developing life-threatening complications from COVID-19 makes it even more important to test the kidneys regularly to prevent, diagnose, and treat it. It is well established that the most common kidney disease risk factors include: (1) pre-diabetes and diabetes; (2) high blood pressure; (3) chronic heart disease/failure; (4) family history of kidney failure; and (5) being African American, Hispan- ic, or American Indian. Research has shown that oxidative stress (OS), an imbalance in the body between antioxidants and the pro- duction of reactive oxygen species is present even in early stage CKD, increases as CKD progresses toward end stage renal disease, and is exacerbated in dialysis patients (thought to be triggered by dialysis-related factors, chronic infl ammation, and malnutrition).
Kidney function is evaluated through these urine or blood
tests: (1) Urinalysis - screens for the presence in the urine of protein, blood, or creatinine (a waste product from muscle breakdown); (2) Serum Creatinine Test – since the kidneys main- tain blood creatinine in a normal range, elevated creatinine level (women > 1.2 mg/dL, men > 1.4 mg/dL) indicates impaired kidney function; (3) Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) Test - measures the amount of nitrogen, a breakdown product of protein, in the blood (kidney damage is not the only cause of elevated BUN tests; aging, pregnancy, a high/low protein diet, and common medications, such as steroids, high-dose aspirin and some antibiotics, can skew this test); (4) Estimated GFR (Glomerular Filtration Rate) (Normal eGFR = 60 mL/min or higher) - indicates how well the kidneys are fi ltering waste by taking into account creatinine levels, age, gender, race, height, and weight; and (5) Urine Albumin Test (N < 30 mg/g) - checks the urine for the level of albumin, a protein nor- mally only found in the blood that can pass into the urine when the kidney fi lters are damaged; a level over normal can indicate kidney disease even if eGFR is normal.
Kidney-Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Living a healthy lifestyle is the fi rst step toward maintaining ongoing kidney health. When kidneys are healthy, a supportive lifestyle generally includes: (1) an organic Mediterranean or other plant-based diet that is rich in healthy fats, adequate amounts of
protein (ideally, mostly fi sh, chicken, turkey, eggs), and protective, detoxifying vegetables and fruits (onions, garlic, caulifl ower, broc- coli, kale, apples, and berries), and low in sugar/simple carbo- hydrates, salt, and pro-infl ammatory gluten and dairy; (2) staying hydrated with at least 64 ounces of water/day, up to half one’s body weight in ounces; (3) no smoking or recreational drugs, and low alcohol intake; (4) avoiding overeating and being overweight/ obese; and (5) maintaining healthy blood pressure and blood sugar.
Regular continuous or repetitious exercise that works large muscle groups (cycling, swimming, weightlifting) and stress man- agement activities (yoga, tai chi, deep breathing, meditation) are also critical for long term kidney health.
Dietary Supplements that Support Renal Health Regardless of the presence of any risk factors, taking measures
to prevent kidney disease or alleviate its symptoms is a benefi cial proactive approach to increasing longevity. While space limitation allows for only a brief discussion of available kidney-protective nutritional supplements, some of the key, most science-supported nutrients are noted below.
Berberine (BBR): This nitrogen-containing compound, which
can be extracted from various plants (including goldenseal and Or- egon grape), has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medi- cine for numerous ailments. In a 2019 animal study, researchers concluded that BBR is potentially therapeutic in diabetic kidney disease due to its ability to suppress excess generation of ROS in the mitochondria (cell powerhouses), mitochondrial dysfunction, and fat accumulation/defi cient breakdown and use of fatty acids.
Milk Thistle: The high level of silymarin (a mixture of antioxi- dant/antimicrobial fl avonoid complexes) in this herb increases glutathione and SOD levels, supports cell repair and regeneration, and combats infl ammation. Scientifi c evidence indicates that sily- marin guards the kidneys against the toxic effects of drugs, includ- ing chemotherapy, benefi ts diabetic nephropathy, and may support prevention of nephropathy-induced premature death in diabetics.
DID YOU KNOW THATTOXINS INFLAMMATION?
ARE OFTEN THE ROOT CAUSE OF
Toxins drive neurological, metabolic (including weight gain), immune and cardiovascular illnesses – not to mention any disease ending in “itis”. We have the knowledge and technology to help your body heal itself. For 25+ years, our patients have enjoyed remarkable success with naturopathic treatments which cleanse, detox, nourish, repair and balance. Contact us for more:
24 Natural Nutmeg - January/February 2021
DrMarvinSchweitzer.com 203.847.2788
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44
