Berries for your renal health

Kidney is one of the major organs for our body to remove metabolic waste products. It is becoming the focus of many scientific investigations due to the increasing incidence of metabolic syndrome. Injuries to the kidney can also arise due to complications from major surgeries (such as coronary artery bypass and kidney transplants) or in response to injury of distal organs. Additionally, primary kidney diseases may be due to some inflammation-induced conditions. Signaling pathways in the injured organ can induce inflammation, resulting in pathophysiological conditions that lead to organ dysfunction and potentially organ failure. Recent research data in cells, animal models and human trials have demonstrated the bioactivities of berry polyphenols. In addition to the antioxidant properties, these polyphenols have anti-inflammatory properties and were found to have protective effects against acute kidney injury and chronic kidney diseases. Berries grown both in the northern hemisphere (such as blueberries and lingonberries) and the tropics (such as acai, black mulberry and madroño) share a similar arsenal of bioactive compounds, albeit at varying amounts. Adding and consuming berries in your daily diet may have beneficial effects for your kidney and help alleviate incidences of kidney diseases.