Have You Hugged Your Kidneys Today?

By Amanda Crow, Guest Contributor

Have you hugged your kidneys today?  You should! They are a pair of powerhouse organs, and today is World Kidney Day.  Why are the kidneys so glorious?  They are bean-shaped organs that filter 200 quarts of blood every single day among other functions.

In mainstream western medicine, the relationship between kidney health and diet was often not addressed until patients were in the final, irreversible stage of kidney failure.  Although it has been accepted for many decades by those on the fringe, diet is now seen as a form of prevention and treatment for kidney health.  Kidney diseases are no small problem affecting and killing millions of people around the world with strong ties to high blood pressure and diabetes, the new self-induced plagues.

How do the kidneys get so damaged?  Because protein is not stored in our bodies, excess is eliminated through the kidneys.  What is most ironic about people’s obsession with protein is that humans only need to consume five percent of total calories in the form of protein to maintain molecular functions. FIVE PERCENT!  The standard American diet is around 30% (and higher) of total calories from protein.  That is a lot of unused protein Americans’ kidneys have to filter out on a daily basis.  More importantly, animal protein is the real culprit for many ailments and diseases with the kidneys.

To be honest, I am not the healthiest of vegans, but I am always striving for better eating.  I believed that because I don’t consume animal protein, my kidneys were safe.  Upon further research, I discovered that we vegans also need to ensure we are doing the right things for our precious kidneys.

Drinking plenty of water and limiting sodium intake are extremely important for keeping the kidneys well balanced and creating a poor environment for stones to occur.  For so many more reasons than just the kidneys, aiming to eat many servings of fruits and veggies each day is ideal.  Those things are fairly obvious, but I was surprised to find out eating too much plant-protein can also be problematic.  More specifically, with the flood of plant-based processed foods, vegans are consuming more isolated soy protein, which leads to high loss of calcium…bad for the bones and kidneys.

Kidney diseases are not solely related to lifestyle…although I believe the “risk groups” can often be explained by lifetime dietary choices.  Today is about awareness and taking proactive measures to ensure our kidneys are functioning and how to nourish and treat them from here on out. Happy World Kidney Day!

Interesting Side Note:

American Kidney Fund – 1998 winners of PCRM’s Charity of the Year for not sponsoring animal research – provides kidney testing at various locations around the country.

Photo credit: World Kidney Day Organization