As we are finishing up nephrology and studying the kidney in our physiology class, we know that the kidneys are an essential part in filtration, reabsorption, and excretion.
I remember as a kid, I did not like to eat kidney beans. Someone told me that kidney beans are my kidneys’ children, so, for the kidney beans to reunite with their mama (my kidney), I have to eat them. It turns out that kidney beans, or beans in general, may impact kidney health.
Beans contain phosphorus, calcium, iron, manganese, oxalate, and many other ions. The National Kidney Foundation states that beans provide strength with additional potassium and protein, but consumption of beans depends on the severity of the kidney disease (needs to be taken moderately).
Now, don’t go and consume beans because you have to make sure that they are cooked. Toby Amidor posted on the Food Network, claiming that raw beans contain phytohaemagglutinin, a toxic lectin that may cause vomiting, diarrhea (Dr. Campisi’s favorite related question), and abdominal pain after ingesting 4-5 raw beans. So make sure to cook your kidney beans properly!
Isn’t it interesting how kidney beans, which are shaped and look like kidneys, are beneficial to the kidneys? Have you ever eaten raw beans? If so, did you experience any of those symptoms?
https://www.foodnetwork.com/healthyeats/healthy-tips/are-red-kidney-beans-toxic
https://www.kidney.org/kidney-topics/beans#:~:text=Since%20beans%20are%20a%20plant,the%20need%20to%20limit%20oxalates.
Kidney picture:
This is so interesting, Rachel! I definitely would not have thought about kidney beans to support kidney function honestly. We should honestly name our vegetables for the resemblance of their space and what organs they help support. I have heard in the past that tomatoes can look like the heart when sliced, and they also help heart function. While they do not technically have the word "heart" in them, I think that is a pretty interesting factor to note. With being rich in lycopene, it helps the heart by reducing oxidative stress.
ReplyDeleteWang, Y., Zhuang-Yang, N., & Jiao, J. (2020). Lycopene in the Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases. Nutrients, 12(9), 2727. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12092727