The kidneys are important organs in the human body, constantly purifying blood, forming urine, and excreting waste toxins. They are also essential for reproduction and maintaining normal physiological functions, which is why the kidneys are referred to as the “root of life.” In daily life, some people often experience symptoms such as fatigue, weak lower back and knees, poor sexual function, and edema, with kidney deficiency being a primary cause of these issues. We need to pay attention to our kidney function in our daily lives. Once kidney function is imbalanced, it can greatly harm one’s health, especially in terms of reproductive function, which can suffer unpredictable consequences.
Using the restroom is a daily task for everyone, and kidney problems, especially kidney deficiency, often send signals when one goes to the bathroom. Regardless of gender, if one notices these two signals while using the restroom, it indicates that the kidneys are in distress and should not be ignored.
1. Frequent Nighttime Urination
Waking up frequently at night to urinate is often caused by insufficient kidney energy, commonly seen in middle-aged and elderly individuals. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the kidneys regulate the body’s water metabolism balance, and the generation and excretion of urine depend on kidney yang. If kidney energy is insufficient, water cannot be normally delivered to various organs and instead accumulates in the kidneys, leading to increased urine output. As middle-aged and elderly individuals age, kidney yang gradually weakens, and the predominance of yin energy at night exacerbates the imbalance of yin and yang, resulting in more nighttime urination.
2. Constipation
Many people think that constipation is a digestive issue; however, poor kidney function can also lead to constipation. Kidney deficiency results in weakened kidney energy, and insufficient kidney yang leads to the production of cold and dampness. This stagnates in the intestines, causing yang energy to fail to circulate properly, fluids to accumulate, and ineffective intestinal transit. Although the intestines are the pathway for bowel movements, their transit function requires kidney energy; insufficient kidney energy can lead to difficult bowel movements.
3. Abnormal Urine Color
Healthy urine should be light yellow and clear, like the first brew of tea. If you drink less water, it may be slightly darker. If your urine appears red or brown and has a strong odor, excluding dietary factors, it may indicate a problem with the kidneys. Additionally, while bubbles in urine can be normal, if the bubbles persist and do not dissipate, it may indicate a kidney issue causing protein leakage, resulting in foamy urine.
We should regularly nourish our kidneys and not wait until kidney function is compromised to take notice. Today, I will introduce a few kidney-nourishing ingredients that everyone might want to try.
1. Sweet Potato and Egg Pancake
One sweet potato and one egg, with an appropriate amount of granulated sugar and flour. Peel and clean the sweet potato, then cut it into thin slices, strips, and finally small pieces; beat the egg into the flour, adding granulated sugar and water, then mix well to form a batter; add the sweet potato pieces to the batter; heat a frying pan, brush it with a thin layer of oil, pour in the batter, and cook on low heat until golden brown on both sides. Regular consumption can nourish the kidneys, strengthen the body, and aid digestion.
2. Grapes
Grapes are a commonly consumed fruit in summer, rich in various minerals, vitamins, and amino acids. They not only provide essential nutritional elements for the body but also have effects on calcium and blood replenishment. Moreover, grapes can also nourish the kidneys and have a certain auxiliary therapeutic effect for kidney inflammation.
3. Eel
The eel is an economical edible fish with tender flesh and rich nutrition. Eel meat has a sweet taste and warm nature, benefits the liver, spleen, and kidney meridians, serves as a warming and tonifying agent, and has the functions of boosting energy, nourishing blood, warming yang and benefiting the spleen, strengthening nerves and stopping bleeding, and nourishing the liver and kidneys while dispelling wind and unblocking collaterals. Eels also contain a higher amount of materials that synthesize male hormones, which help delay aging and avoid sexual function decline. However, eels are not suitable for young children.
