Your kidneys help detoxify your body. Specalized cells, called podocytes, form filters that retain essential nutrients and beneficial compounds in your bloodstream, while allowing toxins and other harmful chemicals to pass into your urine. Many factors, including genetics, lifestyle choices and exposure to toxins, affect your kidneys. Getting enough of a few key nutrients can help maintain kidney function, and prevent or slow the development of kidney diseases.
Vitamin D, a fat-soluble vitamin, helps to regulate kidney function and might play a role in treating kidney disease. Many patients with chronic kidney disease suffer from vitamin D deficiency, according to a review published in "Current Diabetes Reviews" in 2011, and taking vitamin D helps reduce the symptoms of chronic kidney disease. Vitamin D also helps prevent kidney cell death in animal studies, reports the review. Boost your vitamin D intake by consuming vitamin D-fortified dairy products, fortified soy milk, salmon and sardines.
Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, also contributes to kidney function. As an antioxidant vitamin, vitamin C protects your cells from oxidative stress -- cellular damage that increases your risk of diseases, including kidney disease. A study published in "Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation" in 2011 found that low vitamin C levels might contribute to kidney disease in non-diabetic patients. Make sure you get enough vitamin C each day by eating fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables at each meal -- pineapple, red pepper and grapefruits make for especially good sources of the vitamin.
Getting enough vitamin B-6 might help maintain kidney function by preventing kidney stones, the formation of crystals within the tubules of the kidney. Kidney stones cause pain in the lower back and abdomen and, if severe, can cause a urinary obstruction. Women who consume more than 40 milligrams of vitamin B-6 per day have a lower risk of developing kidney stones, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. However, the relationship between vitamin B-6 and kidney stones is still not fully established and requires further investigation.
Calcium and Potassium
The minerals calcium and potassium also contribute to kidney function. The podocyte cells in your kidneys rely on both calcium and potassium to help control blood filtration, according to a study published in the "Journal of the American Society of Nephrology" in 2004. These minerals help determine the size of your kidney filters, so your body can decide whether to constrict the filter to retain chemicals in your bloodstream or widen the filter and allow chemicals to pass into your urine. Men need 1,000 milligrams of calcium daily, while women need 1,200 milligrams, and all adults need 4,700 milligrams of potassium each day, according to the Linus Pauling Institute.
Eat to benefit your kidneys by combining foods rich in vitamins B-6, C and D, calcium and potassium. Start your day with whole-wheat toast topped with sliced bananas and peanut butter with a glass of milk on the side. Incorporate salmon -- a great source of vitamins B-6 and D -- into your diet, adding variety by pairing your fish with fresh fruit salsas as a source of vitamin C or steamed kale as a source of calcium and potassium. Alternatively, top a bowl of Greek yogurt with a sprinkling of chopped fruit and vitamin B-6-fortified cereal.
Articles For Your Diet
- Current Diabetes Reviews: Podocytes as a Target of Vitamin D
- Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation: Decreased Plasma Level of Vitamin C in Chronic Kidney Disease: Comparison Between Diabetic and Non-Diabetic Patients.
- Linus Pauling Institute: Vitamin B-6
- Journal of the American Society of Nephrology: Human Podocytes Possess a Stretch-Sensitive, Ca2+-Activated K+ Channel: Potential Implications for the Control of Glomerular Filtration.
- Linus Pauling Institute: Calcium
- Linus Pauling Institute: Potassium
- grapefruit image by Witold Krasowski from Fotolia.com