Kidneys and Vitamins

Maintaining healthy kidney function is vitally important. Check out these tips here. <from this link:

6 Things Healthy Kidneys Do:

• Regulate the body’s fluid levels
• Filter wastes and toxins from the blood
• Release a hormone that regulates blood pressure
• Activate vitamin D to maintain healthy bones
• Release the hormone that directs production of red blood cells
• Keep blood minerals in balance (sodium, phosphorus, potassium)

Plus, there are issues with high protein diets used for weight loss and diabetes control that impact Kidney functions. ref

Here is some important blood pressure information from the CDC on keeping Kidneys healthy. ref

Vital to the Kidney disease story concerns the balance of potassium. As the Kidneys become weaker, they fail to control the balance between potassium intake and elimination. Diet has to be modified to lower potassium intake. Higher potassium levels jeopardize heart health. ref

In the past, since many fruits and vegetables are high in potassium, the Kidney disease diet did not include many of these foods. But, recently, Scientific studies have revealed that plant foods with potassium have built in potassium elimination elements such as fibers plus an alkalinizing effect and the benefits outweigh any adverse effects. ref  This is changing some dietary recommendations.

The older low potassium diet restrictions often generated acidosis which favors the retention of potassium. Obviously the highest potassium plant foods probably should not be consumed or very limited, like beans, potatoes, avocados, and bananas. Beans are high in phytates that act as a binder for some of the potassium. Some fruits, vegetables, and nuts have a little oxalic acid which is another binding element.

Follow your Doctor's advice.