Insufficienza renale per 2 milioni di italiani. Ecco qualche consiglio.

Kidney failure is a silent disease, over 2 million Italians suffer from it unknowingly. We risk losing up to 90% of kidney function before having symptoms.

Early management is vital to prevent or slow down kidney damage (as well as serious cardiac events), which, if neglected, can lead to a transplant or ending up on dialysis. Pay even more attention if, in addition to high blood pressure, you also suffer from diabetes.

Blood pressure is the pressure of the blood in the arteries when it is pumped into the body by the heart. Blood pressure is constantly changing, higher when we get angry, excited, when we exercise, lower when we sleep.

Monitoring blood pressure is the first piece of advice. Better if always at the same time, perhaps in the morning.
Every year 12,000 Italians start dialysis; overall, dialysis patients exceed 60,000.

It would be enough to regularly measure your blood pressure and do a simple urine test to know the state of health of your kidneys.

A reduction in blood pressure is also associated with a 30% reduction in cardiovascular risk.

Some tips to keep your kidneys healthy:

Regular physical activity even a 3km walk a day would help the heart and kidneys, as well as keep belly fat under control.

Reduce phosphorus, present in cured meats, dried legumes, nuts, chocolate, brewer's yeast, shrimp and offal, egg yolk, flours and bran, unsweetened cocoa powder.

Reduce sodium present in brine (capers, olives, canned meats and fish), bouillon cubes and cheeses.

Smoking increases blood pressure and accelerates the aging of blood vessels, hindering circulation.

Reduce to a minimum the use of non-prescribed medications.

Monitor your weight and prefer a Mediterranean diet, which would reduce urinary acidity, and therefore the workload for the kidney. Include legumes at least twice a week (chickpeas, beans, fava beans, lentils, lupins, peas, soybeans) and fish; reduce the weekly frequency of animal proteins (meat, cold cuts, eggs, cheeses and dairy products), eliminate visible fat; use extra virgin olive oil, preferably raw.

Drink plenty of fluids, about two liters of water a day, also depending on physical activity, season, pregnancy, breastfeeding. Herbal teas and tea prepared at home with little sugar are fine.

Avoid fruit juices that contain sugars and additives (phosphates or potassium) harmful to the kidneys.

It is absolutely not easy, especially for food lovers.