Kidney disease is a silent killer. It often remains undetected until it has progressed to a point where treatment is difficult or even impossible.
Moreover, the widespread prevalence of high-stress lifestyles and unhealthy eating habits has only made matters worse, resulting in an increasing number of people with weak kidneys.
According to the National Kidney Foundation, about 20% of adults in the U.S. have chronic kidney disease (kidneys that don’t work very well); another one in nine adults has some degree of kidney damage that hasn’t yet progressed to CKD Stage 5; and almost one in three adults has pre-diabetes or diabetes, which can also lead to CKD over time.
Fortunately, there are several ways you can improve your kidney health before things get worse — Here are the top 5 secrets:
Don’t Just Take the Easy Way Out
High blood pressure is a common precursor to kidney disease — It can also lead to cardiovascular disease and stroke, but as a rule of thumb, it’s always best to tackle problems before they start.
Unfortunately, blood pressure is very easy to ignore. It is also very easy to control with medications, which many people take without even realizing that they have a problem in the first place.
According to a study published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, only one in five patients diagnosed with CKD actually adheres to their prescribed medication regimen.
This is problematic for two reasons:
Firstly, medication might be all that’s necessary to keep your kidneys in good health.
Secondly, and more importantly, if you don’t even realize that you have a problem, you’ll never even try to solve it.
In other words, medications might be just a temporary solution. Ideally, you want to be in control of your health — But you’ll never get there if you’re just taking the easy way out.
Get Plenty of Exercise
While it’s unclear whether blood pressure can directly affect kidney function, it’s clear that high blood pressure is a precursor to CKD.
Exercise, on the other hand, can directly affect kidney function. In fact, it’s one of the most potent nephron-boosting supplements in existence.
According to a study in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, people who exercised four to five times a week improved their kidney function by 14%.
On the other hand, people who didn’t exercise at all deteriorated their kidney function by 13% for each decade of life.
The nephron-boosting effects of exercise are based on the fact that it increases blood flow to your organs. The more blood your organs receive, the healthier they become.
Moreover, high-intensity exercise can also help with blood sugar control and blood pressure reduction, thereby enhancing your overall kidney health even further.
Consume a Healthy Diet
There are a lot of myths regarding kidney health and diet, but the truth is that the right diet can go a long way towards preventing and even reversing CKD.
As a general rule of thumb, you should be consuming a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and fish.
These foods contain plenty of vitamins and minerals that can help improve your kidney function, including potassium, vitamin B (especially B6), magnesium, and calcium.
It’s also important to avoid fatty foods and junk food, which can damage your kidneys and exacerbate CKD.
Furthermore, a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can also help lower blood pressure and blood sugar levels — And a diet rich in whole grains can help keep your blood sugar levels in check.
Monitor Your Weight and Waistline
People who are overweight or obese have a higher risk of developing CKD than people who are of normal weight. More importantly, being overweight or obese can also make your existing CKD much worse.
This is due to a phenomenon known as “frailty”, in which organs fail as a result of long-term stress. In this case, the kidneys become less efficient as your weight increases. This can lead to blood pressure problems, which can then lead to kidney problems.
To avoid this, you should keep track of your weight and waistline. If you notice that your weight is increasing, you should try to figure out why.
The easiest way to do this is to keep a food journal. This will allow you to identify food-related problems and make changes as necessary.
Ask Your Doctor About Nephron-Boosting Supplements
Most people believe that kidney damage is irreversible, but this isn’t true. In many cases, it’s possible to halt and even reverse CKD with the help of nephron-boosting supplements.
The best supplements for this purpose are natural anti-inflammatories like fish oil, turmeric extract, and resveratrol. Furthermore, certain vitamins and minerals can also help, including vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, B vitamins, and vitamin D.
Conclusion
While the best way to prevent kidney disease is to get screened regularly and engage in a healthy lifestyle, there are still other things you can do, including monitoring your weight and waistline, consuming a healthy diet, and taking nephron-boosting supplements.
If you think that you or someone you care about may have CKD, schedule an appointment with a primary care physician. You should also take a look at your test results from your last visit and make sure that they meet the criteria for CKD, along with your current medications and potential interactions.
Additionally, you should talk with your doctor about your kidney function and whether you’re experiencing any signs or symptoms of kidney disease.
If your kidney tests reveal that you have CKD, you should immediately begin taking the nephron-boosting supplements listed above. These supplements are particularly effective when taken early and may help slow the progression of kidney disease.
If you’re interested in learning more about the nephron-boosting properties of certain supplements, you should always consult with your doctor prior to taking them.
If you decide to take a supplement anyway, you should always aim to take the lowest possible dose and follow the supplement manufacturer’s guidelines carefully.
Although there’s still a lot we don’t know about nephron-boosting supplements, they appear to be a promising option for the treatment of kidney disease.
