HEALTH

Dear Friends, J K SIVAN

                                                         

     DO WE  MIND OUR KIDNEYS?  

When I have something to convey, which I feel  important not to be missed and should  reach everyone, it is better and becomes necessary for me to express such a thought in English though I  would much prefer to write in my mother tongue Tamil. My Tamil writings may not reach many as any English report will.    I write a very useful message  now  regarding our kidneys.   

 Ever since we are born, our kidneys are entrusted with the the task of  filtering the blood by removing salt, poison and any unwanted  matter entering our body.  As we grow older  the kidneys become tired, due to constant  work with no sundays or holidays,  allows the salt to  accumulate. This needs to undergo  some essential  cleaning treatments.  How do we overcome this?

It is very easy, first take a bunch of parsley   (coriander leaves, கொத்தமல்லி ) , wash it clean,  cut it in small pieces and put it in a pot,   and   boil it with clean water for ten minutes. Let it  cool down, then, filter it and pour in a clean bottle and keep it inside refrigerator to cool.

Drink one glass daily and you will notice all salt and other accumulated poison coming out of your kidney by urination.  Also you will be able to notice the difference which you never felt before.    Parsley is known as best cleaning treatment for kidneys and it is natural!  

Kidney diseases are silent killers, which can largely affect the quality of our  life. There are several ways to reduce the risk of developing kidney disease.

We  have to keep fit and be active,  which can help to maintain an ideal body weight, reduce our blood pressure and the risk of Chronic Kidney Disease.   The concept “On the move for kidney health” is  good and we must keep walking, running and cycling, which are ideal. 

Our food should be of  a healthy diet  to  maintain an ideal body weight, reduce our blood pressure, prevent diabetes, heart disease and other conditions associated with Chronic Kidney Disease.

We must  reduce our salt intake. The recommended sodium intake is 5-6 grams of salt per day. This includes the salt already in your foods. (around a teaspoon). To reduce your salt intake, try and limit the amount of processed and restaurant food and do not add salt to food. It will be easier to control your salt intake if you prepare the food yourself with fresh ingredients.

We should  check and control  blood sugar. About half of people who have diabetes do not know they have diabetes. Therefore, the  need to check our blood sugar level as part of our general body checkup. This is especially important for those who are approaching middle age or older. About half of people who have diabetes develop kidney damage; but this can be prevented/ limited if the diabetes is well controlled. Check your kidney function regularly with blood and urine tests.

We should check and control our blood pressure. As stated above, in the matter of  blood sugar, most of our  people who have high blood pressure do not know they have high BP.   We should  check our blood pressure as part of your general body checkup. This is especially important for those who are approaching middle age or older. High blood pressure can damage our kidneys. This is especially likely when associated with other factors like diabetes, high cholesterol and Cardio-Vascular Diseases. The risk can be reduced with good control of blood pressure.  Normal adult BP level is 120/80. Hypertension is diagnosed if, when measured on two different days, the systolic blood pressure readings on both days is ≥140 mmHg and/or the diastolic blood pressure readings on both days is ≥90 mmHg (WHO).

If  the BP is persistently above the normal range ,in the case of young persons, consulting  your doctor to discuss the risks, the need for lifestyle modification and medication treatment is essential. Normally  8 cups, approximately 2 liters (quarts) per day for a healthy person in a comfortable climate condition.  This can be adjusted in severe climate condition. Fluid intake may need to be adjusted if you have kidney or heart or liver disease. Consult your doctor on the appropriate fluid intake for your condition.

DONT SMOKE. Smoking slows the flow of blood to the kidneys. With less blood  the kidneys cannot function normally. Smoking also increases the risk of kidney cancer by about 50 per cent.   

DONT TAKE  anti-inflammatory/pain-killer pills regularly.  Common drugs such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDS)/ pain-killer (e.g. drugs like ibuprofen) can harm the kidneys if taken regularly.

IF you have  diabetes/ hypertension or  if you are obese  and if there is a family history of kidney  there is neeed for  periodical checking of the condition of the kidneys. Parsley:  கொத்தமல்லி. One of the World’s Seven  Potent Disease-Fighting Spices  is Parsley (Petroselinum crispum). It is the world's most popular culinary herb.. It is a disease-fighting spices which also include Ginger, Oregano, Cinnamon, Turmeric, Sage, and Red chili peppers. While parsley is a wonderfully nutritious and healing food, it is often under-appreciated. Most people do not realize that this vegetable has more uses than just being a decorative garnish that accompanies restaurant meals.It cures:

Parsley is effective for nearly all kidney and urinary complaints except severe kidney inflammation. It improves kidney activity and can help eliminate wastes from the blood and tissues of the kidneys. It prevents salt from being reabsorbed into the body tissues; thus parsley literally forces debris out of the kidneys, liver and bladder. It helps improve edema and general water retention, fatigue and scanty or painful urination.

Liver congestion: It enriches the liver and nourishes the blood. Parsley helps reduce liver congestion, clearing toxins and aiding rejuvenation.

Parsley is a nutrient powerhouse containing high levels of beta carotene, vitamin B12, folate, chlorophyll, calcium, more vitamin C than citrus fruits, and just about all other known nutrients. Parsley is a moistening, nourishing, restoring, ‘warming’ food, pungent with a slightly bitter, salty flavor. It enhances and stimulates the energy of organs, improving their ability to assimilate and utilize nutrients.

Parsley also contains calcium (245mg per 100g), phosphorus, potassium (1000mg per 4 oz), manganese (2.7mg per 100g), inositol, and sulphur.  

Top off your sandwiches with it, include it in your salad greens, put it in Tabbouli or better yet, toss it into simmering soups, stews and sauces. We eat it raw in salads and those days when I can’t eat it raw, I often add a couple of parsley capsules to my nutritional supplements.

Parsley juice, as an herbal drink, is quite powerful and is usually taken in quantities of about 2 fl oz (50ml) three times a day and is best mixed with other juices. I noticed that it’s most effective to juice parsley in between other vegetables as the juice is heavy and thick and doesn’t move through some juicers very readily.

Whenever possible, choose fresh, dark green, organically grown parsley that looks fresh and crisp over the dried form of the herb since it is superior in flavor. Avoid bunches that have wilted or yellowed leaves indicating over-mature or damaged produce. 

kidneys may aid the removal of toxins from the body. The following tips may help improve kidney health and reduce the risk of kidney disease:

DRINK MORE WATER. Drinking enough fluid every day is essential to a person’s overall health. Water is crucial for digesting food, absorbing nutrients, getting rid of waste and toxins, keeping the skin healthy, and performing a wide range of other bodily functions. Consuming enough water can also help prevent kidney problems, such as kidney stones.