Tag Archives: kidney disease

Be Kind to Your Kidneys and Liver

The human body is pretty amazing. Despite all the wear and tear the body gets on a daily basis — inside AND out — it still keeps going. Your liver and kidneys play a huge role in keeping the body clean on the inside. The liver has hundreds of functions, but one big one is filtering bad stuff (like bacteria) out of the blood. It’s also essential for digestion — the liver produces bile, which breaks down fat so the body can digest it. It’s a multitasking marvel! Your kidneys are waste and water processors. On a daily basis, they … Continue reading →

Preventing Kidney Stones

Kidney stones can be painful — but there are some things you can do to prevent them. Small diet changes can make a big difference in your body’s development of kidney stones. Drink more water! Six to eight glasses of water every day can help dilute urine. When urine becomes too concentrated, minerals like calcium, phosphate, and oxalate can crystallize, forming stones. The pain comes when the stones pass from the kidneys. Diluting the urine can help prevent the crystallization in the first place. Good old water is best, but you can also drink fruit juices or drinks from mix. … Continue reading →

Five More Major Health Threats For Men

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a list of the top ten killers of American men. The first two (heart disease and cancer) do most of the work, and were responsible for more than half of all male deaths in 2003 (the most recent data available). But just because a health threat is lower on the list doesn’t mean you can ignore it. Diabetes. Approximately three percent of all male deaths in 2003 were caused by diabetes. Weight is a big risk factor for diabetes; complications of diabetes include heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease. Influenza and … Continue reading →

Kidney Disease: Eating Right

If your doctor tells you that you are in the early stages of kidney disease, it’s time for you to make some changes! Other health considerations — like diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure — may take priority in your diet choices. Incorporate the following tips into your diet if you are in the early stages of kidney disease: Choose smaller portions of meats. Men should eat six ounces or less of meat every day; women should eat four ounces or less. Restricting protein in your diet can help slow the progress of kidney function loss. Limit dairy foods, … Continue reading →

Kidney Disease: The Basics

Your kidneys have a pretty important job: they remove waste products and extra water from your body. And they work pretty hard, too. In a minute, a healthy kidney filters about a half a cup of fluid (between 88 and 137 milliliters) — that makes for some 200 quarts of liquid filtered every day. Kidney disease means that your kidneys have been damaged and can no longer perform their usual functions. It can develop for a variety of reasons, and may be mild or severe. There are several stages of kidney disease; the early stages may have few or no … Continue reading →