Kidney anatomy and nephrons

Most people don’t find out they have kidney damage until it’s too late. Discover 18 early signs of kidney problems that often occur before the damage is too severe. When it comes to chronic kidney disease, prevention is key.

0:00 Introduction: Kidney function explained

2:11 Early kidney damage signs

3:00 Stages of kidney disease

3:48 What destroys kidney health?

7:07 18 visible kidney damage signs

10:08 How to prevent kidney disease

Healthy kidneys are imperative to your overall health. The kidneys are situated deep within the rib cage, and have your adrenal glands on top. Each filtering unit of the kidney, called a nephron, contains a highly concentrated network of capillaries.

There are 1 million nephrons in each kidney! This number often decreases with age, although it typically does not cause many symptoms. Kidneys are very good at compensating, even if they’re 50% damaged.

One of the earliest kidney health warning signs is protein in the urine. At-home urine tests detect the albumin-creatinine ratio, which you want to keep below 30 mg/g.

The stages of chronic kidney disease are associated with specific percentages of nephron loss:

Stage 2: 20% loss

Stage 3: 60% loss

Stage 4: 85% loss

Stage 6: 95% loss

The good news is that if you catch kidney disease in time, it can be reversed.

The following factors often cause kidney disease:

•Ultra-processed foods

•PFAS

•Insulin resistance

•Medications

•Low vitamin D

•Low magnesium

•Low omega-3s

•Poor sleep

Here are 18 early signs of kidney disease:

1. Puffy eyes

2. Swollen feet

3. Swollen hands

4. Sudden weight gain

5. Foamy urine

6. Itchy skin

7. Pale skin

8. Dark circles under the eyes

9. Bruise easily

10. Dark urine

11. Blood in the urine

12. Less urine output

13. Constantly tired

14. Restless legs syndrome

15. Muscle cramps

16. Poor appetite

17. Bad breath

18. Nail changes

Work closely with your doctor if you have stage 5 kidney disease!

For your best kidney health, try increasing the following foods and nutrients:

•Vitamin D, magnesium, and phosphorus

•Omega-3 fatty acids

•Fish and dairy

•Green tea

•Vegetables

•Zinc

•TUDCA

•Curcumin

Dr. Eric Berg DC Bio:

Dr. Berg, age 60, is a chiropractor who specializes in Healthy Ketosis & Intermittent Fasting. He is the Director of Dr. Berg Nutritionals and author of the best-selling book The Healthy Keto Plan. He no longer practices, but focuses on health education through social media.

Disclaimer:

Dr. Eric Berg received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1988. His use of “doctor” or “Dr.” in relation to himself solely refers to that degree. Dr. Berg is a licensed chiropractor in Virginia, California, and Louisiana, but he no longer practices chiropractic in any state and does not see patients, so he can focus on educating people as a full-time activity, yet he maintains an active license. This video is for general informational purposes only. It should not be used to self-diagnose, and it is not a substitute for a medical exam, cure, treatment, diagnosis, prescription, or recommendation. It does not create a doctor-patient relationship between Dr. Berg and you. You should not make any change in your health regimen or diet before first consulting a physician and obtaining a medical exam, diagnosis, and recommendation. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.