We never think of a specific organ when trying to be healthy overall. But, as you age, paying attention to bone health, kidney and liver function, and heart health becomes increasingly important. A great way to ensure the upkeep of these organs is to eat a diet of foods that support their function. So, when it comes to your kidneys, what are those foods and why is it so important to tailor your diet?
The kidney is the major player in the regulation of blood pressure and the make-up of the blood. The kidney is a remarkably intricate organ that acts as the filter system of the body. Kidneys also work to keep the whole body in a state of chemical balance. They also help in maintaining proper acid-base balance, keep bones healthy, help in maintaining optimum fluid, electrolytes and in certain situations, glucose balance.
Acute kidney failure occurs when your kidneys suddenly become unable to filter waste products from your blood. When your kidneys lose their filtering ability, dangerous levels of wastes may accumulate, and your blood’s chemical makeup may get out of balance. Acute kidney failure develops rapidly, usually in less than a few days to a few weeks. Acute kidney failure is most common in people who are already hospitalised, particularly in critically ill people who need intensive care.
Some estimates show a higher incidence of chronic kidney disease in women, compared with men, globally. Women are also more likely to develop kidney disease because conditions such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma and kidney infection are more common in women.
In a few cases, PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) has been reported in female PKD (Polycystic Kidney Disease) patients. However, it is suggested that PKD patients and their unaffected relatives do not exhibit elevated risks of PCOS. When a woman has chronic kidney disease, her periods tend to be irregular. Once she begins dialysis, her periods may even stop altogether.
The accumulation of unhealthy lifestyle behaviours has been shown to be associated with the incidence of CVD, stroke, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. In addition to hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome, the incidence of CKD is also closely correlated with unhealthy lifestyle behaviours, such as smoking, heavy alcohol intake, obesity, physical inactivity, and unhealthy diet.