Last Updated on February 23, 2020
While we are on the subject of fruit, it is worth remembering that bananas also contain an incredibly high amount of potassium!
5. Junk food
Junk food is unhealthy food. Therefore, it should only be eaten every once in a while. The average fast food meal contains several different foods that are unhealthy for the kidneys. Let’s use the typical MacDonald’s menu (burger, coke, and French fries) as an example.
Coke: besides the high amount of processed sugar and calories, coke also contains additives to enhance flavor, prevent discoloration, and prolong shelf life. Among those additives is phosphorus. It is especially dangerous because when used as an additive, phosphorus is not bound to any protein and for that reason is quickly absorbed by the intestinal tract in the form of salt.
Bacon: everybody knows that processed meat can’t be described as healthy food. It contains large amounts of salt to preserve flavor and is very high on protein.
Meat: animal protein is more difficult to metabolize and requires your kidneys to work extra hard to eliminate its waste products. Meat also contains a high amount of purines, which is one of the main causes of kidney stones.
Pickles: all pickled foods are excessively high on sodium because of their production process. Salt is also used to make them taste less bitter.
Tomatoes: because they are high on potassium, people with renal problems shouldn’t eat tomatoes very often.
Potatoes: just like tomatoes, potatoes also contain a high amount of potassium; a baked potato with 100 g has about 400 mg of potassium.
Cheese: you have already heard enough about dairy products, right?
All this combined makes junk food a poor choice for your kidneys. Not to mention all the other negative impacts on your overall effects which we have ended up leaving out of this discussion.
Signs of kidney damage include a reduced amount of urine, swelling of legs, ankles, and feet, nausea, shortness of breath, confusion, chest pain, fatigue, and seizures.
If you notice any of these symptoms, please schedule an appointment with your doctor to be properly diagnosed. As you can see, people with kidney problems should take a lot of precautions, starting with the diet. Your doctor can help you set a healthy diet taking into account your specific needs.
