Your kidney health is incredibly important. That’s because the kidneys are responsible for cleaning out the waste and toxins from your body. They also remove excess water from the bloodstream by carrying it out via urine. In addition, aside from the kidneys being in charge of producing red blood cells, they also turn vitamin D into its active form for the body to use.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ‘more than 1 in 7, that is 15% of US adults or 37 million people, are estimated to have CKD,’ or chronic kidney disease. Oftentimes, for people that suffer from CKD, their only option for survival is to get a kidney transplant, which is difficult considering there are over 100,000 people awaiting kidney transplants within the United States alone.
Thankfully, there are a number of ways to keep your kidneys in tip top shape, which include eating well, exercising, maintaining a healthy weight, and sleeping properly. In addition, lessening any unhealthy habits, such as smoking and excessing alcohol drinking helps as well.
More and more often, chronic diseases are being linked to unhealthy diets, which is why eating well and keeping a balanced diet helps keep the kidneys functioning properly.
Here are 28 foods that are good for your kidney health.
1. Fatty Fish
Fatty fish isn’t only recommended for pregnant women, people with heart conditions, or those dealing with autoimmune diseases. This superfood is a rich source of protein that’s full of zinc, calcium, vitamin B and iron. But one of the main reasons why its recommended for kidney health is because it lowers the risk of albuminuria, a condition where there is too much albumin in the urine that heightens the risk of kidney disease. In addition, fatty fish is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, anti-inflammatory fats that fight off cancer and heart disease. Try to incorporate at least one serving of fish in your diet at least two times a week.