There are many factors in life that can damage our kidney health. Knowing what to eat when your kidneys are not well can help us effectively repair the damaged kidneys. Let's take a look at the 3 most kidney-damaging dietary habits with the editor.
I. Dietary Habits That Kidneys Dislike
1. Lots of meat, too much protein
Protein is an essential nutrient for the human body, and it is important to pay attention to protein intake, but this does not mean "the more high-protein food you eat, the better." Healthy people can get enough protein for their daily needs through a balanced diet. However, many office workers often entertain clients with lavish meals, leading to excessive protein intake. Director Shi Wei reminds us that long-term high protein intake increases the burden on the kidneys, and can even keep the kidneys in a "overloaded" state for a long time. For people with existing kidney damage, protein intake must be strictly controlled. It is essential to consult a nephrologist and create a meal plan under the guidance of a nutritionist.
In addition, a reminder for everyone: Protein is not just limited to eggs and milk. Various meats, seafood, and legumes all contain high levels of protein. When you are keen on eating high-protein foods or blindly supplementing with high-protein nutritional products, be careful not to overwork your kidneys.
2. Old fire soup every day, lots of purines
Cantonese people "love their soup" and often enjoy a bowl of old fire soup with their meals. Old fire soup usually contains a lot of meat and is simmered for two to three hours. During the long cooking process, a large amount of purine dissolves into the broth. Frequently drinking old fire soup with high purine levels can cause uric acid to accumulate in the blood, leading to elevated uric acid levels, which can easily cause gout and also damage the kidneys.
Another "kidney-damaging" dietary habit is consuming large amounts of seafood with beer. Certain components in seafood, when combined with beer, can significantly increase uric acid levels in the blood, inducing gout and gouty kidney disease.
3. Salty diet, difficulty in expelling water
95% of the salt in our diet is metabolized by the kidneys. Eating too salty naturally increases the burden on the kidneys.
Furthermore, the sodium in salt makes it difficult for the body to expel water, which further加重加重 the burden on the kidneys, leading to a decline in kidney function. At the same time, a diet that is too salty can lead to high blood pressure. The blood flow to the kidneys cannot be maintained at a normal level, which can induce kidney disease. It is recommended to control daily salt intake to within 6 grams.
II. What to Eat When Your Kidneys Are Not Well?
1. Eat Chinese yam
Chinese yam is a very common food on our dining tables. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) points out that Chinese yam also has excellent kidney-nourishing and health-preserving effects and can be used both as medicine and food. Therefore, among all kidney-tonifying medicines and foods, Chinese yam has always held the top position. People with poor kidney function might as well eat more Chinese yam in their daily lives for nourishment.
2. Chew goji berries
It has always been a tradition in China to use goji berries to nourish the body and regulate kidney function. TCM points out that goji berries have excellent kidney-tonifying effects. Therefore, in our daily lives, we might as often steep goji berries in water for drinking or add them to soups to enhance our kidney function. Especially for some people with sexual dysfunction caused by insufficient kidney function, eating more goji berries in daily life can also effectively enhance sexual function.
3. Cook black soybeans
Black soybeans also have a very good regulatory and nourishing effect on the kidneys. It can be said that all black foods are excellent for kidney health, among which black soybeans have the most obvious kidney-tonifying effect. People with poor kidney function might as well cook more black soybeans for themselves to eat.