How Nigerians Can Protect Their Kidneys With Better Food and Lifestyle Choices

Kidney damage can develop silently, especially in people living with high blood pressure or diabetes. Other risks include repeated infections, kidney stones, obesity, smoking, dehydration, inherited conditions, and frequent unsupervised use of painkillers such as ibuprofen, naproxen and diclofenac. Unregulated herbal mixtures and “detox” products may also harm the kidneys. A kidney-friendly lifestyle can include familiar Nigerian meals. Choose more vegetables, fruits, beans, fish, eggs and moderate portions of chicken or meat. Options such as moi-moi, oats, beans porridge, boiled yam or sweet potato with vegetable sauce, rice with vegetables and fish, and vegetable soup with a reasonable portion of swallow can fit into a balanced diet. Reduce salt, seasoning cubes, processed meats, instant noodles, sugary drinks, excess alcohol and heavily processed snacks. Use onions, garlic, ginger, scent leaf, uziza, curry and thyme for flavour instead. Healthy people do not usually need to avoid bananas, oranges, tomatoes or beans, but anyone with chronic kidney disease should get personalised dietary advice from a medical professional. Stay normally hydrated, exercise regularly, control your blood pressure and blood sugar, and avoid unnecessary painkillers or unknown herbal mixtures. If you have diabetes, hypertension, a family history of kidney disease or previous kidney problems, consider routine kidney checks such as creatinine/eGFR and urine protein tests.

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