Issue #14 (Monthly Online Newsletter)
The Kidney
The kidneys, each about the size of a fist, play three major roles:
- removing waste products from the body, keeping toxins from building up in the bloodstream
- producing hormones that control other body functions (regulating blood pressure & producing red blood cells)
- regulating the levels of minerals or electrolytes (e.g., sodium, calcium, and potassium) and fluid in the body
After the blood has circulated through the body, it passes into the kidneys. The kidneys filter waste products and excess salt and water out of the blood, and pass these out of the body as urine. The kidneys also make hormones that control blood pressure, as well as maintain bone metabolism and the production of red blood cells. It’s a serious problem when the kidneys stop working. Waste products that build up in the body cause imbalances in chemicals needed to keep the body functioning smoothly.
It is estimated that 11.5% of adults over 20 have physiological evidence of chronic kidney disease and 15.7% of those under treatment die!
There are many different types of kidney diseases: Kidney diseases can lead to end-stage renal disease (ESRD), a condition in which the kidneys fail to work normally. People with kidney failure need to receive dialysis or a kidney transplant. Kidney disease describes a variety of disease and disorders that affect the kidneys. Most disease of the kidney attack the filtering units of the kidneys—the nephrons—and damage their ability to eliminate wastes and excess fluids. Usually, kidney disease starts slowly and silently, and progresses over a number of years. Sometimes kidney failure occurs rapidly and this is called acute kidney failure. This may be a result of injury, infection, or other causes. For acute kidney failure, dialysis treatment may be urgently needed for a period of time, but kidney function often recovers.
Causes of Kidney Disease: The most common causes of kidney disease include diabetes, high blood pressure, and hardening of the arteries (which damage the blood vessels in the kidney). Other common causes of kidney failure include certain medications that can be toxic to kidney tissue, and blockages of the system that drains the kidneys (which can occur with prostate problems).
The symptoms of kidney disease depend on the type of disease that a person has. If the disease is caused by a bacterial infection, the person will develop a high fever. Other signs of kidney disease include passing too much or too little urine, or passing blood or abnormal levels of chemicals in the urine. Mild to moderate kidney disease often does not have any symptoms. However, in ERSD or uremia, when the toxins accumulate in a person’s blood, symptoms may include:
- puffy eyes, hands, and feet (called edema)
- high blood pressure
- fatigue
- shortness of breath
- loss of appetite
- nausea and vomiting
- thirst
- a bad taste in the mouth or bad breath
- weight loss
- generalized, persistent itchy skin
- muscle twitching or cramping
- a yellowish-brown tint to the skin
- urine that is cloudy or tea-coloured
Kidney disease can lead to both acute and chronic kidney failure, both of which can be life-threatening. Acute kidney failures happen suddenly within hours to days, whereas chronic kidney failure happens gradually over a period of months to years. Acute kidney failure can often be reversed if the underlying disease is treated. In both conditions, the kidneys shut down and can no longer filter wastes or excess water out of the blood. As a result, poisons start to build up in the blood and cause various complications that can affect various body systems.
Wellness is a state of physical, mental and social well-being. Factors that help achieve wellness include:
- A well-balanced diet
- Regular physical activity (ideally 45-60 minutes four to five times per week)
- Good blood pressure control
- Good blood glucose control if you have diabetes
- Stopping smoking
- Managing anemia (maintaining a normal blood count)
- Weight control
- Limiting daily alcohol to two drinks or less
Healthy Foods for People with Kidney Disease
(By DaVita renal dietitian, Sara Colman, RD, CSR, CDE)
• Red bell peppers: Red bell peppers are low in potassium and high in flavor, but that’s not the only reason they’re perfect for the renal diet. These tasty vegetables are also an excellent source of vitamin C and vitamin A, as well as vitamin B6, folic acid and fiber.
• Cabbage: A cruciferous vegetable, cabbage is packed full of phytochemicals, chemical compounds in fruit or vegetables that break up free radicals before they can do damage. High in vitamin K, vitamin C and fiber, cabbage is also a good source of vitamin B6 and folic acid. Low in potassium and low in cost, it’s an affordable addition to the kidney diet.
• Cauliflower: another cruciferous vegetable, cauliflower is high in vitamin C and a good source of folate and fiber.
• Garlic: helps prevent plaque from forming on your teeth, lowers cholesterol and reduces inflammation.
• Onions: a member of the Allium family and a basic flavoring in many cooked dishes, contains sulfur compounds which give it its pungent smell. But in addition to making you cry, onions are also rich in flavonoids, especially quercetin. Onions are low in potassium and a good source of chromium, a mineral that helps with carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism.
• Apples: High in fiber and anti-inflammatory compounds, an apple a day may really keep the doctor away.
• Berries: high in antioxidant phytonutrients which give them their blue color. Blueberries are a good source of vitamin C, manganese, a compound that keeps your bones healthy, and fiber. Raspberries: contain antioxidants which give them their red color. An excellent source of manganese, vitamin C, fiber and folate, a B vitamin. Strawberries: are rich in two types of phenols: anthocyanins and ellagitannins. Anthocyananins are what give strawberries their red color and are powerful antioxidants that help protect body cell structures and prevent oxidative damage. Strawberries are an excellent source of vitamin C and manganese and a very good source of fiber.
• Cherries: They are packed with antioxidants and phytochemicals that protect the heart.
• Red grapes: contain several flavonoids that give them their reddish color. Resveratrol, a flavonoid found in grapes, may also stimulate production of nitric oxide which helps relax muscle cells in the blood vessels to increase blood flow.
• Olive oil: is a great source of oleic acid, an anti-inflammatory fatty acid. The monounsaturated fat in olive oil protects against oxidation.
Some of the information from this article was found on the Kidney & Liver Associations websites.
French Onion Soup
I like to use my slow cooker to make my soups so you can leave them to cook while you are out for the day but if you have time then you can make this soup easily on the stove top in 1 hour.
Sauté the following in a wok or frying pan:
- 6 to 8 onions thinly sliced lengthways
- ¼ cup water
- 3 to 5 garlic cloves chopped finely
Add the following to the slow cooker on high:
- 6 cups distilled water (this can be water from cooked vegetables)
- onion mixture
- 2 tbsp. organic soy sauce
- 1 tsp. sea salt to taste
- 1 tsp. cayenne pepper (for those who like it hot)
Leave in the slow cooker on high for 2-4 hours or leave it for the whole day on low
Multi Grain Croutons:
These can be made with any bread; such as whole wheat, flax seed, and sunflower. Cut the bread into thick slices then cubes (you will need ½ cup cubes per person) Place the cubes of bread on a cookie sheet and bake in a 200º F oven until they are crisp.
When you are ready to serve the soup, put the following in each soup bowl:
- 1½ cups hot onion soup
- ¼ cup croutons
- ¼ cup shredded rice cheese
This can be put under the broiler for a few minutes to melt the cheese, serve hot.
Serving suggestions: Since this soup is a cooked food it would be good to add a raw salad or an open faced raw sandwich as part of your meal.
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