Caring for your kidneys is important because healthy kidneys filter out toxic waste products from your blood caused by environmental toxins and promote biochemical reactions inside your body. Eating the right foods and avoiding excess salt can help keep your kidneys healthy. Foods helpful for your kidneys are those rich in antioxidants, healthy protein and low in phosphorous.
Low Sodium Foods
Excessive use of salt or a predominance of high-sodium foods in your diet are often related to kidney disease, according to the National Kidney Foundation. Processed meals and processed meats, such as ham, bacon, sausages, hot dogs and packaged hamburgers, often contain large amounts of sodium. If you must buy the occasional processed meal, look for reduced-sodium content on the ingredient label. Restaurant food is likewise often high in sodium, as are salty snack foods, dehydrated or canned soups and canned foods in general. Limit your intake of soy sauce, also high in sodium, and your use of onion or garlic salt.
Antioxidant Fruits and Vegetables
Antioxidant-rich foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, protect cell structures in your body from damage. Eating tart berries, cranberries in particular, helps cleanse the kidneys and may help protect you against bladder infections because they prevent bacteria from adhering to the bladder wall, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Raspberries contain eliagic acid and anthocyanidins that are potent neutralizers of free radicals in your body. Blueberries also have inflammation-reducing anthocyanidins. Enjoy juices made from these berries or from pomegranates as you help your kidneys stay healthy. Cherries, squash, tomatoes and bell peppers also are foods high in antioxidants that can inhibit bacterial growth.
Healthy Protein Foods
Protein foods help keep kidneys strong and healthy, according to the National Kidney Foundation. Protein gives stamina to the kidneys and is necessary for the kidneys to fight infections and remove toxic wastes from your blood. Choose a mixture of plant and animal sources of protein in your diet. Healthy plant protein can be found in whole grains and legumes. Animal protein is contained in chicken, fish, eggs, red meat, cheese and milk. Even though protein is good for your kidneys, follow your doctor's advice on how much protein you need. You may have to balance high-protein foods, such as tuna, halibut and ground beef, with lower-protein foods, such as egg substitutes, tofu, imitation crab meat and shrimp, to help your kidneys function longer, according to the National Kidney Foundation. When protein breaks down in the body, it produces waste products in the blood.
Foods Low in Phosphorous
Eating an excess of foods high in phosphorous is not helpful to your kidneys because they must remove any excess of phosphorous from your blood. Enjoy low-phosphorous foods, knowing that they may be helping to keep your kidneys healthy. These foods include sherbet, powdered ice tea, fresh green beans, popcorn, pasta, corn cereals, rice cereals and lemonade mix. The National Kidney Foundation advises guarding against an excess of otherwise healthy high-phosphorous foods, such as dried beans, lentils, split peas, hot chocolate, beer and peanut butter, particularly if you do have weak kidneys. Consult your doctor for what phosphorous balance is right for you.
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