Study finds folks who opt for a Mediterranean diet have a lower risk to develop chronic kidney disease

Nov 1, 2014 21:57 GMT  ·  By

They might not be quite as popular as other organs like, say, the brain and the heart, but kidneys have a lot to say when it comes to our overall wellbeing.

In a nutshell, they keep us alive by removing waste produced during metabolic processes, and they even help regulate blood pressure by maintaining the body's natural salt and water balance.

As they age, folks often experience kidney function decline. The good news is that, by the looks of it, all one has to do to protect their kidneys is pay closer attention to what they eat.

Long story short, researchers with the American Society of Nephrology now say that, according to evidence at hand, a Mediterranean diet can help keep a person's kidneys healthy.

Thus, having monitored as many as 900 volunteers over a period of time of 7 years, these researchers found that those who ate a Mediterranean diet were 17% less likely to develop chronic kidney disease, Science Daily informs.

Interestingly enough, a 50% lower risk of chronic kidney disease and a 42% lower risk of rapidly declining kidney function was documented in the case of people whose dietary habits closely resembled Mediterranean ones.

Simply put, it appears eating lots of fruits, veggies, legumes and healthy fats can really work wonders for one's kidneys. Feasting on red meats, sweets and processed foods, on the other hand, is bad for these organs.

Just for the record, it need be said that the Mediterranean diet has until now also been shown to reduce Alzheimer's, cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes risk.