Kidney infection is a common type of urinary tract infection (UTI) where the bacteria tends to infect the urethra or the bladder and spreads to one of the kidneys.
The most commonly affected are women, pregnant mothers, toddlers and individuals aged 60 years and above. In every 10,000 men, only 3 to 4 are estimated to be suffering from a kidney infection, as opposed to 15 to 17 in the case of women.
Chronic Kidney infection can be fatal leading to kidney failure, known as end-stage-renal-disease (ESRD). However, proper diagnosis and treatment at the right hour can prove very beneficial and can be treated with 100% successful results.
Your kidneys are lopsided, i.e., they are usually asymmetrical.
Table of Contents
How to Treat Kidney Infection Using Naturopathic Remedies
- Foods
- Supplements
- Lifestyle Changes
Symptoms and Causes of Kidney Infection
A person infected by kidney infection develops it at a very fast pace, in a day or just a few hours. Kidney infection can be ruled out if a person shows signs of diarrhoea clubbed with nausea, uncontrollable shivering, vomiting, pain in the groin, on the sides and the back or uncontrollable passage of urine.
However, if the person has a bladder infection along with the kidney infection, they may experience cloudy and bloody urine, foul and frequent smelling urine, frequent yet inability to empty the bladder fully and also a pain in the lower abdomen.
When bacteria enter the urethra, a kidney infection originates, and when it begins to reproduce in the bladder, the infection gets triggered further and enters the kidneys. The main causes of this infection are not maintaining proper toilet hygiene, using a urinary catheter, presence of kidney stones(1), an enlarged prostate in males, weak immune system or sexual intercourse, especially in women.
Based on the severity of your symptoms, you must consult a doctor at the earliest to rule out which stage of infection are you in. Accordingly, the doctor would prescribe antibiotics, or other treatment modes, after getting the needful tests done.
However, medical help is needed immediately if there is persistent pain, the fever is very high, there is a change in the urination pattern or if blood is seen in the urine.
You can survive and lead a normal life with only one kidney as well.
CURE 1: Foods for Kidney Infection
Kidney infection is troubling 10% of the world’s population. Following a kidney-friendly diet, by adopting these foods for kidney infection in your daily diet, can help curb the amount of waste in the blood, thereby controlling kidney infection largely, if taken religiously and in the right measurements.
1. Cauliflower
Why does it work?
Cauliflower is rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin K, and Vitamin B folate. It is also an excellent source of fibre and full of anti-inflammatory compounds like indoles which enables easy digestion and produces less waste, thus helping the kidneys with less workload.
How to use and how much to use?
- Cauliflower can be consumed in place of mashed potatoes as a side dish or in any other form as well.
- One cup of cooked cauliflower works fine if taken every day, anytime during lunch, dinner or breakfast.
2. Blueberries
Why does it work?
Blueberries contain antioxidants called anthocyanins which protect against urinary tract infections, diabetes, heart attacks, and other chronic diseases. Moreover, they are low in sodium, potassium, and phosphorus, all of which make it a kidney-friendly diet.
How to use and how much to use?
Consuming one cup of fresh blueberries, in any form anytime in a day can work positively in controlling and checking upon kidney infections.
3. Sea Bass
Why does it work?
Sea Bass contains healthy fats called Omega-3 which help reduce inflammation and has low amounts of phosphorous recommended for people having kidney infections.
How to use and how much to use?
- Sea Bass should be consumed in small quantities to keep phosphorus levels in check.
- Having 3 ounces (85 grams) of cooked sea bass every day during lunch or dinner can help kidney patients drastically.
4. Red Grapes
Why does it work?
Red grapes are rich in Vitamin C and antioxidants called flavonoids. These help in reducing inflammation and even keep a check on diabetes. All this helps drastically in curbing kidney infection.
How to use and how much to use?
- Red grapes are extremely delicious and can be consumed raw after or before meals.
- Kidney infections can be curtailed by including half a cup (75 grams) of red grapes in your daily diet regime.
2. Cranberry juice for kidney infection
Why does it help?
Cranberry juice for kidney infection can work wonders as it acts as a remedy for UTIs(2) or bladder infections which is the first step towards developing a renal infection.
How to use and how much to use?
Cranberry supplement or pure cranberry juice is very nutritious, and a glass or two of it can be consumed over the day. However, one should avoid substituting cranberry juices full of sweetener to water as they can work adversely due to the high level of sugar in it.
5. Egg Whites
Why does it work?
Egg whites contain high amounts of phosphorus which makes it a preferred choice for people on a renal diet. They provide a kidney-friendly source of protein and hence make for an excellent preference for people undergoing dialysis treatment for kidney infections.
How to use and how much to use?
- A patient with kidney infection should have two egg whites (66 grams) every day.
- It is best to have it during breakfast.
Your kidneys filter 45 gallons of blood every day.
CURE 2: Supplements
These home remedies can educate you as to how to handle and cure kidney infection naturally.
1. Probiotics
Why does it help?
Probiotics work in two ways in controlling and treating kidney infection– by keeping a check on the good bacteria in the body in spite of the fact that antibiotics destroy both the good and the bad bacteria present in the body.
How to use and how much to use?
Probiotics assist the kidneys in processing waste materials and hence having a bottle of a probiotic drink containing 65 ml of the liquid is sufficient to check kidney infection.
2. Vitamin C
Why does it work?
Kidney health can be automatically promoted if Vitamin C is added to our daily diet for the simple reason that this vitamin contains powerful antioxidants that protect the tissues in the body from oxidative stress. Also, it has been observed that Vitamin C can boost the enzymes within the kidney and prevent its scarring during chronic kidney infections.
How to use and how much to use?
Vitamin C can be consumed by either having its supplements in tablet or granule form or by introducing Vitamin C rich foods in your daily diet.
Fruits like oranges and berries and vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower are extremely rich in Vitamin C, to name a few. They can be part of your meals during breakfast, lunch or dinner to fulfil the Vitamin C intake quota for the day in an attempt to curb kidney infections.
Drinking too much water can be bad for the kidneys, causing a condition called hyponatremia.
CURE 3: Lifestyle Tips
Believe it or not, like home remedies for kidney infection, there are certain lifestyle tips which, if followed stringently, can prevent and treat kidney infections considerably.
1. Drink Lots of Water
Why does it help?
Drinking plenty of water assists in flushing out bacteria from the body. This, in turn, helps to control and eliminate kidney infection faster and even clear the entire urinary system.
How to use and how much to use?
- It’s a good practice to have lots of water as it helps to prevent UTI’s that ultimately lead to chronic kidney infections.
- You should have at least eight glasses of water a day to keep kidney infections at bay.
2. Avoid Caffeine and Alcohol
Why does it work?
Caffeine and alcohol irritate the bladder and worsen the infection in the urinary tract, leading to chronic inflammation of the bladder, a condition known as interstitial cystitis.
How to use and how much to use?
Try replacing a coffee cup with a non-caffeinated herbal tea once in the morning and avoid alcohol completely till you get rid of your UTI and are back on track with normal life.
3. Practice Good Hygiene
Why does it work?
Good Hygiene is highly essential to maintain proper personal hygiene in order to prevent and treat kidney infections. It has been often observed that bacteria travel from the anus to the genitals and then further up to the kidneys.
It may even enter via the anus and occupy the colon, thereby leading to a kidney infection. All these take place due to the maintenance of poor hygiene after using the toilet and even after intercourse.
How to use and how much to use?
Every time you pass stool, make sure to clean the anus by wiping it from front to back. This would prevent the bacteria from spreading to the genitals.
4. Quit smoking
Why does it work?
Smokers have high levels of albumin in their urine, and their bodies are unable to excrete creatinine at a normal pace, both of which lead to kidney infection and abnormality in the long run.
How to use and how much to use?
Simply quit smoking. There are no ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ to it if you want a healthy life, with healthy kidneys, and a healthy body to flaunt.
Extreme heat lets you sweat more and dehydrate more, thereby causing an adverse effect on your kidneys.
Do’s and Don’ts
Kidneys are one out of the five organs of the human body which are the most essential for survival. Statistics prove that 17 out of every 100 suffer from some form of kidney-related ailment or disorder. It is high time to become conscious and take a consistent effort in keeping our kidneys in good working condition.
Apart from regular screenings and health check-ups, which are a must, here are some Do’s and Don’ts which should be followed to keep the kidneys healthy.
Do’s
- Always stay hydrated.
- Your diet should have kidney-friendly fruits and vegetables.
- Always prepare your food with natural spices and herbs.
- Follow an exercise regime on a regular basis.
Don’ts
- Never over hydrate your body.
- Quit smoking.
- Cut down on your intake of sugar and salt.
- Stop drinking alcohol.
Kidneys receive special mention in the Bible as the seat of conscience, desire, emotions and wisdom.
Also Read: Smoking During Pregnancy
FAQs
1. What to do for Kidney Infection?
Ans: To ease down kidney infection, you should have plenty of water to flush out the bacteria, get extra rest, try sitting on the toilet seat instead of squatting over it while passing urine and take a pain reliever with acetaminophen to help bring down the fever and to provide relief from pain.
2. What’s good for kidney infection?
Ans: In order to avoid UTI, which is the prime cause of kidney infection, and to improve the functioning of the kidney, drink lots of water and cranberry juice, avoid smoking and alcohol intake, try parsley juice, add Vitamin C to your daily diet, take probiotics, apples and apple juice and take an Epsom salt bath everyday.
3. How long does a kidney infection last?
Ans: Mild kidney infections can make you feel better in 1-2 days. However, if the infection is severe, it may take several days to get relief from it. However, with proper and timely care, complications can be avoided, and kidney infection can be fully cured.
Having too much of painkillers like Ibuprofen and Aspirin can harm your kidneys.
Our kidneys may be small in size but have a great workload on them in an endeavour to keep us hail and hearty. They are responsible for filtering waste products, regulating blood pressure through the release of hormones, balancing the quantum of fluids in our body and producing urine.
These vital organs can get damaged due to many reasons, the two most common ones being Diabetes and Blood pressure which damages blood vessels in the kidney, which in turn reduces their capacity to work at an optimum level.
When kidneys stop functioning properly, our blood starts getting contaminated due to waste build-up, thereby leading to severe adverse health conditions and even proving fatal in many cases.
Hence, it is essential to keep the kidneys in good condition so as to lead a happy, healthy and enjoyable life. So, we should be vigilant, alert and conscious at all times to keep these bean-shaped organs powerful and workable always, if we intend to have an enjoyable and fulfilling life with our near and dear ones.