Increasing Fruit And Vegetable Intake Can Slow Kidney Disease And Improve Heart Health: Study

0
Increasing Fruit And Vegetable Intake Can Slow Kidney Disease And Improve Heart Health: Study
Increasing Fruit And Vegetable Intake Can Slow Kidney Disease And Improve Heart Health: Study

Increasing Fruit And Vegetable Intake Can Slow Kidney Disease And Improve Heart Health: Study (Image Credits: iStock)

A new study has revealed that increasing daily servings of fruits and vegetables by four (approximately two cups) can significantly slow the progression of chronic kidney disease and improve blood pressure, reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke. The research suggests that these benefits may be partly due to the ability of a plant-rich diet to lower the body’s acidity levels.

The five-year study emphasises the importance of dietary changes focused on fruits and vegetables to manage high blood pressure, a key risk factor for both kidney and heart disease. Traditionally, doctors have not prioritised dietary changes for patients with high blood pressure unless medications fail. However, the study’s findings suggest that this approach should be reconsidered.

“Fruits and vegetables should be foundational in the management of hypertension, with medications added as needed,” says Dr. Donald E. Wesson, lead investigator and professor of internal medicine at the Dell Medical School of the University of Texas in Austin. “In our study, participants who increased their intake of fruits and vegetables had lower blood pressure, improved kidney health, and better heart health, all while requiring lower doses of blood pressure medications compared to those who did not.”

The Impact of Acidity on the Body

The study aimed to determine whether reducing the body’s acidity levels could improve markers of kidney disease. According to Dr Wesson, digesting animal products like meat increases the body’s acidity, while digesting most fruits and vegetables makes the body more alkaline (basic). The kidneys play a crucial role in maintaining this balance by removing excess acid from the blood and expelling it through urine. The study was designed to explore whether a diet with more plants and fewer animal products could “lighten the load” on the kidneys, thereby improving kidney and overall health.

The Study’s Methodology

The study involved participants with high blood pressure (but not diabetes) and severe chronic kidney disease, as indicated by high levels of macroalbuminuria. Researchers divided participants into three groups:

1. Those instructed to add 2 to 4 cups of fruits and vegetables to their regular diet.

2. Those prescribed twice-daily sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) as an antacid to neutralize acidity.

3. Those who received standard medical care from their primary care doctors.

Participants kept food diaries throughout the study, and those in the fruit and vegetable group reported consuming an additional two cups of produce per day.

The findings were significant. Both the fruit and vegetable group and the sodium bicarbonate group showed improved kidney health, which researchers attributed to reduced acidity levels. However, the group that increased fruit and vegetable intake also experienced additional heart health benefits. They saw reductions in cholesterol levels, a drop in average BMI from 28.2 to 27 (equivalent to a weight loss of about six pounds for the average American), and lowered blood pressure while taking less medication than the other groups.

Long-Term Dietary Changes and Sustained Benefits

The study’s findings reinforce the standard recommendation for individuals with kidney disease to eat more plant-based foods. Christopher Gardner, PhD, a professor of medicine and director of nutrition studies at the Stanford Prevention Research Center, explains that lowering acidity through plant-based foods or sodium bicarbonate is beneficial for kidney health. He also suggests that participants who consumed more fruits and vegetables likely improved their heart health by increasing fibre intake and reducing saturated fat.

While the idea of adopting a healthier diet to treat heart or kidney disease isn’t new, this study provides fresh evidence that people can make lasting dietary changes with sustained health benefits. “What is really impressive about this study is that the follow-up lasted five years, not just five weeks or five months,” says Dr. Gardner, who was not involved in the research. “These were long-term dietary changes that were maintained, resulting in long-term health benefits.”

Dr Gardner also highlights a gap in medical education, noting that nutrition often receives little attention in medical school, leaving many physicians feeling unprepared to advise patients on lifestyle changes such as diet. “However, this is not a complicated strategy — eat more plants — and hopefully, studies like this will encourage more physicians to incorporate this approach alongside other tools to treat and prevent disease,” he concludes.

Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Diet, Health and around the world.


link

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *