Is Garlic Good or Bad for your Kidneys?

Some foods add on to the performance of the kidneys, while some burdened them and lead them to damage. Choosing foods that are good for the renal is half the battle to kidney disease. The kidneys filter the blood and remove the toxins that get produced because of the various chemical reactions and the food we consume. We cannot mitigate the natural processes of our body, but we can control dietary influence on our kidneys. Following a kidney-friendly diet plan helps the kidneys to work with their full efficiency and prevent any burden if any, on them.

In the event of kidney damage, one is required to limit certain foods that may be rich in sodium, protein, phosphorus, and potassium. Since your kidneys cannot maintain the right balance of these electrolytes and nutrients, it is essential to lower their inclusion in a diet. Now the worrisome question is what foods to eat and avoid during kidney disease.

So today through this blog, we will try to figure out the use of garlic, the most used herb in an Indian culinary. For around 6500 years Indians have been using garlic in their home. This ancient herb is grown in Central Asia and quite similar in function to that of onion, chive, leek, etc. China being the largest producer of garlic has surpassed the production of garlic by India. Its pungent smell is very much similar to that of onion. Among the plant, the bulb is the most commonly used part. Each bulb is divided into numerous fleshy sections known as cloves.

Historically, garlic is hung, but it can be stored in the refrigerator in vinegar or wine. A person may consume it fresh or powdered or as oil to add flavor to the food.

Is garlic good or bad for your kidneys?

Garlic generates a substance called allicin responsible for its smell. For removing odor from certain things, garlic is added (after aging). It is one of the most recommended herbs for people with CKD. Here are some of the benefits of adding garlic to a CKD patient diet:

High blood pressure

Consuming garlic on a daily basis (in a required amount only) helps reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure both. High blood pressure is the common cause of CKD even in a healthy person.

Diabetes

Garlic seems to have the capacity to lower blood sugar levels if consumed for three months at least.

High cholesterol levels

Evidence has shown a detrimental reduction in the cholesterol and low-density lip protein with regularity in garlic consumption. Garlic if taken daily for 8 weeks or more can offer multiple benefits to kidney patients. But kindly consult your dietician about the right quantity to take before proceeding with their consumption.

Atherosclerosis

Hardening of the arteries is a common condition in the elderly. With age, arteries tend to get hardened and narrowed that impacts the blood flow towards various organs such as your heart and the kidneys. Atherosclerosis is a common cause of impaired kidney function, so if you want to protect your kidney’s blood vessels from hardening, consume garlic after consulting your renal dietician.

Diuretic properties

The other benefit of garlic is that it promotes healthy kidney function because of its diuretics properties. Diuretics decrease the amount of sodium in the blood and prevent fluid retention. During CKD, too much salt absorbs water from the blood which starts to skip in the cells and tissues. This is why during chronic kidney disease patients notice persistent swelling in their bodies. Often when salt absorbs water, it results in the lower blood amount in the body, thereby affecting blood pressure rate.

Prostate cancer: It is believed that those who consume one love of garlic on a daily basis have a reduced risk of prostate cancer. However, clinical investigations are still needed to be made.

Lower toxin levels in the kidneys

A study conducted in Jordan showed that frequent garlic consumption can help reduced levels of cadmium and lead (chemical elements) in the heart and the kidneys.

Blood thinner

Ill-effects