What You Can Do For Kidney Disease

According to the National Kidney Foundation, the two primary risk factors for kidney disease are high blood pressure and diabetes.
Elevated blood sugars can damage many organs in the body, including the kidneys, and high blood pressure puts added stress on not just the blood vessels but the kidneys as well. Another factor, which is more predictable and fairly evident very early in life, is polycystic kidney disease, which manifests as blood in the urine during a standard lab test and is inherited. 

If you've been diagnosed with kidney disease, short of dialysis at the end stage, the only treatment is with diet, exercise and controlling any concomitant factors, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, with prescription medications if necessary. Although it may sound counter-intuitive, drinking a lot of water will flush out the kidneys and help to keep them functioning properly. Avoid foods high in potassium, such as bananas, potatoes and avocados, and limit your use of over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications, such as naproxyn and ibuprofen, which can stress the kidneys. Try to follow a low-protein diet, especially if you have a history of kidney stones or gout. And exercise is just an all-around good idea to maintain an ideal weight, elevate the mood and regulate blood sugar levels.

One surprising fact about kidney disease is that those diagnosed with the condition generally die of heart disease rather than renal failure. With this in mind, one of the first indicators of end-stage kidney disease is anemia, which can ultimately damage the heart.  Have your iron levels checked and invest in a high-quality supplement, such as the one from Integrative Therapeutics and their Energizing Iron Softgels derived from beef raised in Argentina without antibiotics. Integrative Therapeutics also offers their Iron Complex supplement in a softgel formula made with liquid liver fractions to prevent nausea. 

To prevent the damaging effects of free radicals on the heart, consider L-carnitine, a naturally-occurring amino acid produced by the kidneys and known for its antioxidant properties. With compromised kidney function, you may not be getting the full benefit of this heart-protecting substance so a nutritional supplement may be in order. NOW offers L-carnitine in both vegetarian capsules and a powder that's also vegan-friendly. Just a 1/4-teaspoon taken daily of the powder can give you increased cognitive and cardiac support, and NOW's L-carnitine capsules
work at the cellular level to effectively transform fat into energy, which is always a good thing.