A diet with plenty of water and vegetables is the key to healthy kidneys

Your kidneys are critically important organs that cleanse your blood, keep it in good condition and release hormones. Their mission is to sift out waste from the body, which is excreted in the form of urine. They are very important to our health, so it’s important to take care of them.

The kidneys control blood pressure, hormone production, blood calcium levels and vitamin D concentrations, vital for our bones. Defective kidneys can lead to conditions such as kidney stones, infections and chronic kidney disease (nephropathy).

In this regard, the Spanish Society of Nephrology has published the keys to a “kidney-healthy diet” to raise awareness and encourage effective preventive habits. Experts recommend a diet low in salt, meat and fish and high in vegetables and water. Let’s take a more detailed look at what you should be eating.

Eating for healthy kidneys

– Water is life for your kidneys, because it flushes out harmful toxins and fats, effortlessly. Aim to drink at least 2 litres of water a day. If you eat a lot of protein or salty food, increase this by two glasses. If you have kidney stones, drink bicarbonated water to stop the small uric acid stones from growing.

– Diuretic fruits such as pineapples, watermelon and apples should be a staple of your diet. They are low in sugar and help you to eliminate urine and prevent kidney stones. Try to eat three pieces of fruit a day.

– Carrots are a highly cleansing vegetable that help to restore and nourish renal tissues. They are also a source of fibre, and they help the kidney to deal with fluid retention and eliminate toxins more effectively.

– Celery is the best vegetable for the kidneys because it contains a lot of essential oil, which dilates the arteries in the kidney and increases diuresis (urine secretion).

– Aubergines contain a lot of water, which makes them good for the kidneys. They are effective diuretics and create more urine, which cleanses the body.

– Horsetail has diuretic properties and stimulates the kidneys. This plant is very good for treating kidney stones, gall stones, urinary tract infections and fluid retention. Drink an infusion of horsetail twice or three times daily for a couple of weeks for a kidney detox.

There are some foods that contain a lot of potassum (such as bananas, nuts, grapes, avocados, potatoes and milk), which are not recommended for people with kidney problems, because they interfere with water balance. You can remove some of the potassium from potatoes and other vegetables by peeling and soaking for a few hours. Cooking removes even more potassium.

Kidney specialists warn that red and processed meat (sausages, hamburgers, cold meat, paté) should be consumed only occasionally, because it raises cholesterol levels and increases the risk of diabetes, both of which put pressure on the kidneys.

Excess protein intake increases calcium and therefore, the formation of stones.

You must also reduce your salt intake (no more than 5 grams, about a teaspoon).

Remember that a healthy, varied diet based on cereals, fresh fruit and vegetables is the best recipe for good healthy kidneys.

This post is also available in: Italian