Doctor: 3 foods that help improve kidney function

The kidneys play an important role in the body, filtering waste from the blood.

Kidney health is important because they filter waste and excess fluid from the blood, maintain fluid and electrolyte balance, and regulate blood pressure. What we eat has a significant impact on kidney health.

An American nutritionist has shared three foods that can improve kidney function.

Dr. Eric Berg, MD, director of Dr. Berg's Nutritionals, health educator and bestselling author, suggests adding cucumbers to your diet to stay hydrated and help flush out waste. Lemons help reduce the risk of kidney stones and lower uric acid. Parsley improves kidney function and has the ability to prevent kidney-related disorders, according to the Times of India.

Cucumber and its kidney benefits you should not ignore in your daily diet

These 3 foods can help improve kidney function

ILLUSTRATION: AI

Staying hydrated is important for kidney health. Dr. Berg suggests adding cucumbers to your diet. Cucumbers are 95 percent water, which means they provide extra hydration. This water content can help flush waste products from the kidneys, like creatinine and uric acid.

Cucumbers are rich in water and low in calories, so you can eat as much as you like.

Lemon

Second on the list is lemon. Lemon juice can boost kidney function.

The high vitamin C and citrate content in lemons plays an important role in reducing the risk of kidney stones. Studies have shown that drinking half a glass of lemon juice every day can increase citrate in the urine and reduce the risk of kidney stones. Regularly drinking lemon juice can also help reduce uric acid levels. When high, this substance can contribute to stress on the kidneys.

However, people with acid reflux or sensitive stomachs should consult their doctor before including lemon in their daily diet.

Parsley

This herb is actually protective of the kidneys. The antioxidant properties of parsley help reduce oxidative stress, which is a very important factor in kidney disease. Parsley contains several flavonoids, such as apigenin, luteolin, and quercetin, which are known for their powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. A 2024 study found that these properties give parsley the ability to reduce oxidative stress, improving kidney function.

This vegetable also has the potential to prevent and control kidney-related disorders, infections, and other chronic diseases associated with oxidative damage and inflammation.

Another 2017 study found that rats with kidney stones who were treated with parsley had reduced urinary calcium and protein excretion. Those who were fed parsley regularly and consistently had increased urinary pH and increased urine output, according to the Times of India.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/bac-si-3-loai-thuc-pham-giup-cai-thien-chuc-nang-than-185250810192120486.htm