Kidney Health: What You Need to Know

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The article provides various tips for maintaining healthy kidneys and preventing kidney stones. While some beliefs such as wearing a haramaki for kidney protection lack scientific backing, they may still be helpful. Drinking enough fluids, especially water, is crucial to prevent kidney stones, while cola should be avoided as it increases the likelihood of developing them. Exercise, such as going for a walk, can help move the stone through the urinary system.

Contrary to past advice, recent studies suggest that consuming calcium-rich dairy products can help avoid certain types of kidney stones, while oxalate-rich foods such as rhubarb and spinach should be avoided. Salt, indirectly linked to kidney stones, should also be moderated. Smoking increases the chances of developing kidney and bladder cancer, with current smokers being four times more likely to develop bladder cancer than non-smokers. Collecting a kidney stone that has passed can help a doctor identify the type of stone and provide advice on how to prevent future stones.

Consider a Chinese wrap

Ancient Japanese beliefs say that wearing a haramaki, a type of underwear that wraps around the stomach and lower back, will protect your kidneys, improve digestion, reduce menstrual cramps, help you sleep better, and keep you from getting cold when you’re outside. Even though these assertions are not backed by science, many people find that wearing a haramaki is helpful. In reality, current versions of this body-warming clothing are popular not only in Japan but also in the West, and you can buy them online in a lot of places. If you want to try a haramaki, it’s probably not going to hurt you, so you might as well give it a shot.

Avoid cola beverages

To avoid getting any kind of kidney stone, it’s important to drink a lot of fluids, especially water. People used to think that tea, coffee, and alcohol caused kidney stones; however this idea has since altered. Beer and wine may even be good for you in little amounts. But it has been proven that consuming cola makes it more likely to have kidney stones, so if you tend to get stones, it’s best to stay away from it. By drinking enough water and other healthy fluids and not drinking too much cola, you can lower your risk of getting kidney stones and help your kidneys stay healthy overall.

Shake it and move it

Even though it may be painful to work out when you have a kidney stone, going for a stroll can help to move the stone and speed up its course through your urinary system. So, even a brief walk can help you go through the stone faster.

Keep eating dairy products

If you have calcium phosphate or calcium oxalate kidney stones, you may have been told in the past not to eat dairy products or other foods that are high in calcium. Recent studies, on the other hand, have indicated that certain of these meals may help avoid particular kinds of kidney stones. On the other hand, if you tend to get calcium oxalate stones, you should stay away from oxalate-rich foods including rhubarb, spinach, almonds, and wheat bran. By eating calcium-rich foods in moderation and staying away from foods high in oxalate, you can help lower your risk of getting kidney stones and keep your kidneys healthy.

See your salt intake

Even though salt isn’t a part of kidney stones, its principal ingredient, sodium, can indirectly cause stones to form. When the kidneys get rid of sodium, it can cause more calcium to get rid of through the urine. When urine has a lot of calcium, it can mix with oxalate and phosphorus to make stones. People who are more likely to get calcium-based kidney stones should cut back on the amount of salt they eat. Reducing the amount of salt you eat can help prevent kidney stones and can also help keep your blood pressure in check.

Need an excuse to quit

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According to new data from the Penn State College of Medicine, those who smoke have twice the chance of getting kidney cancer as people who don’t smoke.

Or another?

Researchers have shown that about half of all instances of bladder cancer in women are caused by smoking. This is a much greater percentage than was thought before. Also, new research have indicated that both men and women who smoke have the same chance of getting bladder cancer. The research shows that current smokers are four times more likely to get bladder cancer than those who have never smoked, and that past smokers are twice as likely as people who have never smoked to get bladder cancer. Therefore, both men and women must stop smoking in order to lower their risk of developing bladder cancer.

Collect your kidney stones

Giving your doctor a piece of a kidney stone you’ve passed can help him or her figure out what kind of stone you make. If you think you’re passing a kidney stone, you can catch it by urinating through a piece of gauze or a tiny strainer. Then, you can take the stone to your doctor for a scientific study. This can assist your doctor tell you what to eat to stop future stones from forming.

Citrus dilemma

The US National Institutes of Health say that eating or drinking things with citrus may help prevent calcium oxalate stones and uric acid stones. But they might not be good for people who are more likely to get calcium phosphate stones. These results show how important it is to find out what kind of kidney stone you have and get guidance on how to change your diet. Working with your doctor to figure out the best foods for your type of kidney stone can help you lower your risk of getting more stones and keep your kidneys healthy.

Cut back on offal

A diet rich in animal proteins and purines, which can be found in offal, fish, and shellfish, can make your urine more acidic and hence increase your chance of getting uric acid stones. It is best to consume these meals in moderation if you are prone to developing uric acid stones. You can lessen the risk of developing uric acid stones and improve the general health of your kidneys by changing your diet and consuming fewer animal proteins and purines.

Keep Sipping

Recent research suggests that drinking enough water may help lower the chance of getting bladder cancer. The study shows that drinking enough liquids may help wash out possible carcinogens, which are compounds that might cause cancer, from the body before they can damage cells and create cancer. Researchers showed that people who drank more than 4 12 pints (2.5 liters) of fluids per day had a 24% lower chance of getting bladder cancer than those who drank less. So, drinking a lot of fluids is a simple and efficient strategy to help prevent bladder cancer and keep your health in general in good shape.

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