CSMC promotes improved renal health over the holidays.

 

Dr. Jason Letran of Cardinal Santos Medical Center

For Filipinos, Christmas is more than just a day off; it's a time for joy and celebration, for going home and seeing loved ones. This is typically done in a variety of ways, including hosting events, participating in karaoke, and, of course, partaking in food and beverages. For Filipinos, a feast is necessary for Christmas to be complete! 

Christmas is a time to be merry, but it's also crucial to preserve one's self-control, especially when it comes to how much we eat. Delicious and flavorful meals may also contain a lot of sodium or sugar, which could actually raise the risk of kidney disease stones.

"Sometimes, even our favorite food might affect our physiological systems if we eat too much of it," stated Dr. Jason L., Chief of the Section of Urology at Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CSMC). Letran. "A rise in dietary sodium content increases the quantity of calcium excreted in the urine, but an excess of sugar can result in an increase in urine calcium and a decrease in urine volume, creating the ideal conditions for the development of urinary stones."

When there is an excess of crystal-forming chemicals in urine, such as calcium, oxalate, and uric acid, and not enough fluid to dilute them, kidney stones typically develop. This may lead to

them to unite and solidify.

“Some major dietary aggressors are large amounts of red meat, nuts, seafood, and shellfish

because of the sodium and uric acid content. Junk foods and highly processed foods, too,” said Dr. Letran. “Of course, too much sugar is also bad for the body. It increases your risk of packing on weight, and obesity makes you more prone to developing stones.”