The two bean-shaped organs located just underneath your rib cage on both sides of your spine are the warriors of your body. When healthy, they can filter around half a cup of blood every minute, removing extra water and waste to make urine.
Diabetes and hypertension increase the risk of kidney disease. Limiting sodium and saturated fat intake is key in reducing or managing diabetes and hypertension and could protect you against kidney disease.
Read on to learn the five top foods to avoid to protect your kidneys.
Frozen Pizza
Pizza is an American favorite, but a frozen pizza’s sodium and saturated fat content exceed recommendations. Restaurant or takeout pizza isn’t much healthier but could have some nutritional benefit if you customize it with ingredients like whole wheat crust and go easy on the cheese.
Processed Meats
Processed meats like bacon, sausage, deli meat, and hot dogs significantly threaten kidney health due to their high sodium content and animal-derived protein. Regular excess sodium (more than 2300 milligrams) may increase blood pressure.
Fried Potatoes
Potatoes are one of the most consumed vegetables. French fries, potato chips, hash browns, etc., are best avoided to protect your heart and kidneys. Fried foods often have high sodium and potassium content, which is extremely dangerous if you have kidney disease.
Soups
Although soups are often regarded as light lunch or a great way to reduce cold or flu-like symptoms, they are laden with salt. Even homemade soups with beef, chicken, or vegetable stocks have over 800 milligrams per cup.
Soy Sauce
Soy sauce and tamari are two of the highest-sodium sauces available. They have an astonishing 950 milligrams of sodium per tablespoon, more than 40% of the recommended daily value.
Avoid a High Sodium Diet for Kidney Health
Our kidneys are a force to be reckoned with. However, just like any other organ, they are prone to deterioration if not looked after. A high-sodium diet should be avoided to keep your kidneys protected. Consider swapping out high-sodium options with healthier alternatives, and leave the salt at the dinner table.
