Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Kidney Health Part 4 Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Dialysis I wanted to talk about dialysis because in my experience it is one of the topics that people have the most questions about. If you can recall in part 1 of kidney health, I talked …
Kidney Health Part 3 Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND In this blog on kidney health, I will be reviewing polycystic kidney disease (PKD), chronic kidney disease (CKD) and even kidney failure. The reason I have for putting these 3 disorders in one blog is that …
Kidneys Part 2
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
In the first part of our discussion on kidney health we reviewed basic information such as what the kidneys do for us and tests that can measure our kidney health. (1) In this blog we will review the things that can go wrong with our kidney health. So, without further ado let’s get into it, shall we?
What are the most common complications that can occur when it comes to our kidney health? Well one of the most well-known complications is the development of kidney stones. Kidney stones are exactly what they sound like, solid masses or rocks that form in the kidneys. These stones are much more common than you might expect. In fact, approximately 1 in 10 people will have a kidney stone sometime in their lifetime. But just what are these stones made of? There are 4 types of stones, and the type is determined by what they are made up of. Calcium-oxalate and calcium phosphate form from a high oxalate or low calcium diet especially when you are not drinking enough water. These are the most common forms of stones. Uric acid stones can form from animal proteins which can increase uric acid. Struvite stones are associated with bacterial infections. Lastly cysteine stones form when you have an inherited condition that makes you form them. One of the most common reasons that kidney stones form in general is NOT drinking enough water. Having a family history of kidney stones also can increase your risk. Diet-wise eating a diet high in meat/ protein, salt and sugar can increase your risk. Taking high dose vitamin C and even certain medications can be a risk factor for stones. Having certain medical conditions or having any stomach/intestinal surgery can also increase the risk for stones. Lastly, having a blockage in your kidney can lead to the development of stones.
When you have kidney stones you may experience nausea/vomiting and fever/ chills. You may feel an urge to urinate but be unable to or if you do urinate there may be pain. Your urine may be bloody, cloudy, or foul smelling. Smaller stones will have fewer symptoms. (2)
Another common complication is the occurrence of kidney infections. Approximately 1 in 2000 people get a kidney infection every year in the US. Risk factors for kidney infections include anything that keeps the urine in the urinary tract and allows bacteria to grow and back up into the kidneys. For example, pressure on the bladder during pregnancy, uterine prolapse, enlarged prostate and even kidney stones. If you have vesicoureteral reflux, it increases the risk of an infection. Certain conditions such as diabetes can increase your risk. The symptoms are the same as listed for kidney stones. (3)
You can also develop kidney cancer. Each year more than 62,000 Americans are diagnosed with kidney cancer. Kidney cancer is approximately 3.7% of all cancers in the US. Risk factors include a family history, radiation therapy, gene mutations and even long-term dialysis. Obesity and high blood pressure are also risk factors. Smoking is another risk factor. Certain genetic disorders can also increase the risk of cancer. In addition to the symptoms of kidney stones you may have a lump in your kidney area. You may also feel fatigue, an overall feeling of not feeling well, flank or bone pain and even have a loss of appetite and weight loss. You may develop high blood pressure. Lastly you may become anemic. (4)
Another condition you may have heard of is the development of kidney cysts. These are small, fluid filled or solid pouches that form on the kidneys. (5) I will talk more about these when I review polycystic kidney disease in my next blog.
Other conditions that can affect the kidney include diabetes related nephropathy or hypertensive nephropathy. There is also proteinuria and uremia. (1) While there are other conditions that can affect the kidney I wanted to focus on these since they are the most frequently asked about.
Our next blog will be talking about Polycystic kidney disease, chronic kidney disease and kidney failure. For some supplements that are helpful for both the liver and kidneys look at my blog Liver and Kidney intermission. It talks about such supplements as NAC, L Carnosine, Milk Thistle and even Resveratrol!
Sources:
PRIMARY FOOD, LIFESTYLE AND OUR HEALTH~JOY by: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT “The best way to choose what to keep and what to throw away is to take each item in one’s hand and ask: ‘Does this spark joy?’ If it does, keep it. …
Prozyme Digest Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND As a Naturopathic doctor I find myself often recommending that people use a probiotic and a digestive enzyme. These each have many benefits for our health. That is why I have chosen to highlight a product that contains …
PRIMARY FOOD, LIFESTYLE AND OUR HEALTH~HOME COOKING
by: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT
What if I told you that there is a secret to reducing calories, eating better and even reducing the risk of heart disease, obesity, and diabetes? Well, the secret is simple, and proven…. It is HOME COOKING. Knowing the importance of home cooking and introducing easy recipes each day can set you up for a lifetime of success.
The health benefits of home cooking are undeniable and even supported in articles from both Harvard Medical School and Johns Hopkins. Those that incorporate home cooking eat better and consume less calories than those that frequent restaurants, consume fast food or use prepackaged convenience foods. Home cooking allows us to also reduce sugar and fat, which can help to lower the risk of such health-related issues like type-2 diabetes and heart disease.
It can be quite easy to incorporate healthy home cooking into each day. Whether you start with a few meals a week or most of the week, as you can see by the sample full day menu below, it is easy, healthy and quite delicious.
PUMPKIN PIE SMOOTHIE (breakfast)
1 cup water
1 cup ice
1/2 cup Pure Pumpkin Puree
1/2 Banana
1 Tablespoon Heavy Cream
2 scoops Whey Protein Powder or 1 scoop Plant Protein
2 scoops Collagen Hx
1 Probiotic Hx (contents of capsule)
1/2 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice
1/4 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until well combined and smooth. Pour into a glass and enjoy!
Serves 1
THANKSGIVING SALAD (lunch)
1 cup chopped Kale.
1 cup Arugula
1/2 cup Roasted Turkey Breast (fresh, not deli meat)
1/2 cup Roasted Butternut Squash (diced)
1/2 cup Sauteed or Roasted Brussell Sprouts (quartered or shredded)
1/4 cup Roasted Corn
1/4 cup Diced Apple
1 oz Goat Cheese (break up into small bite-sized pieces)
DRESSING
2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Tablespoon Red Wine Vinegar
1 scoop Beets Hx
1/2 teaspoon Rosemary
Sea Salt and Fresh Cracked Pepper to taste
In a large bowl, toss the kale and arugula together. Add remaining salad ingredients and set aside.
Now, in a small bowl or cup, add all dressing ingredients. Mix until well combined. Pour onto salad and toss until salad is mixed and coated with dressing. Eat and enjoy!
Serves 1
MASTERFUL COD AND VEGGIES (dinner)
2- 4oz pieces of Cod Fish (cleaned and deboned)
1 Lemon
¼ cup + 2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 cup Grape Tomatoes halved long way.
2 scoops Greens Hx
1 container Cauliflower Rice
4 capsules Aged Garlic (contents only)
1 cup Shiitake Mushrooms, sliced.
1 cup Maitake Mushrooms, sliced.
2 Tablespoons Heavy Cream, Milk or Milk Alternative
2 capsules Mushroom Hx (contents only)
Sea Salt
Fresh cracked Black Pepper
Pre-heat oven to 375′. Rinse off fish and place each filet on a piece of parchment paper. Lightly season with salt and pepper. Set it aside. In a small bowl combine the juice and zest of the lemon, ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil and Greens Hx and mix until well combined. Spread mixture evenly over each piece of fish and top each with half the tomatoes. Wrap in the parchment to make a package as a cooking vessel. Place on to cookie sheet and bake for 20 minutes.
While fish is cooking, heat 1 Tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil over medium-high heat in a large pan. Add the cauliflower rice and season with sea salt, fresh black pepper, and the contents of 4 Aged Garlic capsules. Sauté and stir occasionally until tender.
Once you have started the cauliflower, heat 1 Tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil over medium-high heat in a medium pan. Add the mushrooms and sauté for 2 minutes. Add cream/milk, contents of Mushroom Hx capsules and a pinch of sea salt and black pepper. Stir until well combined and reduce to medium heat.
Once the fish is cooked and vegetables are tender, split the cauliflower rice and creamy mushrooms between two plates. Add the fish and spoon the tomatoes and sauce over the fish. Eat and enjoy!
Serves 2
Incorporating easy home cooked meals can be simple. How will you plan to include home cooked meals in your weekly wellness plan? Happy Cooking!!
www.health.harvard.edu/blog/home-cooking-good-for-your-health-2018081514449
clf.jhsph.edu/about-us/news/news-2014/study-suggests-home-cooking-main-ingredient-healthier-diet.
