5 ways to prevent urinary kidney disease

According to MSc. Nguyen Quang Huy, Department of Nephrology – Dialysis, Tam Anh General Hospital, Hanoi, Tet parties with foods rich in protein, fat, sugar, while less green vegetables and fruits than usual cause the urinary system to work harder. Adjusting living habits and nutrition during this time plays an important role in preventing urinary stones, urinary tract infections and related complications.

Do not drink a lot of alcohol, carbonated soft drinks

Alcohol and carbonated soft drinks are popular drinks during Tet, but if consumed in excess, they can directly affect the urinary system. Alcohol dehydrates the body, causing the kidneys to work harder. In the long term, it can lead to high blood pressure, kidney stones and impaired kidney function.

Drinking too much alcohol also makes the body susceptible to urinary tract infections. Carbonated soft drinks, especially those high in sugar, increase the risk of kidney stones, obesity and diabetes – conditions that can cause long-term kidney damage. Therefore, you should limit these drinks and prioritize filtered water to protect your kidneys and urinary system.

Do not hold urine

Holding in urine is a habit of many people during busy Tet days. However, holding urine for too long in the bladder allows sediment to accumulate, increasing the risk of stone formation. Stagnant urine is also a favorable environment for bacteria to grow, easily leading to urinary tract infections. Urinating as soon as you need to helps your bladder function effectively and reduces the risk of complications.

Drink enough water every day

Adding enough water is a simple but very important measure to protect the urinary system. Adults should maintain about 2-3 liters of water per day, prioritizing filtered water and fresh fruit juice. Drink enough water to dilute urine, reduce the concentration of minerals that easily crystallize into stones, and support the elimination of bacteria from the urinary tract. Do not use tea, coffee or soft drinks to completely replace filtered water.

Limit foods high in salt and protein

Dishes such as pickles, sausages, and braised meat are often heavily seasoned and contain a lot of salt. Eating too much salt causes the body to retain water, increase blood pressure and cause the kidneys to work harder to eliminate excess salt. In the long term, it can cause kidney damage and increase the risk of kidney failure. Meanwhile, eating too much protein-rich foods such as red meat, offal, seafood… increases the amount of metabolic waste, forcing the kidneys to filter more, easily leading to overload of kidney function, while also increasing the risk of kidney stones.

You should reduce salt when processing, eat protein in appropriate amounts, balance animal protein and vegetable protein for long-term healthy kidneys.

Increase green vegetables and fresh fruits

Green vegetables and fresh fruits provide many vitamins, minerals and fiber, supporting the functioning of the urinary system. Some fruits such as oranges, grapefruit, and kiwi help change the urine environment, limiting bacterial growth. Besides, they also help balance nutrition on days when you eat a lot of protein and fat.

Dr. Huy recommends that people who have had kidney stones, urinary tract infections or underlying medical conditions need to maintain healthy living and eating habits during Tet. When symptoms such as back pain, painful urination, frequent urination or blood in urine appear, patients should go to the hospital for examination early for timely advice and treatment.