Is It Safe To Use Herbal Supplements If I Have Kidney Disease
You may think about using herbal supplements to help with any health concerns you may have, but as a patient with kidney disease, you should use caution with herbal supplements.
Use of herbal supplements is often unsafe if you have kidney disease since some herbal products can cause harm to your kidneys and even make your kidney disease worse. Also, your kidneys cannot clear waste products that can build up in your body.
The herbal supplement market is a multi-million dollar business. You may hear from a friend or family member about an herbal supplement that they think has improved their health or well-being and they suggest it to you. While this advice may be fine for them, it can be dangerous for you with kidney disease.
The Best Tea For Your Kidneys
The kidneys are one of the most important organs of the human body. They excrete and regulate at the same time and are responsible for filtering the blood and removing toxic substances from the body. Many residual substances go through them so it’s essential that you maintain a proper diet and take care of your kidneys to avoid an accumulation of these harmful substances and therefore, inhibiting its function. In this way, natural teas can provide you with many benefits. Continue reading this OneHowTo.com article to discover the best tea for your kidneys.
General Recommendations When Choosing Herbal Tea
Its important to know that herbal teas are not regulated for dose, content, or purity. Therefore, when selecting an herbal tea, we recommend looking for a high-quality product that gives clear information about the quality of the ingredients on the label and their brand website.
Be aware that most of the time, adverse reactions to herbal teas occur with excessive use. Therefore, use moderation with any herbal tea.
*Licorice contains glycyrrhizin, a biologically active component that, when metabolized can lead to hypertension and hypokalemia .
When looking at products that contain licorice, be sure to look for the de-glycyrrhizinated form of licorice .
DGL is a safe form of licorice that will not cause any change to blood pressure or potassium levels and is used to treat various conditions in functional medicine.
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Massive Tea Consumption Linked To Kidney Failure
By Gene Emery, Reuters Health
3 Min Read
– – The puzzling case of a 56-year-old U.S. man who suddenly developed weakness, fatigue and body aches is leading doctors to warn that massive consumption of tea may be responsible for some unexplained cases of kidney failure.
Its being called iced-tea nephropathy by the New England Journal of Medicine, which published a letter describing the case.
The source of the problem was an excessive amount of oxalate, a compound found in many foods. Excessive amounts can also come from juicing, having gastric bypass surgery, and by consuming foods with a lot of ascorbic acid such as beets, spinach, nuts and strawberries.
But in this case, the man reported that he was drinking 16 nine-ounce glasses of iced tea each day, giving him more than 1,500 milligrams of oxalate per day.
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics advises consuming no more than 40-50 mg of oxalate per day, the authors note.
If you drink tea once or twice a day, it probably wouldnt exceed what is the normal range for Americans. But this patient was taking 10 times that amount, said Dr. Umbar Ghaffa of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, a coauthor of the letter.
He ultimately needed dialysis and remained on it because his kidney damage was so extensive.
The irony is that previous research has suggested that people who take tea in the usual amounts actually have a lower risk of kidney stones, Curhan said.
Is Tea Coffee Or Caffeine Good For Your Kidneys What Teas Are Best
Kidney health is a big concern for a lot of people, and there are many rumors flying around about whether tea and coffee are safe for this part of the body. Will your morning cup of tea give you kidney stones? Can coffee cause kidney failure? Should you give up caffeine to protect your body?
Many err on the side of caution and think they should avoid all tea and coffee to be safe, but there are many teas that are perfectly fine for kidneys, and you shouldnt have to miss out!
In this post, Ill be answering the questions:
- What is the connection between caffeine and kidneys?
- Is black tea bad for your kidneys?
- Is coffee bad for your kidneys?
- Is yerba mate tea good or bad for kidneys?
- Which tea is best for kidneys?
We chose to research and write this article in particular because so many tea drinkers we meet in person and talk with online have told us they used to be coffee drinkers, and due to kidney issues their doctors told them to switch to tea. That said, kidney infections, kidney stones, and kidney disease are different conditions which come with their own recommendations so always talk with your physician before any dietary changes.Read on to get the facts!
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Which Type Of Tea Causes Kidney Stones
Now, after knowing that green tea prevents the formation of kidney stones, you might be thinking that the effect is the same with other tea varieties as well. Arent you?
However, this is not true!
There are teas that cause kidney stones. Those who already suffer from kidney stones are not supposed to drink tea. This is because tea contains a high amount of oxalate that leads to the formation of kidney stones.
If you consume too much tea you can end up with kidney stones.
Now, as already discussed, green tea has a preventive effect with regard to kidney stones and this shows that not every tea causes them. It all depends on the oxalate level of tea.
When compared to green tea, black tea has a higher amount of oxalate present in it and therefore should be avoided.
P.S. It is still not very clear whether by bringing down your consumption of oxalate-rich foods you can prevent kidney stones or not. So, those with a history of kidney stones need to limit their consumption of food and drink that has more amount of oxalate.
You can always drink green tea as the amount of oxalate in it is quite less when compared to that of black tea.
Black Tea And Kidney Stones
Drinking iced tea, including black tea, can increase your risk of developing kidney stones, small crystals that form in the ureters, according to research conducted at Loyola University. Tea contains a compound called oxalate, a chemical involved in the formation of kidney stones. Men, postmenopausal women with low estrogen and women who have had their ovaries removed are at the highest risk for developing kidney stones, the researchers noted. While some kidney stones are small enough to pass without incident, they can grow much larger and cause significant pain.
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Diet And Risk For Developing Kidney Disease
I was diagnosed with minimal changes disease, and I am very interested in research that shows lifestyle patterns that affect kidney disease. I was diagnosed 18 years ago and have spent the past two decades successfully experimenting with food and how protein affects my kidney disease. By replacing animal protein with plant-based protein, I was able to put my CKD into remission.
In this issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, Rebholz et al. research the effect of sugar-sweetened beverages on kidney disease risk. Important studies, such as this one, motivate me to restrict my consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks and help educate other patients with kidney disease on the affect that sugar-sweetened beverages have on kidneys.
It is common practice in restaurants to allow employees to drink sodas for free. During the hot summer months, I was drinking more sodas per shift. This increase in sugar-sweetened beverages made me less tolerant of the heat in the kitchen. I appreciate my physical response, because it motivated me to change my beverage consumption from sodas to fruit-infused flavored water. Chances are I could have decreased my kidney function even more if I had not made this lifestyle change. I look back on that situation and realize that my experience does support these research findings: a higher intake of soda could be associated with greater odds of decreasing kidney function.
Best Tea For Kidney Disease
In addition to green tea, there are a couple of other teas that can benefit the kidneys. Some additional best teas for kidney disease include hydrangea and sambong.
Hydrangea is a flowering shrub. According to an animal study published in December 2017 in Frontiers in Pharmacology, extracts from Hydrangea paniculate offered kidney protection to the animals. More human studies are necessary, but this study showed promise.
Sambong is a tropical shrub found in the Philippines and India. One study published in October 2017 in the Asian Journal of Urology found that Blumea balsamifera extract found in sambong reduced the size of crystals in the kidneys. The reduction in size may help prevent kidney stones.
If you have kidney disease, adding hydrangea tea and sambong tea to your beverages along with green tea may increase the benefit you receive. However, be sure to talk to your doctor about adding any herbal teas and supplements first.
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High Caffeine And Kidneys: Let’s Explore Some Popular Drinks
Unfortunately, the effect of caffeine on the kidneys isnt great. Caffeine consumption is a risk factor for kidney disease, and can cause scarring of the glomeruli – that is, the vessels in the kidneys that filter blood .
Caffeine may also lead to kidney stones, and it increases strain on the kidneys . However, some caffeinated beverages, like coffee, may be safe in small amounts due to certain plant constituents .
One review found that the data is inconclusive regarding caffeine and kidney stone risk however, the researchers pointed out that coffee and decaffeinated coffee,but not other caffeinated beverages, actually had a protective effect on the kidneys .
The bottom line, though, is that you probably shouldnt overdo it when it comes to caffeine. Let’s look at some classically high caffeine drinks: black tea and coffee:
Herbs That Help The Kidneys And Lower Creatinine Levels Naturally
Lower creatinine is an extremely important treatment, because :
When creatinine levels are high, this is usually an indicator of weak kidney function.
Also, there are many factors that can contribute to increased creatinine levels.
Such as dehydration, certain medications, kidney disease, diabetes, thyroid problems, excess and high blood pressure.
To sum up, high creatinine levels mean kidney problems, you should see your doctor for an accurate diagnosis.
However, if youve met a doctor and youre looking for ways to lower creatinine levels, we have the 10 herbs that help your kidneys.
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Chamomile Tea And Kidneys
Like rooibos, chamomile tea is caffeine free and low in tannins and oxalates .
However, chamomile may have more than just a neutral effect on kidneys. In an animal study, animals with nephrotoxicity were administered chamomile and it was found to improve kidney function .
Chamomile also reduces kidney dysfunction as a result of high fat diets. Long story short, theres pretty good evidence that chamomile is good for kidneys ! That is a cup of good news.
To learn more about chamomile and its benefits, read our chamomile spotlight post!
Establishment Of Crf Model And Effect Of Gt On The Serum Levels Of Is And Pcs In Crf Rats
The dosing times of adenine and GT as well as scheduled time of blood collection are summarized in . After administration of five consecutive doses of adenine, the mean serum IS level in 28 rats was significantly elevated from 6.85 to 15.35M , and PCS level was increased from 5.59 to 7.49M on day 4 as shown in . The serum profiles of endogenous IS and PCS in CRF rats following oral administration of GT at 200 and 400mg/kg are shown in . The profiles clearly showed that ingestion of GT dose-dependently increased the serum levels of IS and PCS. The pharmacokinetic parameters of IS and PCS are listed in . The results showed that ingestion of 400mg/kg of GT significantly increased the AUC0-360 of IS and PCS by 139.2% and 118.4%, respectively, and elevated Cmax of IS by 123.3%, whereas the Cmax of PCS was not affected. In contrast, when GT was given at a lower dose of 200mg/kg, the profiles of IS and PCS were higher than the control curves, however, the differences of Cmax and AUC0-360 did not reach statistical significance.
Mean serum concentration – time profiles of endogenous IS and PCS after administration of the 7th dose of 400mg/kg of GT , 200mg/kg of GT and water in CRF rats.
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What Do You Know About Your Kidney
You have two kidneys and they are bean-shaped organs approx. the size of a fist that is situated below your rib cage on each side of your spine. Each kidney is made up of roughly a million units called nephrons. Each of your nephrons has a filter called the glomerulus and a tubule. The glomerulus filters your blood and the tubule returns what is necessary to your blood. Blood flows to your kidney via the renal artery which is a large blood vessel that splits until your blood reaches the nephrons. Your kidneys filter approx. 150 quarts of blood a day, most of it is returned to your body.
In fact, your kidneys have a higher blood flow than your brain and liver. It is a unique organ given most of us start out with two yet only require one-half of a kidney to filter our bodys blood. In an odd relationship with your liver, kidneys may also produce vitamin D if the liver cannot. Another important component of our kidneys is that they make hormones that directly help control blood pressure, create red blood cells and keep your bones healthy.
Healthy kidneys are important. Due to the functions kidneys perform and the harmful substances that may move through them they are susceptible to a number of issues including kidney failure, kidney stones, uremia, and chronic kidney disease among many others.
Is Nettle Tea Good For Chronic Kidney Disease Patients
Nettle tea is a common herbal tea among people, which has many benefits for peoples health. However, is nettle tea good for chronic kidney disease patients? The answer is sure. There are many good effects for CKD patients to take nettle tea, which will be helpful for the natural remedy of kidney disease.
– Diuretics
Once the kidneys are damaged, they will lose the function of removing the excess fluids from body, which will cause swelling in cheeks, legs, feet, ankles and other parts of the body. Nettle tea is a natural tea which is often regarded as diuretics and it can help remove the excess fluid through urine. Besides, some other bad substances in blood can also be excreted out from the urine. So drinking nettle tea will be helpful in preventing and treating urinary tract infections, kidney infections, kidney inflammations and kidney stones.
– Nettle tea has anti-inflammatory properties
For chronic kidney disease patients, they often have inflammations in kidneys, and they may also have joint pain and gout problems due to high uric acid accumulation in the blood. Nettle tea can treat the inflammations in kidneys, besides, it can also help remit the joint pains, arthritis, fever and allergies.
– Nettle tea can help lower the high blood sugar
Nettle tea is a natural herbal tea, but it also may cause some mild side effects for patients. Therefore, CKD patients should ask the advices of their doctors when they want to try some herbal tea for their illness.
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The Amount Of Coffee You Drink
First thing to consider is the nutritional content of coffee. An 8 oz. cup of black coffee has 116 mg of potassium3. This is considered a low potassium food. However, many people drink more than one cup of coffee each day. Three to four cups of coffee a day is considered high in potassium and could raise your potassium levels. Adding creamers or milk can further raise your coffees potassium content. Drinking less than three cups of coffee/day is generally considered safe. Phosphorus, sodium, calories, carbohydrates and protein are minimal in black coffee and not of nutritional consideration.
Can People With Kidney Disease Drink Dandelion Root Tea
For people with kidney disease, what they eat and drink is necessary to assist their whole treatment. Dandelion root tea belongs to herbal tea. Drinking it correctly can bring people some benefits. Can people with kidney disease drink dandelion root tea?
Dandelion root tea from dandelion stem or root is a common herbal tea in Chinese medicine shop. Dandelion root can be used as a natural diuretic. For people with kidney disease, part of kidney function has been damaged. If they can still make urine, diuretic is able to make them produce more urine so that more wastes, excessive water and toxins are discharged from the body. However, if the patients dont have urine, they are not recommended to drink dandelion root tea.
Besides, dandelion root tea can also improve kidney function, because it contains rich protein, fat, carbohydrates, trace elements and vitamins. According to researches of Turkey, vitamin especially vitamin C is able to help improve kidney function and lower high creatinine level. In view of this, most of people with kidney disease can drink dandelion root tea unless they dont have any urine.
Correct herbal tea does assist the whole treatment for people with kidney disease to some extent, while drinking herbal tea mistakenly can also cause some side effects. If you are suffering from kidney disease and would like to drink some herbal tea, you had better tell the kidney experts so that they can help you choose a type of tea which is suitable for you.
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