger stones, treatment options include, percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL), which involves making a small perforation & inserting a tube to endoscopically disperse the stone, without affecting the kidney tissue. Prevention is still the best option.