Kidneys are working for your life. Is Beet Juice Harmful Or Helpful For Your Kidneys?
The kidneys are bean-shaped organs and sit symmetrically on either side of the spine. These are just below the rib cage. When kidneys work properly, they filter blood and produce urine. It keeps the body's water, mineral, and salt levels in balance. Kidneys also secrete few hormones. These hormones control blood pressure and support the creation of red blood cells. At times the kidneys are found not to be functioning properly. In such cases one may be suffering from diabetes or high blood pressure.
Signs and symptoms of kidney disease
Kidney disease at early stages are generally ignored or are silent. A large number of KD (kidney Disease) patients don't even realise it at an early stage. They only see the signs and symptoms when their bodies have accumulated deadly amounts of waste. One or more of the symptoms listed below may appear as and when KD worsens:- Chest pain
- Decrease in mental acuity
- Edema of ankles and feet
- Fatigue
- High blood pressure
- Infrequent urination
- Itchy and dry skin
- Loss of appetite
- Muscular weakness
- Nausea
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Shortness of breath-dyspnea
- Sleeping issues-insomnia
Kidney stones, made up of calcium or are oxalate-based, are a typical problem with the kidneys. People prone to develop oxalate stones must limit the intake of foods rich in oxalates, such as beets.
Limit meals and beverages high in oxalate
Oxalates are also known as oxalic acid in nutrition science. For healthy people, it is a naturally occurring chemical and rarely causes any issues. However, those who are prone to develop kidney stones, should consume it in small amounts.
For kidney stone patients, experts advise the following:
- Drink plenty of water
- Cut back on salt
- Reduce protein intake
- Skip vitamin C supplements
Avoiding the following foods:
- Almonds and almond milk
- Beets and beet juice, Okra, Raspberries, Spinach
- Bran cereal, Wheat bran, Buckwheat flour, Lentils
- Chocolate
- Nuts and nut product like peanuts
- Rhubarb and rhubarb juice
- Sesame seeds, Swiss chard, Miso, Tahini
Oxalate in moderation is not harmful to the kidneys
Beets and other foods high in oxalate are not advised to be eliminated from one's diet. According to the American Urological Association, the daily consumption of oxalate should not be more than 75-100 g.
Nutritive value of beets
Every part of the beet plant that includes stem, leaves, bulb, and skin, are found edible. Beets are full of vitamins, iron, and calcium. Beets do not contain fat; they are rich in fiber. It delivers around 74 calories, 16 grams of carbs, and 2 grams of protein per one-cup serving. Beet juice, bulbs, and greens provides a lot of nutrients, including:- Copper
- Iron
- Folate
- Magnesium
- Manganese
- Potassium
- Selenium
- Sodium
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin K
Is beet juice usually detrimental to the kidneys?
It's not, in fact. By controlling blood pressure, beet juice may safeguard the kidneys. Beets are beneficial to the body when they don't cause kidney stones. The nitrites found in beet juice may enlarge and relax the blood vessels. It may thus help to reduce blood pressure. Few studies cited by the National Library of Medicine show that beet juice consumption significantly improves endurance and performance in athletes. According to another study in the American Heart Association journal Hypertension, beetroot juice decreases blood pressure. In another study published by the American Heart Institute (AHA), fortifying salty foods with small amounts of inorganic nitrites may significantly reduce the risk of sodium-induced hypertension. These nitrites are easily available in beets and few other root vegetables. This study also highlighted that beetroot juice is effective in lowering the raised blood pressure.
Dietary calcium process beet-derived oxalate effectively
As we all know, calcium is a significant dietary component. It must also be noted that kidney stones include a decent quantity of it. During digestion calcium binds with oxalate. It occurs when it is consumed with foods high in oxalic acid. This facilitates the body's ability to remove surplus oxalate rather than converting it to kidney stones. When the calcium levels are low in the diet, it is unable to bind with oxalate in the intestines and to be excreted in the urine. Thus, to reduce the risk of kidney stones, it is advised to incorporate calcium-rich foods into any meal that contains oxalate. Thus one can serve beets with cottage cheese or crumble feta cheese onto spinach salad or enjoy a cheese sandwich with beet juice.
