Hey! March is almost gone already in 2023 and I would be remiss if I allowed the month to go by without mentioning that it is National Kidney Month.
A little about them – we (usually) have two kidneys, which are shaped like beans. They live on each side of our spine, below the ribs, and behind the belly.
The main function is to filter and clean the blood; taking care of your kidneys also control your fluid balance and keeps the electrolytes at the proper level – when they are working correctly.
A few symptoms you might have if your kidneys are not doing so well are fatigue, being cold when others are feeling warm, feeling faint and perhaps itchy, and you might have some swelling in your hands or feet.
You might also know that if you have diabetes, your kidneys are at great risk. You would want to make sure your blood pressure is also healthy.
If you have been reading my blogs, then you know I am very interested in natural, holistically healthy approaches to preventing disease (and that goes for the kidneys as well), and also for treating them – better under the care of a competent healthcare provider, such as a functional medicine doctor or other holistic practitioners.
We can actually treat kidney issues with the food we eat. Dr. Joseph Mercola, in his article entitled How to Prevent and Treat Kidney Problems with Food, suggests that we
1. Restrict Protein Intake, or, About 40 to 70 Grams per Day
2. Restrict Fructose to About 6 Teaspoons Less per Day
3. Drink Pure, Clean Water
If you want to know more from Dr. Mercola, go here.
4. Vitamins C and B Complex Are Good Support for the Kidneys
5. Apple Cider Vinegar Helps Alkalize Your Body
Please remember that if you take medications, there may sometimes (not often) be contraindications with certain supplements. Hence it is a good idea to work with a competent practitioner.
If you do take medications, always check first for contraindications. It is important to stay healthy while you are creating even more health!
If you want to know more about the role of Vitamin C in the kidney and overall health, please review this journal article by Padayatty, Sun, Chen, Espey, Drisko, and Levine.
As many of you might be aware, addicts are at serious risk for kidney issues. The majority of drugs that are typically abused are filtered by and excreted through the kidneys.
These may include heroin, cocaine, alcohol, painkillers, etc. Please view this article by the National Institute on Drug Abuse on Drugs that cause kidney damage here.
Another great source of information on keeping your kidneys and all other functioning of your body, including your feelings, thoughts, behavior, spirituality and more is Prevention: Holistic Strategies for Healthy Living & Avoiding Substance Use.
Also, please understand that there are natural treatment approaches available for heroin addiction, an epidemic that is still raging all throughout America. This course, Treating Heroin Addiction Naturally, is a great source of information.
For more information on holistically healthy lifestyle choices, please visit Health and Wellness and join our mailing list!