The kidneys play a very important role in your body: they are responsible for eliminating waste products through the urine, producing hormones, and filtering toxins and additional fluids in the blood.
That is why you should take good care of your kidneys and try to keep them healthy. Unfortunately, some foods can harm them and affect their normal function if consumed in excess.
We made a list of the 6 most popular foods that can seriously harm your kidneys.
Kidney-damaging Foods
6. Avocados
Although avocados are popular and praised for their various nutritional qualities, eating too many can be dangerous to the kidneys, especially if you already have kidney disease. And the reason is that this fruit has a very high level of potassium.
Our bodies need this mineral, but too much potassium in the blood can cause serious problems, such as muscle cramps and an irregular heartbeat.
5. Meat
Eating too much meat can cause kidney problems because animal protein can be very difficult to metabolize, making the elimination of waste products a burden for the kidneys.
A diet rich in animal protein can also lead to the development of kidney stones. Meat stimulates the production of uric acid, which is one of the most common causes of kidney stones.
You can eat more vegetables and nuts instead and you’ll still get the proteins your body needs.
4. Bananas
If you suspect you have kidney problems, good nutrition and a proper diet are essential to staying healthy. And that means limiting the consumption of some foods, like bananas, because they have a very high level of potassium, which can be harmful to those whose kidneys are not working properly.
A healthy adult should eat 3,500 to 4,700 mg of potassium daily in food, and an average banana (150 g) already contains 537 mg.
But if you have kidney disease, your potassium intake should be lower, since your body cannot filter out the excess, which can lead to serious health problems.
3. Dairy Products
Although dairy products are rich in vitamins and nutrients, too much milk, yogurt, and cheese can do more harm than good. And this can happen due to the large amount of phosphorus contained in these foods that can cause kidney stress.
Also, if your kidneys are not fully functional, they will not be able to remove the extra phosphorous from your blood and this can lead to thin and weak bones over time and an increased risk of fractures.
2. Whole Wheat Bread
Whole wheat bread is healthy and nutritious, but when consumed in large quantities, especially in people with kidney problems, it can cause serious kidney damage. This is due to the high amounts of phosphorus and potassium that this type of bread contains.
A slice of whole wheat bread contains 81 mg of potassium and 57 mg of phosphorus, compared to a slice of white bread, which has only 37 mg of potassium and 35 mg of phosphorus.
1. Oranges and Orange Juice
Although oranges and orange juice are low in calories and rich in vitamin C, they also contain high levels of potassium. A medium orange provides 240 mg of potassium and a cup of orange juice can contain approximately 470 mg.
Given these numbers, the consumption of orange and orange juice should be limited, especially when you don’t have fully functional kidneys. If they cannot remove excess potassium from the blood, it can be very dangerous for your body.
Do you eat any of these foods in large quantities? Would it be difficult for you to limit your consumption? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
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