7 Foods Kidney Damaging Foods
Perhaps you don’t think about your kidneys very much. If you practice
yoga, your instructor might say something like, “Breathe into your
kidneys,” and you have no idea what they are talking about!
Well, your kidneys are workhorses that play a very important role in
your body. Located just below your rib cage on either side of the spine,
your kidneys are about the size of your fists. According to the National Institutes of Health,
the organs filter more than 200 quarts of blood each day, filtering
around 2 quarts of waste products! From the kidney, waste products and
water filter to the bladder, and you release it as urine.
Keeping your kidneys healthy and functioning, then, is essential for
detoxifying your body and removing wastes. Unfortunately, many foods can
harm your kidneys and keep them from functioning at optimal levels.
Here are the top seven.
1. Meat
Diets high in animal protein can cause kidney damage. In fact, according to the Mayo Clinic,
a high-protein diet may cause or exacerbate existing kidney problems
because protein metabolism places a heavy load on the kidneys, making it
difficult to eliminate its waste products.
A 2003 study in the European Journal of Nutrition
showed that a diet rich in animal-based proteins could also increase
the risk of developing kidney stones from uric acid, while a vegetarian
diet lowered the uric acid and prevented formation of stones. Uric acid
is one of the common causes of kidney stone and is a byproduct of eating
foods that are high in purines such as meat, seafood, and fish. These
foods may also trigger the other common type of kidney stones, calcium
oxalate stones, because they increase the amount of calcium excreted in
urine. How? Animal protein metabolism leaves an acidic residue in the
body. Because your body favors an alkaline state, it pulls calcium and
other mineral salts from the bones in order to return you to that
alkaline state. This calcium can form calcium oxalate kidney stones.
Instead, eat a variety of veggies, grains, seeds, and nuts and you’ll get all of the protein your body needs.
2. Salt
Your body needs a little bit of sodium in order to maintain proper fluid balance, but you can get enough from eating fruits and vegetables. Many processed foods, however, add a great deal of salt in order to enhance flavors. The most commonly used form of salt is processed table salt. When you eat too much salt, your kidneys respond by retaining water in order to dilute this electrolyte in your bloodstream to maintain proper heart function. This places a load on the kidneys. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, long-term intake of too much salt can damage the kidneys along with the heart and aorta. Salt intake may also raise blood pressure, which can cause damage to the kidney’s nephrons, which filter wastes. If you must add salt, use just a pinch of high quality Celtic or Himalayan sea salt.
3. Genetically modified foods
A
large percentage of our processed foods contain genetically modified
ingredients including corn, soy, rice, sugar cane, sugar beets, and
canola. Seeds are genetically engineered for a number of reasons,
including to increase pest resistance, make the plant immune to
herbicides, or improve crop yields. Monsanto corporation is one of the
largest makers of genetically modified seeds. A 2009 mammal study conducted
on three types of genetically modified Monsanto corn showed negative
health effects on the kidney and liver functions of rats. The
researchers concluded that the three varieties tested created a state of
hepatorenal (liver and kidney) toxicity.
Unfortunately, research on the long-term health effects of
genetically modified crops on humans remains poorly studied at this time
because genetically modified foods have only been a regular part of the
Western diet since 1995 when Monsanto introduced the GM soybean seed
that was immune to the herbicide Roundup.
Since we have not yet been able to measure the long-term effects of GM crops on humans, it is best to avoid them.
Instead, opt for organically grown produce and avoid common sources of GM ingredients such as processed and prepackaged foods.
4. Artificial sweeteners
Many
people believe they are doing something healthy for their bodies when
they consume artificial sweeteners because these ingredients are
non-caloric. In a review of the Nurses Study,
researchers looked at the role of artificial sweeteners on kidney
function and found that there was an increase in kidney function decline
with intake of just two diet sodas per day.
Your best bet? Skip the artificial sweeteners and stick with stevia if you need a little sweet.
5. Carbonated beverages
Carbonated beverages such as soda (with or without artificial
sweetener) and energy drinks are associated with the formation of kidney
stones. A 2007 study demonstrated this, showing that drinking two or more colas per day was associated with an increased risk of chronic kidney disease.
Instead, have plain water with organic lemon.
6. Dairy products
The problem with dairy products is similar to that of other animal proteins. In fact, the China Study showed
that consuming dairy products increased the excretion of calcium in the
urine, which has been associated with a higher risk of developing
kidney stones. According to KidsHealth.org, reducing dairy can help
people with kidney failure and kidney disease, because it can make the filtering work of the kidneys easier, delaying the need for dialysis.
Instead, try some unsweetened almond milk.
7. Caffeine
Caffeine
in coffee, tea, soda, and foods can also place a strain on your
kidneys. Because caffeine is a stimulant, it can stimulate blood flow,
increasing blood pressure and stress on the kidneys. A 2002 study in
Kidney International showed that long-term caffeine consumption
exacerbated chronic kidney failure in obese and diabetic rats. Caffeine
consumption has also been linked to kidney stone formation by
increasing calcium excretion in urine.
