| Proper kidney function can boil down to just one | | | | potassium can be occurring when the normal |
| idea: Intake cannot exceed the kidneys current | | | | volume of kidney urine decreases. This is caused |
| filtering ability. If you eat too much of what your | | | | when your kidney is not functioning properly. Too |
| body does not need, your kidney may not be | | | | much potassium can cause irregular heartbeat and |
| able to rid the waste properly. | | | | hinder the heart to pump blood right. You do not |
| Kidneys filter out excess waste from our bodies | | | | want this to happen. Keep your potassium within |
| and therefore play an important role to our | | | | the normal limits. If you have too much |
| overall well-being. Nephrons, which are the minute | | | | potassium, watch your intake of nuts, nut butters, |
| functional units that fill each kidney, regulate the | | | | meats, bananas, potatoes, beans, salt, and |
| water and chemicals in the blood. Roughly two | | | | chocolate. |
| quarts of waste are removed from the over | | | | The balance of calcium and phosphorus also help |
| two-hundred quarts of blood pushed through your | | | | nerves and muscles to perform correctly. It is |
| kidneys by the heart. | | | | important to keep phosphorus levels right because |
| To uphold proper kidney health a balance of items | | | | if they are too low your body robs your bones of |
| must be properly upheld. These items: protein, | | | | calcium. It does this to keep the balance of |
| sodium potassium, phosphorus, and fluid intake | | | | phosphorus to calcium constant. It has been said |
| should be followed in order curb kidney problems. | | | | that this balance directly relates to producing |
| Without enough protein, your body will weaken. | | | | common kidney stones. To keep phosphorus at |
| Tissues will decline and you become susceptible to | | | | good levels be careful with your intake of dairy |
| sickness. Too much protein and your blood fills | | | | products, chicken, fish, and meat. It is often said |
| with a waste called blood urea nitrogen. This is not | | | | you should especially avoid cheese if you have |
| good. A highly increased BUN level could point to a | | | | problems with common calcium based kidney |
| moderate to critical mark of kidney failure. Try to | | | | stones. |
| dilute your protein intake by splitting equally | | | | In most cases, you should be running a lot of fluid |
| between animal and vegetable protein sources. | | | | through your kidneys. That is unless your kidneys |
| This will help you get enough protein and should | | | | cannot handle excess fluid because they are not |
| better keep you from overloading your kidneys. | | | | working at full capacity. If you have special needs, |
| Everyone needs a certain amount of sodium but | | | | get a doctors precise advice on the proper fluid |
| some people retain too much. Sodium causes you | | | | amount. In normal conditions, about 6 glasses of |
| to hold fluid and for some people it can contribute | | | | water a day should do the trick. |
| to higher blood pressure. Limit your sodium intake | | | | In closing, speak to your doctor. Get to know |
| by curbing your fondness for foods containing | | | | what your blood levels of sodium, potassium, |
| added MSG, sodium preservatives, canned goods, | | | | phosphorus, and protein can be. Have your doctor |
| and any items with added salt. If you use salt, | | | | explain each item to you when you get the |
| use a product like Real Salt, which contains trace | | | | results from the kidney blood tests. If you have |
| minerals and no fillers. It is better for you. | | | | elevated or decreased levels, take the proper |
| You need potassium to keep your nerves and | | | | dietary steps to fix the problem areas. This will |
| muscles working correctly. A condition of excess | | | | help keep your kidney function nearer to 100%. |