6 things to avoid to improve kidney health

Kidneys filter the waste from the body and ensure that all the toxic substances are regularly eliminated through urine and excretion.

But when this kidney suffers from infection, gets damaged then this functioning gets affected and waste starts building inside the body.

From dialysis, and medications to natural therapies, there are multiple options that are used based on the severity of symptoms.

While most people are aware of the foods that should be eaten to improve the health of the kidney, there are certain food items that you consume daily that can further damage this organ.

Hence such things must be definitely avoided:

Salt

Sodium puts pressure on blood and leads to hypertension. Automatically it leads to pressure on the kidneys as they find it difficult to get rid of waste efficiently. That is why health experts advise keeping the use of table salt to medium. Even high-sodium seasoning food items and packaged foods should be avoided to improve kidney health.

Potassium

More often when you are suffering from kidney disease potassium starts building in the body in high amounts and it can put pressure on the heart leading to heart problems. While potassium in adequate amounts keeps muscles and nerves working well, excess consumption of foods like potatoes, tomatoes, broccoli, whole-grain bread, oranges, and bananas can increase potassium levels in the body.

Phosphorus

When the kidneys are damaged they find it difficult to remove extra phosphorus from the system. Phosphorus is required to keep bones strong and healthy. However excess presence may start weakening the bones and damage the eyes, blood vessels, and heart. So when your kidney is not working with 100% efficiency you must avoid high-phosphorous-containing foods like whole-grain bread, dark-coloured sodas, beans, dairy, fish, meat, nuts, and packaged foods.

Protein

More amount of protein in the body puts stress on the kidneys and worsens kidney diseases. Hence you should consult your health expert and determine the amount of protein that you must consume daily. Most probably he will recommend you to cut down on foods such as dairy products, seafood, and meat.

Fluids

Although you should drink an adequate amount of water to keep your body hydrated, in early-stage kidney disease, doctors advise patients to cut down on fluid consumption because damaged kidneys cannot get rid of fluid properly. It can even lead to high blood pressure and affect the functioning of the heart. Doctors may advise cutting down foods rich in water like watermelon and grapes.

Calcium

It is normal for everyone to take over-the-counter calcium supplements after crossing the 40s or 50s. But if your kidneys are not working well doctor might advise you to stop taking these pills and also cut down on the consumption of calcium-rich foods like dairy as these are rich in phosphorous.