Kidney disease prevention
You can protect your kidney from damage and chronic disease by managing your health conditions that contribute to kidney damage such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Always ask about your kidney health from your healthcare provider every six months during the medical visit. There are no symptoms of early stages of kidney disease, so screening might be the only way to get information about your kidney disease. Consult a doctor right away if you have a urinary tract infection (UTI) that can lead to kidney damage. Following are some preventive measures for kidney disease that maintain a healthy lifestyle:
Make healthy dietary choices
Include foods in your diet that are healthy for your heart as well as your entire body such as frest fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products, and whole grains, try to cut back or limit the intake of processed sugars, salt, and other processed or packaged foods. Limit your daily intake of sodium to less than 2300 milligrams. Some tips for making healthy choices for food are:
- Go for mixed spice instead of merely salt for seasoning
- Choose vegetable toppings for your pizza
- Try grilling or baking foods instead of frying
- Always add fresh vegetables salad in your diet
- Opt for foods including whole grains like brown rice, whole wheat, corn, oats, and barley
- Stop using added sugars or other processed sweeteners in your recipes
- Carefully read the food labels and choose low in added sugars, salt, trans fats, cholesterol, and saturated fats foods
- If you have diabetes or high blood pressure, you can always follow the DASH eating plan to effectively regulate your blood pressure
- Instead of snacking on packaged foods, use dry fruits, nuts, or vegetables of your choice as snacks
- Be physically more active
Try to include some physical activity of 30 minutes every single day of the week or for at least 3 days per week. Physical activity of some sort is always helpful in preventing numerous diseases including the kidney disease.