When plants are eaten we actually ingest the plant’s immune system. Our bodies benefit from some of the compounds in plant foods. Learn more about antioxidants and anti-inflammatory benefits from eating a plant-based diet.

Antioxidants Defined

Antioxidant is a term that most of us are familiar with, yet few understand the definition. Simply put, an antioxidant is a compound that stops oxidation from occurring in the body. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that occurs in the body that produces free radicals. While not all oxidation is bad, having high amounts of free radicals in the body is linked to the development of multiple chronic diseases. This includes cancer, heart disease, brain disorders and more. Therefore, having an insufficient amount of antioxidants in the diet may contribute to a decline in health.

Inflammation

Inflammation is another term commonly used in health care and is of special significance to dialysis patients. Why? Their bodies experience varying levels of inflammation due to the nature of the dialysis process. Inflammation occurs in response to cell damage in the body. Similar to oxidation, inflammation is linked to numerous disease states when it becomes chronic or occurs in excess. Consuming foods known to have anti-inflammatory properties may help to minimize the damaging effects of this process.

Kidney-Friendly Foods to Fight Disease

Despite the necessary dietary restrictions for dialysis patients, there are still a wide variety of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory foods that can be included in the kidney diet. However, in order to keep potassium and phosphorus levels under control, aim to consume no more than 1/2 cup serving at a meal or snack.

Some of the best sources include:

Embracing Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Foods

Eating a diet rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory foods can significantly increase the body’s ability to fight disease. It can also aid in the healing process when disease is already present. Check out DaVita.com recipes for more ideas of ways to incorporate these foods into your everyday kidney-friendly diet!