Kidneys love fruit
Since March is National Kidney Month, give these amazing filters something they really want: fruit! Kidneys are even shaped like beans, so give them veggies too!
Your two kidneys are each about the size of your fist, located just below the rib cage, one on each side of the spine, says the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Healthy kidneys filter about one half cup of blood every minute, eliminating wastes and extra water to make urine. Urine flows from the kidneys to storage in the bladder.
In addition to waste and extra fluid, your kidneys remove acid, plus maintain a balance of water, salts, and minerals in your blood. The NIH says that without this balance, your nerves, muscles and tissues may not function properly. And that’s not all. The kidneys release hormones that regulate blood pressure, make red blood cells, and keep your bones strong.
You might ask a Juice Therapist, so how do you keep your kidneys strong? Some recipes for a juice cleanse can include superfoods that contain antioxidants that neutralize and protect the body, including red peppers, cabbage, cauliflower, garlic, onions, apples, cranberries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, cherries, and red grapes. An easy way to consume more superfood nutrition is by doing juice therapy and enjoying them daily.
If you do have kidney disease, your doctor may advise seeing a registered dietician for “medical nutrition therapy.” Food impacts your kidney, so getting proper nutrition is key for kidney health. Some macronutrients that are beneficial for a healthy person, may no longer be as good for kidney disease patients, such as protein. This is where the benefits of a juice cleanse can come in.
Protein is a powerhouse helping heal wounds and build muscle, bone, skin, connective tissue, internal organs, and blood. But the NIH adds that proteins break down into waste products that the kidneys must remove from the blood. Eating more protein than the body can handle burdens the kidneys, and can lead to problems for people suffering from kidney problems.
Lower-potassium fruits and vegetables are good choices for kidney restrictive diets, including apples, apple juice, berries, plums, pineapples, and cabbage. While potassium is good for the heart and muscles, problems develop if the levels get too high or low. Damaged kidneys allow potassium to build up, so high-potassium foods including bananas, potatoes, and avocados are discouraged.
Want to learn more about how juice therapy can help you? Download your free copy of Evie’s Enlivening Juice List featuring my enlightened list of juicing essentials plus some of my favorite recipes.