1If we are what we eat, then we would all be wise to consume the healthiest foods possible whenever we can. With so many different diet plans out there, it can seem like quite the difficult task to find the right one for your specific needs. Some diet plans are structured in such a way as to promote weight loss while others help to optimize bodily functions. One those eating plans is known as the Mediterranean diet, and recent studies have now shown how eating this way can actually protect you from developing chronic kidney disease.
What Is the Mediterranean Diet?
It is not difficult to understand or to follow the Mediterranean diet plan. Basically, it consists of some modern nutritional equivalents of Old World, Mediterranean dishes that typically originate from places like Spain, Greece, and Italy. Most people who subscribe to this particular diet plan tend to consume large quantities of unrefined cereals, beans, legumes, fish, cheese, wine, and products made with lots of olive oil. However, as with anything else in the food realm, there are some exceptions and variations to the diet itself—dependent, of course, on the person eating it.
How Does the Diet Protect the Kidneys?
In order to care properly for your kidneys, you have to be eating all the right foods as often as you can—and they need to be ones that are low in saturated fats while being quite high in monounsaturated fats and dietary fibers. A diet that restricts the consumption of red meats, sugars, and processed foods is good for the entire body. According to the latest discoveries, however, it turns out that chronic kidney disease can be cut by as much as half because of the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet.
Are There Any Special Considerations?
For the most part, using the Mediterranean diet to improve kidney health is a safe practice for nearly anyone in the modern world. However, it should be recognized that certain foods that exist within this diet plan are high in salt content. Items such as capers, salted fish, olives, and certain cheeses can leave too much sodium in the body for some people. To be safe about your current or future food choices, simply make an appointment to speak with your doctor or sit down with a certified nutritionist to get more information.
