Water, dried cranberries, lemon juice, dandelion tea, ginger, turmeric, watermelon, grapes, baking soda, fruit juices, calcium intake, seaweed, herbal teas, vitamin b6, omega 3s, potassium citrate, carrots, berries, beetroot, dark green leafy vegetables, nuts and seeds are some of the must have foods for kidney cleanse.
One of the most important functions of the body is to eliminate toxins and detoxify our bodies every day by neutralizing the toxins with the help of organs like kidneys, lungs, skin, colon, liver and lymph. But, nowadays we put these systems through a lot of strain due to the pollution and toxins that are present everywhere including in the refined food that we eat.
The most vital organs in this process or eliminating waste are the Kidneys. Kidneys are the two small organs which are located on the sides of the spine beneath the ribs. They play a crucial role not only in just eliminating waste but also in balancing the electrolytes and creating hormones in the body.
With increasing risks of diseases, health issues, etc, it is now not enough anymore to keep your kidneys healthy with just good water intake and diet. Certain foods, supplements, drinks and herbs aid a lot to maintain strong and healthy kidneys. Keeping your kidneys healthy is very important as it also boosts immunity.
21 Must-Have Foods for Kidney Cleanse
Here are 21 must-have foods for Kidney Cleanse:
Water
The human body of an adult comprises almost 60% of water. Hence, every organ in the body requires water to function properly. The Kidneys require water for urine secretion, being the body’s filtration system. The primary waste product of the body is urine. When a person doesn’t hydrate as required, the water intake is low in the body which subsequently leads to low urine volume. This leads to kidney stone formation or kidney dysfunction.
Daily intake of water or fluids per day must be 3.7 liters for men and 2.7 liters for women.
Dried Cranberries
Cranberries have bladder-healthy benefits. Consuming sweetened dried cranberries every day helps in keeping the kidneys healthy and also reduces the risk of UTI in women. [1] Dried cranberries are delicious and they can also serve as a sweet addition to other foods like oatmeal, salad, greek yogurt, etc.
Lemon Juice
Starting off your day with a cup of warm lemon juice helps your system to flush out the toxins from the body. Add lemon juice in warm water and have it just after you wake up. If it’s too hard to drink, then a little bit of honey can be added to make it better.
Dandelion Tea
Dandelion tea is a herbal tea which is made from the leaves and roots of the Dandelion plant. Native Chinese and Americans used these to treat kidney and liver diseases, skin problems, appendicitis, etc. These leaves contain a pigment called flavonoids which cleanse and purify the blood in kidneys and also increase the urine flow. This is as effective as some of the pharmaceutical drugs but in contrast, it is gentle on the body and has no side effects.
Ginger
Ginger is a great herb which helps a lot in the process of kidney cleansing. Although it does not cure anything, it benefits a lot for dialysis patients in many ways including nausea and indigestion. Grated ginger should be added to the warm lemon water and allowed to settle for 4-6 minutes. Ginger can be taken with the lemon water and honey in the morning.
Turmeric
Turmeric has an abundance of a chemical called Curcumin which has anti-inflammatory properties. Diseases like CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease), an inflammatory disease which leads to dialysis and kidney transplant; and other inflammatory diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disorders are reduced by levels with the help of curcumin present in turmeric. [2]
Watermelon
Watermelon contains high levels of Potassium salts which help regulate the acidic levels in urine. Being diuretic, drinking watermelon twice a day helps to flush out small crystals and stones that are formed in the kidneys.
Grapes
Grapes contain a beneficial compound of plant called Resveratrol which reduces the risk of inflammation. Instead of snacking on junk, snack on a hand full of grapes. In one animal study conducted, it was found out that resveratrol reduced kidney inflammation in rats that suffered from polycystic kidney disease. [3]
Baking soda
People who suffer from CKD and have to undergo dialysis very frequently should consider having a dose of baking soda every day. It is proven that baking soda helps CKD patients to avoid having to go through dialysis. Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking soda) can slow down the condition over time. [4]
Fruit Juices
Fruits with citrate content help in preventing stone formation because citrate binds with calcium present in the urine, inhibiting the growth of calcium crystals which in turn lead to stones in the kidney. Fruit juices which contain citrus like lemon, orange, melon, grapefruit, etc. should be consumed every day.
Calcium intake
People believe that avoiding calcium prevents kidney stones as they are made up of calcium present in the urine. But the irony is calcium helps bind with the excess urinary oxalate and reduces the excretion and absorption of it, in turn reducing the risk of stones. Some of the calcium rich foods are soy milk, almond milk, fortified cereals, tofu, etc. But limit the intake somewhere near to 1.2 grams a day.
Seaweed
Seaweed has beneficial effects on kidneys, liver and also pancreas. A study conducted in 2014 showed its beneficial effects especially for people suffering from diabetes. In this study, rats suffering with diabetes were fed edible seaweed every day for 22 days. The results showed a reduction in the damage taken by kidney and liver due to diabetes. [5]
Other Herbal Teas
Herbal teas are rich in antioxidants and also contain anti-inflammatory properties. Consuming herbal tea every day protects the body from oxidative stress and kidney damage. Effective herbal teas are Nettle tea, Hydrangea and Sambong.
In a study, researchers found that when extracts of Sambong are added to the calcium oxalate crystals, they decrease in size. This potentially could help in preventing the kidney stone formation if consumed daily. [6]
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 is an important factor in the metabolism of glyoxylate. In case of B6 deficiency, glyoxylate can become oxalate instead of glycine. As already mentioned, oxalate leads to kidney stone formation.
Omega 3s
The standard diet we follow every day is often high in omega 6 fatty acids but very low in omega 3 fatty acids. High levels of Omega 3 fatty acids lead to the formation of stones in the kidneys. Whereas, intake of Omega 3s decreases the metabolism of Omega 6s. Make sure that the intake ratio is 1:1.
Potassium Citrate
Potassium helps in balancing electrolytes and maintaining a pH balance of the urine, thereby preventing the formation of kidney stones.
Carrots
Carrots contain a pigment called carotene which filters all the heavy metals out of the kidneys as it is high in antioxidants. Carotene is converted into Vitamin A inside the body which is also good for eyes, skin disorders, slowing cancer growth, etc.
Beetroot
Beetroot is high in anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, anti-cancer and detoxification properties. Raw beetroot or beetroot juice lowers blood pressure, fights cancer and increases the stamina. Betaine pigment present in beetroot fights tumor growth and also eliminates the excess calcium that is built up in the kidneys.
Dark Green Leafy Vegetables
Green leaves are rich in magnesium, hence they decrease calcium oxalate levels in the kidney, inhibiting the stone formation. Good leafy vegetables to consume are spinach, kale, collard greens, etc.
Nuts and Seeds
Phenolic compounds present in the nuts and seeds have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. They improve renal health as they are also high in magnesium. They increase the kidney perfusion and decrease kidney stones.
Berries
Berries are rich in antioxidants, anti-inflammatory properties, minerals, vitamins and flavonoids which help in getting rid of free radicals slowing down the kidney disease progression. Consume berries like blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and cranberries.
— If you have health issues or kidney problems, then this is the first step you must take for a better kidney health. It might be difficult to bombard yourself with a different lifestyle by changing your food habits suddenly. It would be great to start off at a slow pace. Starting with 1 day a week or 1 meal every day and increasing it slowly will help you adjust to your new diet. You will eventually enjoy the benefits of this diet fully over the time. Happy Healthy Living!
