Kidney disease: Experts warn against intake of highly processed foods

On Sep 14, 2023

Nutrition and health experts warned against the intake of highly processed foods and unhealthy lifestyles to reduce the rising cases of kidney diseases in the country.

According to them, consuming processed foods such as canned meat and fruits encourages the development of diabetes. It is a major cause of kidney disease in Nigeria.

The 2019 Global Health of the World Health Organisation estimates that kidney diseases are now the 10th leading cause of death globally.

A Consultant Nephrologist at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Dr. Theophilus Umeizudike, said kidney diseases are on the rise in Nigeria.

He blamed the development on hypertension and glomerulonephritis, “Globally, the cause mainly is because of the increase in Type 2 diabetes, which is also rising in our environment.
“The reason why Type 2 diabetes is rising globally is because of people abandoning natural foods for processed foods.
“So, processed foods are the reasons why people are coming down with Type 2 diabetes, and people with Type 2 diabetes come down with kidney diseases later in life. Hypertension is also increasing cases of kidney diseases.”

According to him, “Our climate, we have a very young population that is prone to many infections and inflammatory conditions that can affect the kidneys.

“Oftentimes, the early signs of infection or inflammation of the kidney are silent. So, years down the line, these things begin to manifest.

“In sub-Saharan Africa, we have glomerulonephritis that affects the kidney. It causes kidney damage over months or years, usually within a period of five to 10 years. There are also viral infections like hepatitis B, C, and HIV that cause kidney diseases,” he said.

Umeizudike also said the lack of access to affordable healthcare also contributes to the burden of kidney diseases, especially among young people.

According to him, these young people resort to alternative therapies like herbal remedies which can damage their kidneys.

“Again, we have the predisposition to come down with kidney diseases as people of African origin because of gene mutation,” he added.

On how people can avoid coming down with kidney diseases, the nephrologist enjoined them to embrace a healthy lifestyle and to go for regular health checks for early detection and proper management.

Umeizudike explained that when people keep living on processed foods, the tendency to come down with kidney diseases is high.

“Eating processed foods pushes people to Type 2 diabetes and increases the risk of kidney diseases later on in life,” he reiterated.

He noted that for someone to know whether he has a kidney issue, the person must go and do a test, adding that without a medical test, kidney diseases cannot be detected.

“Medical tests are very important because early forms of kidney disease are completely asymptomatic. Once people start having symptoms of kidney disease, it means that it has advanced, which will then require dialysis or transplant,” he said.

Also, a Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist, Cynthia Onyekwere, stated that an unhealthy diet was a major contributing factor to the onset of kidney diseases.

She said, “To keep kidney diseases away, it is important to pay close attention to diet and make some dietary adjustments by mainly reducing intake of certain foods that can affect renal function negatively.

“One of such foods to be reduced is salt. Salt contains sodium, which when consumed in excess can cause high blood pressure, which can lead to kidney damage.

“To achieve a reduced salt intake, one can start by reducing the amount of salt and stock cubes used in cooking, stop adding salt to meals when eating, and limit intakes of pastries and salty snacks.

“Also, processed foods can also affect renal function and as such should be consumed in limited amounts. Examples of processed foods include canned meat as well as canned fruits and vegetables. They should be consumed sparingly as they contain a lot of sodium.”

Onyekwere noted, “Too much intake of protein can damage the kidneys.

“Although protein is required for the repair of worn-out tissues and the build-up of new ones when consumed excessively, it is harmful to the kidneys.

“This is because it is the kidney that helps the body to get rid of the waste products that are generated after the digestion of protein.

“Eating too much protein will place more burden on the kidneys and this can progressively cause damage. People also need to be wary of herbal concoctions to ensure optimal renal function. Herbal concoctions in water or alcohol extracts contain substances that may be toxic to the kidneys.”