Your Kidney health is in your hands.

Wondering what is creatinine, how it is an indicator of optimal kidney health & how to lower creatinine levels?

Creatinine is basically a waste material which is formed by the usual wear and tear of muscle tissues in our body. Creatinine levels vary depending on age, race, gender, health history and body size.Here are the normal serum creatinine values by age:

• 0.9 to 1.3 mg/dL for adult males
• 0.6 to 1.1 mg/dL for adult females
• 0.5 to 1.0 mg/dL for children ages 3 to 18 years
• 0.3 to 0.7 mg/dL for children younger than age 3

However, when there is a rise in these levels, it indicates abnormal kidney health and function.The job of healthy kidneys is to remove almost all the creatinine from the body.

Some symptoms to get creatinine levels checked may include changes in urination (frequency, pain, foaminess, or blood), muscle cramps, nausea or vomiting, fatigue, puffiness around the eyes, swelling in the feet or ankles. Some causes could be dehydration, lifestyle disorders (diabetes, thyroid, high B.P, etc). It may even rise due to rigorous workouts and heavy meat consumption.

It is important to understand that if we observe a rise in creatine levels, we should consult our healthcare provider for assistance. There are several ways to lower creatinine levels, five of which are stated below:

1. Try Nettle leaf herb (Stinging nettle):

Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) or Nettle Leaf has been used widely for numerous health benefits as herbal tea. Supporting kidney health is one of the key benefits where it may help lower creatinine levels in the body.Nettle leaf could flush out toxins from the kidney. You should definitely consider making Nettle leaf tea made from BestSource Nutrition's dried nettle leaf herb which is natural, caffeine free, cultivated in agro climatic zone of Kashmir, and tested for heavy metals.

2. Cut down on animal meat consumption:

Animal meat consumption may increase creatinine levels in the body. During cooking, creatinine is produced from the creatine present in the meat. To lower the creatinine levels, consider incorporating protein from plant sources as well (lentils, beans, nuts, seeds) in your daily diet.

3. Have some water please:

Dehydration can be one of the major causes of high creatinine levels. Make sure that you keep yourself hydrated by having 2-3lt of water every day. You can also include high water containing foods in your diet like fruits and vegetables (tomato, cucumber, orange, etc)

4. Get adequate fiber:

To get adequate fibre from the diet is very important and would help to lower down the creatinine levels. Few research studies say that fibre may have the potential to reduce urea, creatinine levels but more human studies are needed for the same. Some fiber sources include whole grains, nuts, seeds, vegetables, and fruits.

5. Avoid excessive substance abuse:

For achieving optimal health, you need to keep those cigarettes and alcohol aside. It can be detrimental to overall health, kidneys included. So please think and make choices to support your wellbeing.

Lifestyle correction is the key to attain optimal health. Creatinine may rise temporarily and can be reduced. Consult your healthcare provider for helping you in the process.