Preserving your kidneys’ health should be on your daily to-do list, since one of their many vital roles is to remove toxins from your blood. Besides getting you rid of disposals and drugs, the kidneys also help control red blood cells and vitamin D productions, as well as releasing the hormones that help regulate your blood pressure.
Did you know that your kidneys are increasingly challenged by the high amounts of salt they must filter every day? Nowadays, you can hardly avoid processed foods; even if you try to eat as clean as possible, edibles like raw meat are still significantly high in salt. Sodium, potassium or proteins excess affect the kidneys, while foods rich in vitamin C, E, D and B6 are benefiting their health.
Here are 5 everyday foods that help you protect your kidneys and keep them healthy.
Red Bell Pepper
Red bell peppers aren’t just delicious they are also low in potassium which makes them a great choice for maintaining your kidneys’ health. They are rich in vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin B6, folic acid and fibre, especially lycopene, the antioxidant recommended to prevent some conditions, including certain cancers. The red bell pepper’s components help to eliminate toxins from the blood, which benefits those of you diagnosed with kidney diseases.
You can eat this wonderful vegetable raw, as a snack, as an appetizer, mixed with tuna salad or chicken, and even served with bread. Red bell peppers can be used in sandwiches, added to your omelette (together with some lettuce) and they also go well with any steak or baked dish, as a main course.
Cabbage
Cabbage is one of the main vegetables recommended for people who want to protect their kidneys. Rich in phytonutrients that fight cardiovascular diseases and cancer, cabbage is also awesome for keeping your kidneys properly working. It contains plenty of vitamin K, vitamin C and fibre, and it is recommended for its low potassium content and its pocket-friendly price. Plus, its proteins and amino acids act like a filter for your kidneys.
Grapes
The resveratrol in grapes is indicated along with the fruit’s high water content for people who follow kidney diets and for whoever wants healthy, happy kidneys.
Statistics have shown that resveratrol is the strongest antioxidant known so far. Its benefits for your body are 50 times more efficient than vitamin’s E, 20 times than vitamin’s C and 5 times than the beta-carotene’s.
Egg White
The egg white is a pure source of protein and contains all the amino acids necessary for a healthy body. In the kidney diet, egg white provides all the necessary proteins, without the adjacent phosphorus content found in the yolk or meat.
You can add egg white to your omelettes, snacks or salads.
Cauliflower
According to recent studies, frequent consumption of cauliflower is associated with an effective maintenance of the renal function.
Cauliflower is considered one of the best foods for healthy kidneys both due to its high vitamin C, folic acid and fibre content, and because its components (indole, glucosinolates and thiocyanate) help neutralizing harmful substances. Also, cauliflower has strong anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and detoxifying properties, protecting you from cardiovascular diseases.
Keep in mind that besides a proper diet there are other things to be done in order to maintain your kidneys healthy. Get tested regularly, don’t smoke and keep moving – being sedentary is doing you no good! Lower the amount of animal protein from your menu, avoid salty foods and drink plenty of water!
