How to Prevent Kidney Failure?

Dr.Umesh Gupta, 3 mins read

The kidneys are robust organs that clean out the waste and unwanted fluids from the blood and then remove them entirely from the body through your urine. People who have diabetes or high blood pressure are most likely to develop kidney disease. So what is the best way to prevent kidney failure? Most tips for preventing kidney failure or chronic kidney disease are centered on preventing diabetes and keeping blood pressure under control. Managing these two conditions is paramount for good kidney health. 

How do you improve kidney function?

As mentioned above, the best way to protect your kidneys is by preventing or managing conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure that are directly linked to higher chances of kidney damage. 

Remember, following good health tips like the ones described below will help keep your body healthy, not just your kidneys.

If you’re concerned or just wish to know the general health status of your kidneys, you can ask your health care provider about your kidney health. Kidney disease hardly causes any symptoms till it's quite late, so getting your kidneys checked regularly is not a bad idea as it is the only way to know if they are healthy. Your health care provider will tell you how many times you have to be tested. A urinary tract infection, if left untreated, can cause kidney damage as well, so make sure you visit or consult with a healthcare provider right away if you develop a UTI.

What food to eat to prevent kidney failure?

Make the right choices when it comes to what you eat, go for foods that are good for your entire body: fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, low-fat dairy, and whole grains coupled with essential greens and fats. Eat healthily and cut back on extra salt and sugar. Restrict your sodium intake to less than 2300 mg of sodium per day and get under 10 percent of your total daily calories from added sugars. 

Keep your blood sugar under control 

Diabetes increases the risk for kidney failure and managing your sugar levels is vital. Eat more fiber, avoid carbohydrates and sugars, exercise regularly, drink more water, and control the amount you eat at a time. 

Keep your weight healthy

Being overweight or obese has been linked to an increase in risk for other conditions that are associated with kidney failures like diabetes and high blood pressure. Again, a nutritious diet with regular exercise should do the trick, and if you are finding it hard to shed some pounds, get in touch with an experienced professional who can chart out a health plan for you based on your needs. 

Control your blood pressure 

Having high blood pressure (hypertension) does increase the risk of getting heart disease and kidney failure. You can make lifestyle changes; consult a doctor who can prescribe medication and supplements. Reduce alcohol intake, don’t smoke, try and manage stress and anger, and get enough vitamin D. 

Abide by a diet that is healthy for your heart

A diet low in sugar and cholesterol and rich in fiber, whole grains, and fruits and vegetables is called a heart-healthy diet and it can help prevent weight gain and other diseases that come with it. We recommend having fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, low-fat dairy products, poultry, fish, and nuts to improve long-term heart health. 

Keep salt intake low 

Consuming too much salt or sodium, which is found in almost everything we eat and drink, sodium has been linked to high blood pressure, which increases your risk of heart disease, heart failure, and kidney disease. However, salt is integral to our health, and maintaining sodium levels is critical for our well-being. Studies have found that almost 75 percent of all sodium consumed by humans comes from junk food, and just avoiding that can greatly improve your sodium levels.

Have enough water

Dehydration directly stems from blood flow to the kidneys, and this can cause damage. Some people believe that having “as much water as you can” is the way to go, but it is not advisable to load yourself up with too much either. You may have heard you should aim to drink 8-12 glasses of water a day. How much water you need to drink is more specific to your needs. The place where you live, the weather and climate, how much you work out and sweat: many things should be factored in while determining how much water you should have daily and your doctor can help you determine this to your needs.

You can also avoid alcohol and smoking, and exercise regularly to keep your kidneys healthy and far away from kidney failure.

Also, Read: What is kidney failure, and why does it occur? Know its Causes, symptoms, treatment