Want healthy kidneys? Curb sugar, salt and fat

SAN J OSE, Antique – Watching your diet keeps your kidneys away f rom diseases, t he municipal health officer said.

“Kidney diseases are most often caused by diabetes ( high blood sugar level) or high blood pressure,” Dr. Melba Billiones said in a radio interview.

The kidneys’ main job is to filter wastes out of the human body, she stressed.

So, to prevent kidney diseases, one must avoid eating “too salty, fatty and sweet food,” Billiones said.

Damaged kidneys cannot properly filter blood, leaving out wastes that could build up and harm the body, said the health officer.

In addition, kidney diseases may lead to kidney failure, and the patient will have to go through dialysis or kidney transplant to maintain t heir health, Billiones said.

Meanwhile, in line with the National Kidney Month the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI), in coordination with the Department of Health and the local government, will hold advocacy campaign activities.

They will provide urinalysis, fasting blood sugar test and blood pressure check through the Municipal Health Office.

On June 22 they will host a focused group discussion at the Diosdado Macapagal Gym in Trade Town, Barangay Dalipe, and on June 23, a forum in Barangay San Pedro.

These activities aim to reduce mortality and morbidity rates caused by kidney diseases and enhance awareness on how to prevent kidney ailments, the NKTI’s Renal Disease Control Program manager Dr. Teresita Susan L. Jorge said. (