The six things the kidneys fear the most: too much meat and fish, too much protein

Why do some people suffer from kidney disease? In fact, this is closely related to their daily living habits and ways. In daily life, we must pay attention to protecting the kidneys. What are some ways to protect the kidneys?

1. Focusing on kidney tonification but neglecting kidney health

Nourishing the kidneys is a health concept advocated by many people, and many people think that nourishing the kidneys means nourishing the kidneys. "This is a misunderstanding," said Shi Wei, director of the Department of Nephrology at Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital. The "kidney" referred to in traditional Chinese medicine is a functional concept that includes the comprehensive functions of the reproductive system, endocrine system and urinary system in modern medicine. The "kidney" referred to in modern medicine refers to the real kidneys. The kidneys are responsible for removing toxins, waste and excess water from the body. In addition, it also helps the body control blood pressure, regulate electrolyte concentrations, produce red blood cells, etc. Once kidney function is damaged, it is mostly irreversible.

2. Too much meat and fish, too much protein

Protein is an essential nutrient for the human body, and it is right to pay attention to protein intake, but this does not mean "the more high-protein food you eat, the better." Healthy people can get enough protein every day through a balanced diet. But nowadays, many people in the workplace often socialize and eat a lot of meat and fish, which leads to excessive protein intake. Director Shi Wei reminds that long-term high-protein intake will increase the burden on the kidneys and even cause the kidneys to be in an "overloaded" state for a long time. For people with impaired renal function, protein intake must be strictly controlled. They must consult a nephrologist and develop a diet under the guidance of a nutritionist.

In addition, I would like to remind everyone that protein is not limited to eggs and milk. Various meats, seafood and beans all contain high levels of protein. When you are keen on eating high-protein foods or blindly supplement high-protein nutrients, be careful not to damage your kidneys.

3. Traditional soup every day, high in purine

Guangdong people love soup and often enjoy a bowl of traditional Chinese soup when eating. Traditional hot soups usually contain a lot of meat and are cooked for two to three hours. If the broth is boiled for a long time, a large amount of purine will dissolve into the broth. Regularly drinking old-fashioned soups with high purine content will cause uric acid to accumulate in the blood. The increased uric acid level can easily lead to gout and damage the kidneys.
Another eating habit that hurts the kidneys is drinking large amounts of seafood and beer, because some ingredients in seafood, when combined with beer, will greatly increase the uric acid content in the human blood and induce gout and gouty nephropathy.

4. Frequently holding urine and not drinking enough water

Many people often hold their urine because they are too busy at work. However, they do not know that holding urine for too long can easily lead to increased bladder pressure, bladder pressure reflex disorder and decreased detrusor function, or affect the ureter-bladder anti-reflux mechanism, causing urine reflux, which can easily lead to complications of pyelonephritis and renal damage. Therefore, no matter how busy you are at work, don't forget to go to the toilet on time.
In addition, many people are too busy with work to drink water. If you don't drink enough water, your urine volume will naturally decrease, and the concentration of waste and toxins carried in your urine will increase. Common kidney stones in clinical practice are closely related to lack of water intake for a long time. Experts emphasize that we should develop the habit of drinking plenty of water, and ensure at least 8 large cups of boiled water every day (note: do not replace it with beverages). Drinking more water can dilute urine, allowing it to be excreted quickly, which helps prevent stones.

5. Salty diet makes it difficult to excrete water

95% of the salt in our diet is metabolized by the kidneys. If we eat too much salt, the burden on the kidneys will naturally increase.
In addition, the sodium in salt makes it difficult for the body to excrete water, which further increases the burden on the kidneys and leads to decreased kidney function. At the same time, eating too much salt can cause high blood pressure, and the kidneys cannot maintain normal blood flow, thus inducing kidney disease. It is recommended to control daily salt intake to less than 6 grams.

6. Drug abuse can poison your kidneys

Two months ago, 20-year-old David had a toothache and thought he was getting "heaty", so he went to a clinic to get a few packets of Chinese medicine. However, after taking the medicine for a week, he developed symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and anuria, and was rushed to Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital by his family.
Later, David was diagnosed with renal failure (uremia) and required lifelong dialysis or a kidney transplant.