Protect Your Kidneys from Disease by Eating More Veggies

Kidney disease affects roughly 31 million men and women in the United States and is the ninth leading cause of death. While recent develops in modern medicine have yielded more effective preventative and treatment options, it's still a serious problem. There's new evidence, however, suggesting that eating the right foods can curb kidney disease.

Researchers from a small medical group found that patients with kidney disease who consumed at least three servings of fruit and vegetables per day experienced lower blood pressure and treatment costs. The five-year study was done to identify what, if any, correlation there was between dieting and kidney disease. Researchers were shocked to find that kidney disease patients who consumed just three servings of fruit and vegetables per day experience profound results.

As you may already know, high blood pressure is a major risk factor for kidney disease (among other adverse health conditions). The AHA states that the kidneys and circulatory system work in sync with one another. When blood pressure rises beyond "normal" levels, it stresses the kidneys while subsequently increasing the risk of disease. This is why it's important to monitor your blood pressure, and when necessary, make changes to your lifestyle to help balance it.

It's important to note that this was a relatively small study, consisting of just 108 men and women who had previously been diagnosed with kidney disease. All of the study's participants, however, were taking blood pressure drugs before  the study.

Participants were split into one of three groups: one group received treatment with baking soda; the second group was asked to consume three to four servings of fruit and vegetables per day; and the third group was the control group (they received no treatment).

At the end of the five-year study, researchers found that the participants who consumed three to four servings of fruit and vegetables per day saw the greatest reduction in blood pressure levels. Furthermore, this lower blood pressure yielded significant savings in the form of less-frequent medical treatment, attesting to the importance of eating your fruits and veggies.

"This study has been done over five years, but every year since the therapy with fruits and vegetables began, we were able to lower medications," said Dr. Nimrit Goraya, the study's lead author.

Findings from this study are expected to be presented at the American Heart Association's (AHA) meeting on blood pressure.