Kidney function is critical to our overall health. When our kidneys aren't functioning properly, it impacts our body's ability to clean and filter out extra water from our blood as well as helping to control our blood pressure.
Maintaining a healthy diet is important, especially if you are afflicted with kidney disease. Adjusting to a strict, kidney-friendly diet can be a challenge, but it is worth every bite. By consuming super foods, you can help give your body a supercharged feeling. Superfoods are known to pack a nutritional punch on your health by providing free radical fighting antioxidants, which help empower your body and kidneys.
Below are a few top-ranked kidney-friendly super foods. Be sure to check with your health care practitioner or dietitian before altering or adding to your current meal plan.
Apples
Known for their bright variety of vivid colors, crispness and sweet flavor, apples, and their peels are nutrient-packed. Pectin found in apples provides a great source of fiber. Apple pectin helps promotes bowel regularity, and a single apple can contain 4 grams of fiber or more. Pectin also benefits cardiovascular health by lowering cholesterol. These fruits boast antioxidant benefits as well, being a good source of vitamin C. So, how about them apples?
Blueberries
These little berries pack a big punch. Blueberries can be easily added into your favorite breakfast foods, smoothies, salads, and more. They are full of nutrients that are kidney friendly: blueberries are low in potassium for starters. They also contain a good amount of fiber, vitamin C, along with cancer and disease fighting antioxidants. Blueberries even help combat urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Onions
There is definitely nothing to cry about when eating this well-known vegetable. Although they have a kick to them, onions are loaded with antioxidants that help detoxify the kidneys, which helps flush out any kidney-related health issues. Onions are also low in potassium. They are full of quercetin, an antioxidant flavonoid, which is known to help with lowering blood pressure and fighting off other diseases. Onions are also known for helping with preventing renal osteopathy.
Red Bell Pepper
Colorful and flavorful, red bell peppers are rich in vitamin A, B6, and C, just to name a few. They are also full of capsaicin, an ingredient naturally found that aids in reducing bad cholesterol, inflammation and muscle pains, and also helping with diabetes.
Sources:
http://www.yourkidneys.com/kidney-education/Diet-and-nutrition/15-super-foods-for-kidney-health/2924
https://www.kidney.org/content/7-kidney-friendly-superfoods
http://www.thehealthsite.com/diseases-conditions/5-healthy-foods-to-fight-kidney-disease/
http://www.kidneyfund.org/kidney-disease/kidney-friendly-diet-ckd/
You Might Also Enjoy...
Kidney function is critical to our overall health. When our kidneys aren't functioning properly, it impacts our body's ability to clean and filter out extra water from our blood as well as helping to control our blood pressure.
The US National Kidney Foundation (NKF) has rolled out a humorous and educational campaign to encourage people to take care of their kidneys. The campaign is the organization’s first attempt to motivate people to get their urine screened from a relatable,
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a silent killer that has been on the rise in U.S. over the past decade.
You’ve just been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease and you are not sure what you can eat in the future. Here’s a quick blog to get you started with your new menu plan.
Dr. Gura is often the media's choice for detailed explanations regarding kidney function.
Feel free to email us regarding any scheduling or general questions!