Best ways to protect your kidneys:

Best ways to protect your kidneys:

• Limit your salt intake. Too much salt is not only bad for your blood pressure, it’s also bad for your kidneys. Many Filipinos die of kidney disease, which can be partly attributed to our high salt intake and fondness for fish sauce, soy sauce, bagoong, plain salt and salted fish. Salt may also cause kidney stone formation.

• Don’t load up on high protein foods. Dr. Montemayor explains that too much protein makes the kidneys work twice as hard. A friendly reminder to people on a high-protein diet. Don’t overwork your kidneys. Eat a balanced diet of rice, vegetables, fish and fruits and you can’t go wrong.

• Keep your blood pressure at 130/80 or lower.

• Keep your blood sugar below 120 mg/dl.

• Drink eight glasses of water a day. Drinking enough water prevents the formation of kidney stones, a painful condition, which if left untreated, can also lead to kidney failure.

• Watch your intake of pain relievers and other drugs. Dr. Montemayor says that taking pain relievers for a prolonged period of time may cause kidney damage.

• Be careful with tests and procedures using contrast dyes. Some tests, like CT Scans and MRIs, use a contrast dye, which may harm the kidneys. Consult your doctor first.

• Don’t drink too much vitamin C. Too much vitamin C (ascorbic acid) can lead to the formation of kidney stones in predisposed individuals. According to Dr. Montemayor, if you need to take vitamin C, a dose of 500 mg a day is safer.

• Take your maintenance medicines as ordered by your doctor.

• Get a kidney check-up. Simple tests, such as a complete blood count, BUN and creatinine, and a urinalysis are the first screening tests for the kidneys.