Is Watermelon Good For Kidney Functioning

Watermelon is a favored fruit to many people. It is very nutritious. The sugar and salt in watermelon have diuretics and anti-inflammatory properties. Protease in watermelon can turn insoluble protein into soluble protein and increase nutritions for nephritis patients. Watermelon also contains substances that can help lower high blood pressure.

Watermelon is suitable to patients with high blood pressure, acute and chronic nephritis, high fever, cholecystitis, but for those that have advanced renal damages, diabetes, they should avoid or at least do not eat too much or it will worsen their illness conditions.

Healthy kidneys have the functions to remove excessive water out of the body. In case of kidney problem, the water can not be removed efficiently and patients often have fluid retention in their body. Watermelon contains a lot of water, eating too much can worsen fluid retention, cause increased blood volume and in serious conditions can even induce acute heart failure.

For those that are on dialysis with less than 10% kidney functions, they should avoid watermelon because they need to wait for the next dialysis to remove fluid retention in the body. Too much body weight gain will also make it more difficult for the following dialysis.

Another concern is high-potassium content in watermelon. Healthy kidneys can excrete excessive potassium from the blood. However kidney disease patients have diminished kidney functions and the impaired kidneys can not function well to remove excess potassium from the body. High blood potassium can sometimes be life-threatening.

Of cause, if patients have normal serum potassium level, it is not an issue for them. But patients still need to have close monitoring of their electrolyte levels and adust their diets and medicines accordingly.

For those that have diabetes, watermelon is not good for them. Eating watermelon can increase their blood sugar level. In serious conditions, it can even cause metabolic disorder, acidosis or even threaten the patients’ life.

If you have any kidney problems or high blood glucose, it is recommended that you should consult a doctor or dietitian for more detailed and suitable foods according to your specific illness conditions.