No. 32

KIDNEYS- Renin and High Blood Pressure

A low salt diet is just one of the things that can reduce kidney circulation and stimulate renin production. When you have high blood pressure and are told that you have a high renin count, it is possible your problem is aggravated by;

1. High fructose corn syrup
2. Developing high blood sugar
3. Deficiency in Vitamin D
4. Potassium imbalance (high or low)
5. History of chronic dehydration (low water intake)
6. Ingestion of sodium chloride table salt instead of sea salt with minerals
7. Lack of foods that produce nitric oxide
8. Drinking soda
9. Certain prescription medications

Too much renin can lead to vasoconstriction and retention of sodium.

This means you will likely excrete potassium and hold sodium which is obvious by edema (water retention). However, when renin is high, your potassium commonly is out of balance. Getting it checked is the only way to really know.

Vitamin D is the supplement that regulates renin- high and low. If you supplement D, use D3 5000mg. Take it with food and take it at the same time as fish oil. The two together will accentuate the benefits. If the individual is older and also has osteoporosis, the need for Vitamin D is even greater. If you get a prescription for Vitamin D from the doctor, it will be D2 and usually a 50,000 IU dose taken once a week. The D levels are monitored with a blood test until it comes up to a satisfactory level. You can store Vitamin D but you cannot make it in your body.  Being exposed to sunlight helps produce Vitamin D but is not enough to adequately overcome deficiency.

When you start taking D3 as a supplement, you will need a full 30 days of supplementing to start to derive the benefits. Vitamin D is responsible for over 2000 chemical reactions in your body. You cannot make it and if you have had to choose only one vitamin to take, this would be a good choice. After 30 days of supplementing Vitamin D3 5000mg. you will begin to notice an increase of energy and overall sense of wellness.

Sodium bicarbonate in baking soda does not raise blood pressure, but sodium chloride does. Sodium chloride is regular table salt. Table salt consists of 1/3 part sodium chloride, 1/3 part glass, and 1/3 part sand. This scratches your veins and arteries which in turn causes cholesterol to come to the rescue and cling, to help repair the damage caused by table salt. One solution— use only sea salt, natural non-irradiated, mineral rich product. The most recommended salt for persons with high blood pressure is Celtic Salt, which is grey salt, or Himalayan which is pink. Both are mineral rich.

When people limit their intake of real salt, not to be confused with table salt, renin will increase. According PubMed, limiting salt can increase renin, angiotensin and act in other ways that are counter-productive. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15193367

Eating foods with soy and sea salt can be actually beneficial. Eating two or more servings of salty miso soup(sea salt, soy sauce, soy curd, seaweed) per day is associated with a lower risk of hypertension; ACE inhibiting peptides are stronger than the salt.

Eating foods that support the kidneys is also recommended every day-

1. Celery- aids the kidneys in proper renin balance
2. Fermented soy- promotes proper renin balance
3. Sea salt- replaces sodium chloride table salt
4. Italian parsley leaf- use this in cooking whenever possible or add to green smoothies
5. Cranberries- cleanse the kidney
6. Eat foods that support the adrenal glands which will directly affect hormones responsible for kidney health
7. Watermelon- cleanse the kidney, eat the seeds or make tea from them
8. Miso Soup- with soy curd, sea salt, seaweed, soy sauce
9. Edamame- supportive to kidneys
10. Cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, watercress and broccoli- all aid in estrogen balance

Herbs That Clean The Kidneys—

Dandelion
Marshmallow root
Celery leaf
Juniper
Nettles
Parsley
Red clover
Ginger
Goldenrod

Supplements That Support Kidney Health—

B2
B6
Magnesium
Calcium for some, not others
Potassium for some, not others
D3
Enzymes to protect the vascular system
Enzymes to aid full spectrum of digestion
Fulvic-Humic Liquid- full mineral spectrum that naturally occurs in rich soil
Distilled water
Arginine (food sources are plentiful) or Citrulline which promotes nitric oxide

If You Develop Kidney Stones, Avoid These Foods Which Are rich In Oxalate— 

• Chocolate
• Okra
• Sweet potatoes
• Sesame seeds
• Greens
• Muts
• Spinach, some raw ok, do not cook

Foods To Promote NO (nitric oxide) In Your Body—

What is NO? Nitric Oxide is made by the cells in our blood vessels. NO messages arterial tissues to relax. This in turn lowers blood pressure, reduces triglycerides, lowers the formation of arterial plaque, expands narrow blood vessels, eliminates blood clots. Nitric Oxide optimizes circulation. It moves more blood to your brain. It improves cardiovascular function, kidney function, and increases oxygen transfer for more energy and better brain function. NO improves conditions of erectile dysfunction in men by establishing better blood flow.

Besides taking Arginine or better yet- Citrulline, certain foods can increase your body’s NO production. Citrulline has very few food sources, the only one with a high level is watermelon- but you would have to eat the rhine as well. So supplementing Citrulline is best and eating foods rich in arginine is practical. Both of these amino acids produce the miracle molecule we know as nitric oxide. Nitric oxide has about 100,000 more free radical fighting capability compared to all of the other antioxidants.

• Artichokes
• Beets
• Brown rice
• Root Vegetables
• Watermelon and Rind
• Beans
• Tuna
• Peanuts
• Fish
• Nuts
• Eggs
• Spinach
• Poultry
• Dairy- but it is the poorest source and requires the greatest volume