Kidney/Bladder Issues

Kidney/Bladder Issues

FOODS TO EAT MORE OF

Fruits: apricots, avocado, bananas, cantaloupe, cherries, cranberries, grapes, mangoes, melons, papaya, peaches, pineapple, pumpkin, watermelon
Vegetables: asparagus, broccoli, carrots, celery, corn, cucumber, fennel, leeks, onions, potatoes, squash, sweet potatoes, turnips
Brown rice, seeds (especially flax, pumpkin, sesame, sunflower), whole grains, soy products
Garlic, horseradish, parsley
Plenty of water (at least 8 glasses daily)
Yeast, yogurt

FOODS TO AVOID OR MINIMIZE

Fruits: berries, clementines, grapefruit, lemons, limes, oranges, rhubarb, strawberries, tangerines, tomatoes
Vegetables: arugula, beets, cabbage, collard greens, kale, peppers, romaine lettuce, spinach, watercress
Meat, Seafood & dairy products
Peanuts, almonds, chocolate, tea, bran, coffee and soda
Excessive salt/sugar
Alcohol & refined flour

ESSENTIAL OILS

General Kidney ailments: Basil
Kidney/Bladder Infection: birch, cypress, marjoram, rosemary, lemongrass, patchouli (kidney area, bottom of feet)
Kidney Stones: Celery Seed, Eucalyptus, juniper, geranium (kidney area, bottom of feet, hot compress on location)

HERBAL

Agrimony, alfalfa, basil, birch, black cohosh, burdock, dandelion, echinacea, goldenrod, marshmallow leaf & root, parsley, plantain, schisandra, slippery elm, stinging nettle, yarrow
For Pain: Fenugreek for pains in the abdomen and groin associated with kidney weakness.
For Kidney/Bladder Infection: Try drinking Saffron tea
For Kidney Stones (to dissolve): Celery seed, Feverfew, Goldenrod or Joe-Pye-Weed (hard to locate online, try to grow yourself or forage locally)
For Kidney Stones (to help pass): Joe-Pye-Weed (hard to locate online, try to grow yourself or forage locally)

NATURAL

Apple cider vinegar (1 teaspoon per 50 pounds of body weight): Mix with 6 ounces of water and drink before each meal (3 times daily). Do for 2 days, then skip 4 days. Repeat as necessary.
Concord grape juice (organic with no additives).
For Pain: Put 3 grains of alum (no more) and 1 Tablespoon lemon juice in 1/2 glass water and drink.
For Kidney/Bladder Infection: A few splashes of vinegar in tall glass of water. Drink as many as you can for 2 days. For ongoing prevention, drink a small amount of vinegar daily.
For Kidney/Bladder Infection: Drink 3-4 glasses of cranberry juice daily.
For Kidney Stones (to dissolve): Wash 6 red beets (do not slice them). In 3 quarts of water, boil slowly (so water does not boil away). After an hour, strain the water and bottle it (refrigerate so it does not spoil). Drink 3 glasses daily.
For Kidney Stones (to dissolve): Mix 3 Tablespoons lemon juice, 3 Tablespoons cream of tarter, and 3 Tablespoons Epsom salt. Put in pint jar and fill with water. Stir every morning and take 1 Tablespoon before breakfast.
For Kidney Stones (to help pass): Mix equal amounts homemade almond milk and barley water and drink often until stones are passed. (Almond milk recipe: grind 2 ounces skinned almonds and mix with enough water to make a milky paste).

SUPPLEMENTS

Calcium Citrate: NOT the kind with Vitamin D added. 800 mg daily (take with meals). Talk to your doctor before taking any kind of Calcium supplement!
Glucosamine Sulfate & Chondroitin: 60 mg of each daily.
Magnesium & Vitamin B6: 200-300 mg Magnesium and 50-100 mg Vitamin B6 daily (take with meals)
Vitamin A (under a doctor's supervision): 75,000 units per day (after 3 months, reduce to 10,000 units)
Zinc: 50-80 mg daily (do not exceed 100 mg daily)

MIND-BODY CONNECTION

General kidney problems can represent feelings of criticism, shame, failure or disappointment.
Kidney stones can represent feelings of unresolved anger.

FOOD MEDICINE
Not all recipes are nutritionally perfect, but the options below are a great way to start incorporating beneficial foods into your diet in delicious ways. Always try to buy organic, and feel free to make substitutions to accommodate gluten-free, vegan, etc diets.

Abbreviation Definitions:
LC = Low Calorie (under 400 for breakfast, 600 for lunch/dinner, and 200 for beverages/sides/snacks)
GF = Gluten Free
KT = Keto / Low Carb
VG = Vegan
VT = Vegetarian