March is National Kidney Month. Did you know that the risk for developing kidney disease in Hawai‘i is 30 percent higher than the mainland? One of the reasons we have a higher risk in Hawai‘i is due to our ethnicities, including Native Hawaiian, Filipino, Pacific Islander, etc. Here are tips on how to keep your kidneys healthy.
Limit salt. According to the American Heart Association, the daily recommendation for salt intake is 2,400 milligrams of sodium. That’s only 1¼ teaspoon of salt for your whole day. This can really add up, especially when eating out. By limiting dining out and choosing low-sodium or no-added-salt foods, you can lower your salt intake and help control blood pressure. Controlling blood pressure is needed to prevent hypertension, which can lead to kidney disease.
Stay hydrated. Make sure water is your primary beverage throughout the day. Most people can drink about eight cups of water throughout the day to stay hydrated, but some people require more or less. If you have questions about how much water you should be drinking, ask your doctor or a registered dietitian. For more information on kidney-care, come join our annual event:
Walk on the Wild Side
Saturday, March 10, 2018, in ChinatownThere will be Kidney Early Detection Screening (including checking for diabetes, hypertension and kidney disease), a Health Fair, Scavenger Hunt, History-Mystery Walk, children’s activities and an arts-and-culture fair. Come and join the fun! Visit kidneyhi.org for more details.
National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii
