Fried chicken is a favorite food for many, especially children, due to its crunchy texture and delicious taste. However, there have been growing concerns that eating fried chicken may result in kidney failure. Is that true? Check out the review in the following article.
What is kidney failure?
Kidney failure occurs when the kidneys can no longer effectively filter waste and excess fluids from the blood. This condition can occur suddenly or develop gradually over time.
Does eating fried chicken cause kidney failure?
While excessive consumption of fried chicken may not directly cause kidney failure, an unhealthy diet can have a long-term impact on kidney function. There are several factors to consider when consuming fried chicken in terms of kidney health:
High salt and fat content
Fried chicken is typically high in sodium and fat. Excess salt consumption can cause high blood pressure, which is a major risk factor for kidney disease. Fried chicken is also high in saturated fat due to the frying process and the use of cooking oil.
Excess saturated fat consumption can increase the risk of hypertension and metabolic disorders, which may affect kidney health.
High cholesterol and high blood pressure
Eating foods high in saturated fat and cholesterol, such as fried chicken and other fried foods, can increase LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) levels. High cholesterol can cause plaque buildup in arteries, including those leading to the kidneys. This buildup can disrupt blood flow and kidney function.
The combination of high cholesterol and high blood pressure can cause gradual kidney damage, triggering and worsening chronic kidney disease.
Metabolic Issues
Regular consumption of high-calorie, high-fat foods can contribute to obesity and other metabolic problems, which are also risk factors for kidney disease.
Nutritional balance
Fried chicken or other fried foods generally do not meet the nutritional needs of the body. Fried foods are high in calories and low in essential nutrients like fiber, vitamins, and minerals. An unbalanced diet like this can lead to obesity, diabetes, and hypertension, which can impact kidney health.
Limit your consumption of fried chicken to keep your kidneys healthy. Treat it as a treat rather than a staple of your diet. Use healthier cooking methods like baking, boiling, or steaming. If you have a history of kidney problems or other risk factors, see your doctor on a regular basis to monitor your kidney function.
If you need medical advice or consultation, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.
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- Sean Edbert Lim, MBBS
Kayla McDonnell, RD (2023). Why Are Fried Foods Bad for You?. Available from: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/why-fried-foods-are-bad
Health Direct (2023). Kidney failure. Available from: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/kidney-failure
Mayo Clinic (2023). Chronic kidney disease. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-kidney-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20354521
Kidney Disease Research UK. Obesity and kidney disease. Available from: https://www.kidneyresearchuk.org/kidney-health-information/about-kidney-disease/am-i-at-risk/obesity-and-kidney-disease/
Zoltan Szabo, et all (2022). Effects of Repeated Heating on Fatty Acid Composition of Plant-Based Cooking Oils. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8774349/