It’s all about the kidneys this month…because they need TLC too!
Kidney function can be improved or hampered by what you eat and drink. The kidney is a vital organ. It is one of the body’s ways of eliminating toxins from the blood stream. It also balances electrolytes, especially the main three: calcium, potassium and sodium. This balance is essential to the regulation of blood pressure, and maintaining the rhythm of the heartbeat. The kidney can increase red blood cell production, help synthesize vitamin D, regulate thyroid function, and balance the digestive process. In Chinese Medicine, it is said that Kidney Qi helps the brain, aids thyroid regulation, and strengthens the reproductive and endocrine systems. In Chinese medicine kidney meridian energy is the essence of being alive.
In the last year, three different cases showed me that kidney malfunction gives very few warning signs. In one case, the kidney had a tumor in it that gave occasional chest pains. One case had no symptoms until the tumors in the kidney had spread and became life- threatening. This patient is a doctor at a hospital and was feeling unwell at work, so then they started running tests. In another case, a young woman raising four small children, was told her kidneys were “damaged”. She was advised to just take the drugs and cope as well as could until the time came that she would need dialysis. This woman is the person who told me about the Chinese Kidney Cleanse Diet. She is now a grandmother and is doing very well.
There are certain foods and medicinal herbs that help kidney function and keep them clean and running smoothly. In general, a diet that nourishes your kidneys is one consisting of lots of clean water, dark green and bright colored vegetables and fruits, and a little meat.
There are a couple of terms that I’d like to define for you before I continue. When a food is nutrient dense it is also called a “super food”. That means it has more minerals, vitamins, and proteins, per ounce and per calorie than other foods. Often the term “anti-oxidant” is used; that means it has potential to nullify the negative effects of oxidation in the body, think ‘anti-rust’. For example, when fighting a cold virus, vitamin C will attach itself to the microorganisms and ‘burn them up’. Here is a simple list of foods that are good for kidneys: lettuce, endive, watercress, turnip, escarole, asparagus, alfalfa, spinach, kelp, spirulina, rye, oats, quinoa, amaranth, citrus peels, seaweeds, millet, barley, and beans (including black, blue, kidney, aduka, and lima). Celery, and celery juice, carrots, winter squash, mushrooms, lemon, cranberries, and cranberry juice, kuzu, watermelon, berries (including black, blue, and mulberries), potato, spirulina, chlorella, black sesame seeds, sardines, crab, clams, pork, cheese, sweet rice, barley, Gokshura, beets, seaweed, brown seaweed, and grapes,
There are many spices and herbs that support healthy kidney function. Cloves, fennel, anise, black peppercorn, ginger, cinnamon, burdock, and nettles are a few. Parsley reduces buildup of toxins in the kidneys and entire urinary tract. Marshmallow root is soothing, and calms tissues of the urinary tract. Dandelion root (or leaf) promotes waste elimination. Wheat berries, Chanca Piedra (also called ‘stone breaker’) are from South America. Goldenrod tones the urinary tract and detoxifies kidneys. Hydrangea root acts as a solvent to smooth the jagged edges of a kidney stone. Horsetail is an antioxidant that increases urine output (comes in a tea or capsule). Celery root is a natural diuretic, similar to Horsetail in effect. Gravel root is an astringent that can soothe and tone the urinary tract and cleanse the kidney.
Some sources said calcium was helpful because it would bind with oxalate and prevent stones, however, this seems counter-intuitive. I hesitate to give or use this advice. There are much better alternatives, like cleansing teas and kidney-healthy smoothies. Both of these
alternatives will typically contain the foods, herbs and spices already mentioned. One source recommended trying a lemon drink consisting of 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 tablespoons maple syrup, and 1/10th teaspoon cayenne pepper added to 2 cups pure water. Homemade smoothies should use coconut milk because it naturally replenishes electrolytes, then add the fruits and vegetables mentioned above. Maple syrup seems to be recommended over other forms of sweeteners, like honey or agave. One recipe for a kidney healthy smoothie is coconut milk with blueberries, celery, cranberries, greens powder and collagen protein powder.
FOODS TO AVOID includes all refined and processed foods, chocolate, refined sugar, white flour, table salt, white bread, alcohol, and caffeine.
BEHAVIORS TO AVOID
Microwaving food, overeating, and eating late, along with sudden, extreme dietary changes are not good for kidneys. A good strategy would be to gradually add more and more of the beneficial foods to your diet, while continuing to eat less and less of the foods that should be avoided. Cook food longer at lower temperatures, and chew it well. Raw food is not considered good for kidneys. Chinese medicine does not advocate a raw food diet. Cooking helps break down the cell walls of plants, enabling the nutrients to get out, becoming more absorbable. This is especially true when you consume the liquids that you cook the vegetables in. Focus on gratitude, a healing emotion you can develop and get better at with practice. Also address sources of anxiety or ambiguity.
There is a more detailed approach to kidney health in Chinese medicine. It uses symptom analysis and then suggests which of the above listed foods will be more beneficial. The Chinese have a basic principle of yin and yang (pronounced yawn). The simplest way to explain them is this: yin is considered cool, female, soft, gentle. Yang is hot, male, strong, and energetic. It’s one of the key ways that Chinese medicine uses as a way of looking at disease pathology. Following is an explanation
of the thought process that helps differentiate which diet will help the most.
When a kidney is yin deficient, it will have too much yang. The symptoms are dry mouth and throat, unexplained fever, lack of sexual desire, frequent urination, weak knees, pale complexion, low back pain, sciatica, insomnia, dizziness, anxiety and fear, ringing in the ears, hair loss, fragile bones, irritability, and forgetfulness, sometimes moving from one problem or place or relationship to the next without fixing the root issues. Cooling foods will help replenish the kidney yin. They include: millet, string beans, black, blue and kidney beans, melons (especially watermelon), tofu, water chestnut, potato, seaweed, pork, cheese, sardines, crab, clams, and eggs. There was no mention of salt restriction.
When a kidney is yang deficient it has too much yin. Symptoms include: sensitivity to cold, cold extremities, irregular menses, weak knees and low back, bone spurs, arthritis, mental lethargy, dry mouth with thirst, decreased libido, frequent urination, inability to sustain urination, edema, asthma, lack of willpower or productivity, and indecision. Foods that help this are fenugreek, fennel, anise seeds, onions, chives, turnip, scallions, leeks, beets, chicken, walnuts, black beans, ginger, cloves, cinnamon bark, lamb, trout, salmon, black peppercorn, miso, millet, quinoa, and endive. Severely limit raw foods, ‘cooling foods’, fruits, juices and excess salt. Kidneys know how to conserve salt. If you limit salt too much, the kidneys perceive there is a salt famine and will then conserve it too much. You will really be in a ‘salt-less’ pickle then.
Kidney function can be improved or hampered by what you eat and drink. The kidney is a vital organ. It is one of the body’s ways of eliminating toxins from the blood stream. It also balances electrolytes, especially the main three: calcium, potassium and sodium. This balance is essential to the regulation of blood pressure, and maintaining the rhythm of the heartbeat. The kidney can increase red blood cell production, help synthesize vitamin D, regulate thyroid function, and balance the digestive process. In Chinese Medicine, it is said that Kidney Qi helps the brain, aids thyroid regulation, and strengthens the reproductive and endocrine systems. In Chinese medicine kidney meridian energy is the essence of being alive.
In the last year, three different cases showed me that kidney malfunction gives very few warning signs. In one case, the kidney had a tumor in it that gave occasional chest pains. One case had no symptoms until the tumors in the kidney had spread and became life- threatening. This patient is a doctor at a hospital and was feeling unwell at work, so then they started running tests. In another case, a young woman raising four small children, was told her kidneys were “damaged”. She was advised to just take the drugs and cope as well as could until the time came that she would need dialysis. This woman is the person who told me about the Chinese Kidney Cleanse Diet. She is now a grandmother and is doing very well.
There are certain foods and medicinal herbs that help kidney function and keep them clean and running smoothly. In general, a diet that nourishes your kidneys is one consisting of lots of clean water, dark green and bright colored vegetables and fruits, and a little meat.
There are a couple of terms that I’d like to define for you before I continue. When a food is nutrient dense it is also called a “super food”. That means it has more minerals, vitamins, and proteins, per ounce and per calorie than other foods. Often the term “anti-oxidant” is used; that means it has potential to nullify the negative effects of oxidation in the body, think ‘anti-rust’. For example, when fighting a cold virus, vitamin C will attach itself to the microorganisms and ‘burn them up’. Here is a simple list of foods that are good for kidneys: lettuce, endive, watercress, turnip, escarole, asparagus, alfalfa, spinach, kelp, spirulina, rye, oats, quinoa, amaranth, citrus peels, seaweeds, millet, barley, and beans (including black, blue, kidney, aduka, and lima). Celery, and celery juice, carrots, winter squash, mushrooms, lemon, cranberries, and cranberry juice, kuzu, watermelon, berries (including black, blue, and mulberries), potato, spirulina, chlorella, black sesame seeds, sardines, crab, clams, pork, cheese, sweet rice, barley, Gokshura, beets, seaweed, brown seaweed, and grapes,
There are many spices and herbs that support healthy kidney function. Cloves, fennel, anise, black peppercorn, ginger, cinnamon, burdock, and nettles are a few. Parsley reduces buildup of toxins in the kidneys and entire urinary tract. Marshmallow root is soothing, and calms tissues of the urinary tract. Dandelion root (or leaf) promotes waste elimination. Wheat berries, Chanca Piedra (also called ‘stone breaker’) are from South America. Goldenrod tones the urinary tract and detoxifies kidneys. Hydrangea root acts as a solvent to smooth the jagged edges of a kidney stone. Horsetail is an antioxidant that increases urine output (comes in a tea or capsule). Celery root is a natural diuretic, similar to Horsetail in effect. Gravel root is an astringent that can soothe and tone the urinary tract and cleanse the kidney.
Some sources said calcium was helpful because it would bind with oxalate and prevent stones, however, this seems counter-intuitive. I hesitate to give or use this advice. There are much better alternatives, like cleansing teas and kidney-healthy smoothies. Both of these
alternatives will typically contain the foods, herbs and spices already mentioned. One source recommended trying a lemon drink consisting of 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 tablespoons maple syrup, and 1/10th teaspoon cayenne pepper added to 2 cups pure water. Homemade smoothies should use coconut milk because it naturally replenishes electrolytes, then add the fruits and vegetables mentioned above. Maple syrup seems to be recommended over other forms of sweeteners, like honey or agave. One recipe for a kidney healthy smoothie is coconut milk with blueberries, celery, cranberries, greens powder and collagen protein powder.
FOODS TO AVOID includes all refined and processed foods, chocolate, refined sugar, white flour, table salt, white bread, alcohol, and caffeine.
BEHAVIORS TO AVOID
Microwaving food, overeating, and eating late, along with sudden, extreme dietary changes are not good for kidneys. A good strategy would be to gradually add more and more of the beneficial foods to your diet, while continuing to eat less and less of the foods that should be avoided. Cook food longer at lower temperatures, and chew it well. Raw food is not considered good for kidneys. Chinese medicine does not advocate a raw food diet. Cooking helps break down the cell walls of plants, enabling the nutrients to get out, becoming more absorbable. This is especially true when you consume the liquids that you cook the vegetables in. Focus on gratitude, a healing emotion you can develop and get better at with practice. Also address sources of anxiety or ambiguity.
There is a more detailed approach to kidney health in Chinese medicine. It uses symptom analysis and then suggests which of the above listed foods will be more beneficial. The Chinese have a basic principle of yin and yang (pronounced yawn). The simplest way to explain them is this: yin is considered cool, female, soft, gentle. Yang is hot, male, strong, and energetic. It’s one of the key ways that Chinese medicine uses as a way of looking at disease pathology. Following is an explanation
of the thought process that helps differentiate which diet will help the most.
When a kidney is yin deficient, it will have too much yang. The symptoms are dry mouth and throat, unexplained fever, lack of sexual desire, frequent urination, weak knees, pale complexion, low back pain, sciatica, insomnia, dizziness, anxiety and fear, ringing in the ears, hair loss, fragile bones, irritability, and forgetfulness, sometimes moving from one problem or place or relationship to the next without fixing the root issues. Cooling foods will help replenish the kidney yin. They include: millet, string beans, black, blue and kidney beans, melons (especially watermelon), tofu, water chestnut, potato, seaweed, pork, cheese, sardines, crab, clams, and eggs. There was no mention of salt restriction.
When a kidney is yang deficient it has too much yin. Symptoms include: sensitivity to cold, cold extremities, irregular menses, weak knees and low back, bone spurs, arthritis, mental lethargy, dry mouth with thirst, decreased libido, frequent urination, inability to sustain urination, edema, asthma, lack of willpower or productivity, and indecision. Foods that help this are fenugreek, fennel, anise seeds, onions, chives, turnip, scallions, leeks, beets, chicken, walnuts, black beans, ginger, cloves, cinnamon bark, lamb, trout, salmon, black peppercorn, miso, millet, quinoa, and endive. Severely limit raw foods, ‘cooling foods’, fruits, juices and excess salt. Kidneys know how to conserve salt. If you limit salt too much, the kidneys perceive there is a salt famine and will then conserve it too much. You will really be in a ‘salt-less’ pickle then.