Simple Ways to Keep Kidneys Healthy By Misty Brown WI Staff Writer
Millions of Americans have kidney problems. The failure to drink water is a leading factor. Simple home remedies and preventive health tips can help you to avoid kidney stones, kidney failure and offset renal diseases. The kidneys are body wastemanagement organs. Kidney stones are small, hard deposits of acids and minerals that resemble the size of a grain of salt or a large marble residing in your kidneys. They are components of urine. “Sudden kidney failure can be due to burns, injury, shock, heart attack, drugs or certain other factors. Once the kidneys stop purifying blood, poisons build up in the body producing coma and death within a
week unless the patient receives prompt treatment. This includes bed rest: a diet low in protein, nitrogen and potassium; and drugs or fluids (given intravenously) to prevent shock,” according to The Diagram Group in The Healthy Body: A Maintenance Manual. The following are some beneficial tips to maintain healthy kidneys: Water: According to a study by the Mayo Clinic, “Studies showing a diet drinking water throughout the day will reduce your risk of developing kidney stones. Doctors usually recommend passing about 2.6 quarts (2.5 liters) of urine a day. If you live in a hot, dry climate or exercise frequently, you may drink more water to produce enough urine.” Fret not, if your urine
is yellow due to vitamin intake. Drink quality water from reliable sources and use water purifiers. Use your best crystal.
studied preventive medicine it was highly recommended. Now, you can buy SP-6 Cornsilk from Solaray to reduce water retention and support Food: Consume water-soluble healthy kidneys. fruits or vegetables. Good fruit sources are melons, berries, Vitamin B6: Vitamin B6 also kiwis, oranges, lemons, pine- known as “pyridoxine” is one apples, mangoes, papayas and of the eight B vitamins. It is grapes. Unsweetened cranber- important in preventing kidries or juice are the best to ney stones and acts as a mild prevent UTI, urinary tract in- diuretic. Excellent sources fections. Also, it prevents the are carrots, chickens, brewer’s growth of bacteria by acidify- yeast, eggs, meat, peas, suning the urine. Good vegetables flower seeds, fish, walnuts, sources are the families of wheat germ and spinach. squash, sweet bell peppers, greens, lettuces and peas. Okra Drink Less Alcohol: Drinkand corn are great. My late ing a glass of red wine has been grandmother Alice, an herbal- hailed as a powerful health aid. ist, midwife and Native Ameri- However, if you have hypertencan descendant gave us soaked sion, the health guru, Dr. Oz corn silk from freshly shucked notes, “Men should drink less corn out of her garden in Mis- than two drinks per day and sissippi. When I grew up and women (lighter-weight men)
should drink 1 drink per day (a drink is a 12 oz. beer, 5 oz. or 1.5 oz. 80-proof whiskey. Strict adherence to a healthy diet ... is essential.” Visit www.doctoroz. com to view videos of “Keeping Kidneys Healthy Part 1 and 2.” Women: If you suffer from frequent urinary tract infections (UTI), avoid wearing any synthetic fabrics (pants, gym/ yoga shorts and pajamas) or undergarments (girdles, panties and thongs) including nylon and acrylic stockings. Only wear cotton garments or thigh high stockings. References: Prescription for Nutritional Healing: A Practical A-Z Reference to Drug-Free remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs, & Food Supplements.
Quality health care for our community. Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center
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2301 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE June | WWH volunteer
202.745.7000 | www.whitman-walker.org H-14 MAY 2012 / HEALTH, WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT
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