Simple ways to make your kidney remain very functional even at old age
The kidney is one of the organs that is quickly damaged in humans.As a result people tend to lose their lives due to kidney related diseases.But am here to tell you those things you should avoid in order to make your kidney last till you are at least 90years...(yes its possible to have a very good functional kidney at that age)
Now here is a list of habits you should avoid:
1. The Sugary Soda Habit – A study carried out on
employees at Osaka University in Japan suggested that
drinking two or more soda drinks a day (diet or regular)
may be connected with a higher risk of kidney disease.
12,000 employees were included in the study, and those
that consumed larger amounts of soda were more likely
to have protein in their urine. Protein in urine
(proteinuria) is an early sign of kidney damage, but,
when discovered at that stage, the disease can still be
reversible.
2. Smoking – Smoking has been linked to
arthrosclerosis. The narrowing and hardening of blood
vessels affects the blood supply to all vital organs,
including the kidneys. According to the study published
in Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, two
cigarettes a day are enough to double the number of
endothelial cells present in your blood. This is a signal
of arterial damage. Clinical Journal of the American
Society of Nephrology cites many different studies
conducted since 2003 which all link smoking to
decreased kidney function.
3. Vitamin B6 deficiency – A healthy diet is important for
good kidney function. According to the studies
performed at the University of Maryland Medical Center,
vitamin B6 deficiency increases your risk of kidney
stones. For optimal kidney function, you should
consume at least 1.3 milligrams of vitamin B6 daily. The
richest sources of this vitamin include fish, chickpeas,
beef liver, potatoes and starchy vegetables, and non-
citrus fruits.
4. Lack of exercise – Exercise is another good way to
protect your kidneys. A large study published in 2013 in
the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology
suggested that postmenopausal women who exercised
had 31% lower risk of developing kidney stones.
Generally speaking, maintaining a healthy weight will
reduce your chances of kidney stones, so get moving.
5. Magnesium deficiency – If you don’t get enough
magnesium, calcium can’t get properly absorbed and
assimilated, which can result in calcium overload and
kidney stone formation. To prevent that, consume green
leafy vegetables, beans, seeds and nuts. The mighty
avocado is a good source of magnesium as well.
6. Frequent sleep disruption – We all like a good night’s
sleep. And so do our kidneys. Science Daily reports that
chronic sleep disruption can cause kidney disease.
According to Dr. Michael Sole, Cardiologist and founding
director of the Peter Munk Cardiac Center and Professor
of Medicine and Physiology at the University of Toronto,
kidney tissue gets renewed during the night, so sleep
interruptions can cause direct damage to this organ.
7. Not drinking enough water – Our kidneys need to get
properly hydrated to perform their functions. If we don’t
drink enough, the toxins can start accumulating in the
blood, as there isn’t enough fluid to drain them through
the kidneys. The National Kidney Foundation suggests
drinking at least 12 glasses of water per day. An easy
way to see if you’re drinking enough is to check the
color of your urine.
8. Not emptying your bladder early – When nature calls,
you should listen. Retaining urine in your bladder is a
bad idea. If done on regular basis, it can increase the
urine pressure in your kidneys and lead to renal failure
or incontinence.
9. Consuming too much sodium – Salt is important for
the body, but you should limit your intake. Over
consumption can raise your blood pressure and put too
much strain on the kidneys. No more than 5.8 grams of
salt should be eaten daily, so take it easy with that salt
shaker.
10. Consuming too much caffeine – We often consume
more caffeine than we think we do. It features in many
soft drinks and sodas, and before you know it, your
blood pressure goes through the roof and your kidneys
start complaining.
11. Pain-killer abuse – Way too often we take
medications too fast, in too big doses and not in the
right way. When pain occurs, it’s so easy to just
swallow the pill. But, you should think twice. All
pharmaceutical drugs come with side effects, and many
cause damage to the kidneys. Having said that, there are
some drugs that you should be taking. See the next
point.
12. Missing your drugs – High blood pressure and type
2 diabetes are two very common conditions that are
often brought on by our life style and unhealthy diet. If
you already have them, be aware of the damage they can
cause to your kidneys and protect your precious organs
by taking the prescribed medications.
13. Too much protein – According to Harvard University,
too much protein in your diet can harm the kidneys. The
by product of protein digestion is ammonia – a toxin
your hard-working kidneys need to neutralize. More
protein means more effort for the kidneys, which can,
over time, lead to decreased function.
14. Not treating common infections quickly and properly
– We are all guilty of sometimes ignoring simple colds
and flu, and pushing our bodies to the brink of
exhaustion. But that can cause kidney damage. Studies
have shown that people who are reluctant to rest and
heal properly, often end up with kidney disease.
15. Too much alcohol consumption – The toxins found
in alcohol not only damage the liver, but also your
kidneys. According to Kidney Health Australia and
American Kidney Fund, one way to avoid kidney disease
is to drink alcohol in moderation.
