10 good habits that are good for your kidneys

There is a lot of talk about detox e detoxification, but in this regard little is considered i kidneys, the real “purifiers” of our body. The kidneys are our filters, the scavengers of the garbage that we ourselves produce or introduce into our organism from the outside.

Hence, the need to establish one World Kidney Day, scheduled forMarch 11, to put these fundamental organs for our health in the spotlight. “Indeed, although the kidneys perform very important functions for the vital balance of the organism, they are still considered second-class organs, since they are little known – comments the Professor Piergiorgio Messa, President of the Italian Society of Nephrology (SIN), Director of the Complex Operational Unit of Nephrology, Dialysis and Renal Transplantation at the Milan Polyclinic and Full Professor of Nephrology at the University of Milan – Just as little is said about chronic kidney disease, a condition that affects about 4.5 million people ”.

The kidneys are two organs belonging to the urinary system that have the task of filtering the blood, purifying it of waste substances eliminated in the urine. These organs also produce substances (hormones) which, once entered into the circulation, are used to maintain the number of red blood cells, blood pressure and our skeletal system in the normal range. Impairment of these functions can lead to chronic kidney disease, usually connected and aggravated by other very common diseases such as diabetes, arterial hypertension and other cardiovascular (but also genetic) diseases.

“Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is one of the most widespread chronic diseases – continues Messa – According to recent studies by the Italian Society of Nephrology, CKD affects about the 7-10% of the population and it is, unfortunately, in continuous progression also due to the general aging of the population. In Italy, third stage or more severe stage patients are nearly 4.5 million and patients on dialysis about 50 thousand; as many patients with kidney transplants in nephrological clinical follow-up.

It goes without saying that the second wave of Covid-19 has overwhelmed people with this disease, doubling the number of deaths compared to the first wave, with a mortality rate that, despite a slight decline, remains very high: among chronic kidney patients, 1 out of 4 dies. A percentage that is around 22%. For this reason, we reiterate the importance of including this category of patients, particularly fragile due to risk exposure and registered lethality, among the priority categories for the vaccine, regardless of age groups “.

In general, what can to compromise the good functioning of the kidneys? “Although most of the kidney diseases are connected to very common diseases such as diabetes, arterial hypertension, other cardiovascular diseases, there are a large number of primary kidney diseases, some of which are also genetically transmitted, whose diagnosis is often very late . These are precisely the ones that worry the most, because they very often escape the attention of patients and treating doctors, at least in the initial stages.

Numerous others also contribute to an increase in kidney disease factors: incorrect lifestyles (incorrect diet, excess of alcohol, smoking, lack of physical activity), infectious agents (bacteria, viruses, parasites), climate alterations and environmental pollution ».

What can the symptoms, the alarm bells, that something is wrong with the kidneys? “Although they are not easily identifiable, nor can they be considered unique symptoms, there are some alarm bells to pay attention to (to report them promptly to the general practitioner and, possibly, to the nephrologist specialist): frequent urination ( especially at night); swelling in the legs and ankles, especially in the evening before falling asleep; swelling of the face, especially in the morning as soon as you wake up and the presence of alterations in the characteristics of the urine, in the consistency and in the color, in the absence of changes in eating habits, in particular in relation to water intake “.

Aside from monitoring symptoms, the prevention, even in this case, it is the most powerful weapon we have to avoid the onset of kidney diseases. Below and in our gallery, you will find 10 good habits that are good for your kidneys and to the whole organism, which mainly concern lifestyle and nutrition.

Finally, we point out for those wishing to deepen the subject, that on 11 March at 12 nephrologist experts will be live live on Facebook at this link with the event ‘The expert replies’ to respond to comments and questions from social media users, who may expose doubts and curiosities relating to kidney disease in both adults and children. The event includes the participation of Piergiorgio Messa, President of SIN and of Laura Mazzella, President of SINePe (pediatric nephrology) and nephrologist pediatrician at the Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital in Rome.

10 good habits that are good for your kidneys

1) Give preference to plant foods, especially legumes (rich in plant proteins, di
minerals and vitamins), avoiding the excesses of animal proteins.
2) Drink 1.5 liters of water per day.
3) Consume food and drinks with dyes, sweeteners, preservatives sparingly.
4) Minimize the use of salt.
5) Avoid taking anti-inflammatory drugs without real need (only by prescription
medica).
6) Avoid taking products that are not easily identifiable due to their potential toxicity (for example, supplements or herbal preparations not controlled from the point of view of quality and safety).
7) Do not smoke.
8) Do regular physical activity, mainly aerobic.
9) Maintain a healthy weight.
10) Keep blood pressure under control.