According to the Italian Society of Nephrology, one in ten Italians would suffer from kidney disease without realizing it. The kidneys are said to be subtle organs, in the sense that their malfunction is not always evident. It is important, as with other diseases, to undergo periodic screening for prevention. The kidneys are between 10 and 12 centimeters large, weigh about 160 grams and are shaped like a red bean. They are essential for the purification of the body as they filter the blood by eliminating all waste substances through the urine.
To keep your kidneys healthy and avoid stone formation it would be advisable to follow these tips and choose this water to drink
A blood test that might be done as part of routine tests is creatinine. The cost is between 2 and 5 euros and allows you to highlight kidney function. Of course, the treating doctor will have to prescribe and recommend the tests that are most appropriate to perform.
The kidneys also perform many other functions: from the production of certain hormones that stimulate the formation of red blood cells to the regulation of blood pressure.
In order for the kidneys to function well and for as long as possible, a healthy lifestyle should be followed. The first prevention comes from the eating style. It may be helpful to set a diet low in protein, sodium and phosphorus. Animal proteins should mostly be avoided, preferring vegetable ones, to be consumed in any case in a measured way. To limit the intake of phosphorus, the consumption of cured meats, dried legumes, flours, bran and egg yolk could be reduced.
To decrease the phosphorus content, it may be useful to keep food in the refrigerator for about 8 hours before cooking. By boiling them and changing the water halfway through cooking, you could further reduce the amount of phosphorus they contain. To decrease sodium intake, it may be useful to prefer spices to flavor and limit the consumption of meats, cheeses and pickled foods.
A proper lifestyle could preserve the kidneys
In addition to nutrition, another factor that would help keep the kidneys clean and protect us from stone formation is an abundant consumption of water. You should drink at least 2 liters of water a day, even from the tap. Herbal teas made from birch, bearberry, cranberry, and horsetail may also help. In particular, the cranberry seems to be able to prevent the adhesion of bacteria to the walls of the bladder. This action would be useful to protect against urinary tract infections that could also affect the kidneys.
Let’s see which waters would seem more recommended for those suffering from kidney stones or for those who would like to prevent it. You should choose a minimally mineralized, that is, light water. By way of example we mention the Sant’Anna, Fontenoce, Fiuggi and Lauretana water. However, the Istituto Superiore di Sanità pointed out that the consumption of tap water would not favor the formation of stones.
Therefore, to keep your kidneys healthy, you should pay attention to nutrition, promote abundant hydration and do moderate physical activity.
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