March is National Kidney Health Month

by Dr. Kyle Chavers, MD, IFMCP

Lifestyle optimizes kidney function

Incredibly, your kidneys filter all the blood in your body about every 30 minutes. They filter waste products, balance fluids in the body, and release hormones responsible for regulating blood pressure among other important tasks. This is why good kidney function is critical for maintaining optimal health. Issues such as uncontrolled blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, smoking, age, and certain medications are a few things that can lead to impaired kidney function. This can cause problems such as anemia and electrolyte abnormalities and can lead to the build up of waste products in the blood, including waste products from food.

Along with staying physically active, these factors can help optimize kidney health and prevent disease:

• Maintain a healthy blood pressure, even if medications are required
• Lose weight if you are overweight or obese
• Avoid chronic NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and Aleve
• Focus on anti-inflammatory foods like olive oil, berries, nuts and seeds, turmeric, green tea
• Eat antioxidant-rich foods like dark, leafy greens, fresh fruits and berries
• Avoid trans fats, red meat, and alcohol
• Limit processed foods that are high in added sodium, sugar, and refined carbohydrates

The great news is, incorporating these lifestyle habits will do wonders for your overall health while also optimizing kidney function. Make an appointment for lifestyle recommendations personalized just for you – our team at Foundations is always ready to help.