The ‘Beans’ that cleanse you

Kidneys are small but perform the very important function of our body’s filters. These two bean-shaped organs act as sophisticated waste removal system and help to clean our blood, filter extra water out of our blood, and help to control blood pressure. When kidneys are damaged, waste products and excess fluid accumulate in the body which can be quite harmful. If not treated in time the damage can get worse, and eventually the kidneys may stop working. Such a situation can be life-threatening.

Work of a healthy Kidney:

• Keeps a balance of water and minerals like sodium, potassium, and phosphorus in the blood
• Removes waste from your blood
• Makes renin, which your body uses to help manage your blood pressure
• Produces a chemical called erythropoietin, which tells the body to produce red blood cells
• Makes vitamin D, needed for bone health and other things

Causes of a Kidney Disease

• Diabetes
• High Blood pressure
• Glomerulonephritis or inflammation of the Kidney’s filtering units called Glomeruli
• Infection
• Inherited or Congenital
• Excessive use of painkillers
• Trauma or accident

Occurrence of Kidney Disease is often asymptomatic. However, one needs to look out for some common signs and get regular blood tests to check for kidney functioning.

Some symptoms to look out for:

• Unexplained fatigue
• Feeling cold all the time
• Shortness of breath
• Feeling faint, dizzy or weak for no apparent reason
• Feeling itchy
• Swelling of hands and feet & puffy face
• Frequent nausea & vomiting
• Foamy or bubbly urine
• Loss of appetite
• Changes in urine volume
• Muscle twitches and cramps

Complications resulting from Kidney Disease

• Fluid retention in various parts of the body
• Rise in Potassium levels of blood
• Cardiovascular disease
• Weak bones
• Anaemia
• Damage to the Central nervous system
• Decreased immunity

Left untreated the condition can cause permanent damage to the Kidneys which can sometimes prove to be fatal.

Things you can do to reduce the risk of damage caused by Kidney disease

• Reduce Sodium intake by cutting down on sauces, canned food and salted snacks
• Cut back on sugars as they contribute to obesity and diabetes, both of which can lead to chronic kidney disease
• Avoid protein from saturated fats like processed meat, ghee, butter, hard cheese, palm oil
• Include unsaturated fats in your diet like oily fish, avocados, nuts & seeds and oils like olive, sunflower, etc
• Exercise and maintain a healthy weight
• Avoid tobacco and limit alcohol consumption
• Take pain killers only after consulting doctor
• Get regular medical check-up done