7 WORST Foods That Are DESTROYING Your Unhealthy KIDNEYS!

 Kidneys are vital organs that filter out waste and toxins from your blood but did you know that what you eat can have a huge impact on your kidney health, some foods can help protect your kidneys and prevent further damage while others can strain your kidneys and worsen your condition by increasing your risk of complications:

1. Dark colored sodas you may think that drinking a can of soda is harmless but little did you know that it can contain phosphorus additives that can damage your kidneys. Phosphorus is a mineral that helps build strong bones and teeth but when you have kidney disease your kidneys can't remove excess phosphorus from your blood this can cause calcium to get away from your bones and deposit in other parts of your body such as your blood vessels, heart, and lungs which may clog your arteries and increase your risk of heart disease and stroke. You may think that drinking caffeine-free or Diet versions of dark sodas would be better but that's not the case, the problem is not the caffeine or the sugar but the phosphorous additives that are used to enhance the flavor and color of these drinks these additives are more easily absorbed by your body than natural phosphorus found in foods like meat dairy or beans so if you must drink if you have kidney disease I would rather suggest water this is always a good choice as it helps keep you hydrated and flushes out toxins from your body, you can also drink clear sodas like Sprite or seven up as they contain much less phosphorus than dark ones 

2. Avocados: Avocados are a creamy-looking delicious and nutritious fruit that can be harmful to people with kidney disease, this is because avocados are high in potassium a mineral that helps to regulate your blood pressure, nerve function, and muscle contractions. Potassium is usually good for your health but if your kidneys are not working well they cannot remove excess potassium from your blood which may lead to high potassium levels causing serious problems like irregular heartbeat, muscle weakness, and even cardiac arrest. 

The National Kidney Foundation advises people with kidney disease to limit their potassium intake to less than 2,000 milligrams per day and one average-sized avocado has about 690 mg of potassium which is about 35% of the daily intake, for people with kidney disease just watch your portion in size and balance it with other low potassium foods. Also, you can try to lower the potassium content by peeling and chopping the avocado by placing it in a bowl of water for 2 hours then drain the water and use the avocado as desired this may reduce the potassium content by up to 50% 

3. Red meat such as beef, lamb, and pork is a rich source of protein that many people enjoy however it also contains a lot of acid that your kidneys have to work hard to remove from your blood. When your kidneys are damaged they cannot filter out this acid as well as they should which can lead to a condition called acidosis worsening your kidney function or causing other health problems. Eating too much red meat can also increase your risk of developing end-stage renal disease which is the most severe form of kidney failure that requires dialysis or transplant.

So what you can do to protect your kidneys and still get enough protein is to choose plant-based sources of protein such as soy and legumes which are low in acid and high in fiber and antioxidants, these foods can help lower your blood pressure cholesterol, and blood sugar levels which are all important for Kidney Health but if you still want to eat some meat you can opt for fish or shellfish which are high in omega-3 fatty acids that can reduce inflammation and improve blood flow to your kidneys. Also, you can have some poultry such as chicken or turkey which are leaner and lower in acid than red meat 

4. Banana: Bananas are sweet and satisfying fruit also high in potassium and as we've already learned when your kidneys are damaged they cannot remove excess potassium from your blood this can cause a condition called hyperemia which means high potassium levels in your blood. 

Hyper Camina can cause serious problems for your heart and muscles making you feel weak, tired, and nauseous, or even cause irregular heartbeats or Cardiac Arrest, that's why people with kidney disease need to limit their potassium intake and avoid foods that are high in potassium such as bananas because a medium-sized banana contains about 422 mg of potassium that means one banana can provide more than 20% of their daily limit of potassium if you have kidney disease so instead of bananas many fruits are low in potassium and still provide vitamins antioxidants and fiber some are apples, berries, grapes, pineapples watermelon, and peaches.

5. Spinach: Spinach is a leafy green vegetable that's rich in many nutrients such as Vitamin A vitamin C iron and folate however spinach also has its downside it's high in oxalate a compound that can form kidney stones. In some people, kidney stones are formed through hard deposits of minerals and salts in the urinary tract which can cause severe pain, blood in the urine, nausea vomiting, and infection. Some kidney stones are made of calcium oxalate which is the most common type when you eat foods that are high in oxalate such as spinach your body absorbs some of it and excretes the rest in your urine.

If your urine is too concentrated or acidic the oxalate can bind with calcium and form crystals that grow into Stones, people with kidney disease are more likely to develop kidney stones because their kidneys are not working well enough to filter out the excess minerals and fluids from their blood this can lead to high levels of calcium and oxalate in their urine which increases the risk of stone formation.

It does not necessarily mean that people with kidney disease should avoid spinach completely, spinach can still be part of a healthy diet if you eat it in moderation and balance it with other foods that are low in oxalate and high in calcium such as apples grapes carrots lettuce cabbage and cauliflower.

6. Processed Meats: Processed meats are either preserved by smoking, currying, salting, or adding chemicals bacon, ham sausage, hot dogs, salami and deli meats are all examples of processed meats that are bad for your kidneys. Almost all processed meats are one of the highest sodium foods you can eat. Sodium is a mineral that helps balance the fluids in your body but too much sodium can cause fluid retention, swelling, high blood pressure, and put extra strain on your kidneys which can severely damage them over time. People with kidney disease should limit their sodium intake to less than 2,000 milligrams per day however one serving of processed meat can contain up to 1,000 Mig of sodium or more than processed meats which are high in phosphorus a mineral that your kidneys have trouble filtering when they are damaged. Finally, they are high in animal protein which produces high amounts of acid in your blood that can damage your kidneys and cause acidosis, if you have kidney disease you should limit or avoid processed meats as much as possible. You can instead eat fresh or frozen lean meats that have not been preserved or flavored some are chicken breast, turkey breast, fish fillet, or pork loin.

7. Tomatoes: Tomatoes are a juicy delicious and versatile food that is high in potassium, kidneys may not be able to filter it out from your blood if you have kidney disease. The amount of potassium in medium tomato is about 290 mg of potassium 1 cup of tomato sauce has about 900 mg of potassium and one cup of tomato soup has about 700 mg of potassium which means eating just one serving of tomato sauce or soup can take up approximately half of your daily potassium intake if you have kidney disease that means you have to avoid Tomatoes completely well not necessarily you can still enjoy small amounts of tomatoes but make sure to choose fresh or canned tomatoes without salt added, you can limit your portion size to 1/4 of tomato or 2 tablespoons of tomato sauce or paste and always drain and rinse canned tomatoes to remove some of the potassium.