According to an Executive Order by President Trump on July 10th 2019, “Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall launch an awareness initiative at the Department of Health and Human Services to aid the Secretary’s efforts to educate patients and support programs that promote kidney disease awareness. The initiative shall develop proposals for the Secretary to support research regarding preventing, treating, and slowing progression of kidney disease; to improve kidney transplantation; and to share information with patients and providers to enhance awareness of the causes and consequences of kidney disease.
“Kidney disease was the ninth-leading cause of death in the United States in 2017. Approximately 37 million Americans have chronic kidney disease and more than 726,000 have End Stage Renal Disease.”
So the question is, how do we promote awareness and prevent kidney disease or renal failure?
I’ve investigated and researched many contributors to this deadly disease. What I’ve discovered is, Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a byproduct from toxic exposures. This means what we eat, drink, medicate, and surround ourselves with, supersedes genetics.
To enjoy health, it’s all about balance. With just a few lifestyle changes we can prevent and reverse kidney disease and achieve homeostasis.
10 Tips Changing The Course Of Chronic Kidney Disease
1– It is no surprise that kidney disease is directly linked to diabetes and heart disease, with diabetes often leading to kidney cancer. Increasing our risk factors for kidney disease are smoking, obesity and hypertension.
“The CDC reports that as many as 80 million Americans are insulin resistant, and most don’t pay attention to insulin resistance being a precursor to diabetes.” Not only is insulin resistance positively associated with obesity, it can negatively effect all organs in the body including the kidney’s.
When connecting the dots, I found insulin resistance and cardiovasculardisease promotes the rapid progression of Chronic Kidney Disease,and CKD increases ourrisk for Cardiovascular Disease. Why? Because our heart works in tandem with our kidneys. What affects one affects the other. The good news is, “weight loss and reduction of belly fat almost invariably reverses insulin resistance.”
Fact: Sugar feeds diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer’s, Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and Cardio Vascular Disease (CVD). Daily consumption of sugary sodas and alcohol are associated with weight gain, hyperuricemia and CKD. If that doesn’t grab our attention, High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) found in drinks, breads, and processed foods increase our risk factor for the beginnings of renal inflammation.
2– “Cortisol is a vital catabolic hormone produced by the adrenal cortex of the kidney.” Cortisol imbalances can be found causal in recurrent infections, low energy levels, constipation, hypoglycemia, insomnia, depression and often indicate adrenal fatigue. As adrenal fatigue progresses, blood glucose levels are disrupted.
Balanced cortisol levels, protects the body from adrenal fatigue. Frequent use of energy drinks/caffeine, and other nervous system stimulants,create imbalances in our adrenals.
Fact: Caffeine, sugar, and smoking weaken adrenals and irritate the bladder.
3– Most obese and depressed individuals juggle more than 5 medications a day. It’s time to ask questions surrounding the interactions between certain medications and how they increase our risk for kidney disease.
For example, let’s examine Metformin, HRT, Statins, SSRI’s, Anti-inflammatories, Opioids, and Avastin.
Metformin is marketed as a diabetic medication with side effects including lactic acidosis, decreased vitamin B12 levels, and difficulty in urination and coma.
HRT (Hormone replacement therapy) has an association with poor kidney health.
Statins have an association with acute kidney injury. Chronic use of statins can induce insulin resistance and diabetes plus have side effects that include heart disease and weight gain. There is a lack of evidence that statins prevent heart disease.
Zoloft may decrease kidney function, making kidney disease worse. Plus SSRI’s/interrupt metabolism, gut microbiome and can increase the risk of obesity.
Opioids claim over 400,000 lives a year. “Toxic substances such as opioids prevent the body from the natural filtering and elimination processes. When kidneys become damaged, hormone levels are also imbalanced and we can no longer excrete waste properly.”
Anti-inflammatories such as Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine) have side effects including kidney stones.
Humira is an injectable proteinused to treat arthritis, psoriasis, and Crohn’s disease. Side effects include kidney calculus (kidney stones).
Abilify is used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorders. Side effects include kidney disease.
Avastin is used for age-related macular degeneration, and side effects include vision loss and retinal detachment. “This may happen because of the drugs possibly of causing too much protein in the urine.”
4– Our eyes are a window to our kidneys. In Chinese medicine, there are meridians from the eyes to the kidneys. “When the meridians are flowing smoothly, there is neither pain nor illness. When blockages exist in meridians, pain and illness result.” So it’s no wonder that Age Related Macular Degeneration is more common among individuals with reduced kidney function.
Fact: Macular degeneration can also be associated with heart disease and diabetes.
5– We are a nation suffering from an abundance of pesticides and heavy metal exposures known to be carcinogenic. This is a huge risk factor for veterans of Vietnam War, The Gulf War and the Iraq War. Long term side-effects from DDT, Agent Orange and others include, but are not limited to, kidney disease, eye disease, and cardiovascular disease. Sadly, veterans were also given multiple dirty vaccines containing chemicals and heavy metals. The end result is mercury and other heavy metals accumulate readily in the kidneys.
Fact: About 50+% of Veterans seem to suffer with CKD (chronic kidney disease.) Pesticides and chemicals are a risk factor for kidney cancer.
6- Unbeknownst to most, periodontal disease is an overlooked problem putting a strain on our kidneys. In holistic dentistry, which is becoming more popular, teeth have a synergistic and meridian connection to vital organs. There is an association with periodontal disease and chronic kidney disease. This is just one consequence when we don’t pay attention to proper oral health.
Fact: Poor oral health can and will negatively affect our overall health and is also associated with diabetes and CVD.
7– There is an interconnection between Estrogen dominance, gut microbiome and obesity linking it to kidney cancer. Both chronic kidney disease and oestrogen dominance are associated with multiple physiological and metabolic disturbances. This is because the gut microbiome is the ecosystem of bacteria that lives inside us and influences the development of estrogen dominance. And while we may find this information hard to digest gut microbes also participate in the etiology of CVD.
Other conditions associated with estrogen dominance are obesity, metabolic syndrome and PCOS. (Polycystic ovary syndrome) Interestingly enough, women with PCOS are usually suffering with insulin resistance.
Fact: “The interaction between the gut microbiota and CKD is not unidirectional. CKD affects the structure of the gut microbiota and vice versa. A deficiency in gut microbes and the increase of free radical damage leads us down the road to preventable health issues.
8- Its important to stay hydrated. But first purchase a filter for your home that removes fluoride. There is a positive association between fluoride and kidney disease. Fluoride can be found in processed foods, medications, bottled drinks, canned soups, green teas, wine, tap water, toothpaste, mouthwash, and the list goes on. Additionally, when there is an excess of fluoride in the body it can interfere with the function of the thyroid gland. Thus fluoride has been linked to thyroid problems. The interconnection – thyroid dysfunction affects renal physiology and development so kidney disease could result in thyroid dysfunction.
9– Its a fact that we can’t live without sunshine! Naturally we absorb vitamin D naturally through our eyes and skin. However, because we may lack time spent in the sun, (either walking, biking, or swimming) we take synthetic supplements thinking these will fix vitamin D deficiency. “Hypervitaminosis D is from a high-dosed Vitamin D supplementation used for several months. This practice has been shown to be toxic. It can lead to high blood pressure, bone loss, and kidney damage.”
10– Environmental pollution is the largest cause of disease. According to Autoimmunity Research Foundation, 2012: “The rate of chronic disease in the US has been dramatically increasing over the years from environmental triggers rather than genetic or age-related causes.”Glyphosate is an environmental trigger. It is known to damage our DNA, and other organs including our gut microbiome. It drives both the obesity and cancer epidemic. Today we know, Monsanto’s glyphosate spent the last 30+ years covering up kidney cancers. According to Journal of Organic Systems, glyphosate plays a role in kidney cancer and acute kidney failure.
PLUS, the Journal of Public Health And Emergency states there is an association between heart disease and glyphosate.
Fact: Environmental Air Pollution is significantly associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes and other diseases. Also, according to the Lancet, pollution is the largest environmental cause of disease and premature death. More than 13,000 have filed lawsuits against Monsanto.
So if the question is – how do we slow the progression of kidney disease? The answer is – take a serious look at the multiple causes.
*When we slow the progression of CVD, Diabetes and Cancer, we can change the way we treat renal disease. We can do this by understanding and uncovering the hidden connections between foods, medications, environmental toxins and how the body eliminates toxins.
*We can find a way to be active in changing laws that no longer protect us within the EPA and FDA.
Connie Rogers is a Certified Health Coach & Brain Health Coach.
She is the author of Memory Stealers on Amazon and video.
Connie believes health and wellness are established with proper nutrition, fitness, and mindfulness. Connie takes a natural and holistic, common sense approach to rebuilding wellbeing from the ground up.
