Benefits of Pumpkin for Polycystic Kidney Disease and Ayurvedic Treatment: A blog about pumpkin being a wonderful food for PKD
Kidney cysts are fluid-filled pouches formed in or on the kidneys. The simple cysts are non-cancerous, thus not fatal. These cysts are silent and rarely cause serious health problems. Simple cysts differ from complex cysts. A complex cyst needs to be observed for changes that might be cancerous. Simple kidney cysts are different from the cysts in Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD).
Polycystic kidney disease is a genetic disorder in which a large number of cysts develop primarily within your kidneys. These cysts vary in size and number. If you have many cysts or large-sized cysts, these cysts will obstruct your kidney function. It would lead to an increase in the size of kidneys but the loss of their function.
A kidney cyst mostly remains quiet and is often found during an imaging test for other complications. PKD usually gives symptoms after it starts hampering your kidney functions. Polycystic kidney disease may give symptoms like:
- Back pain/side pain
- Blood in urine
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Headaches
- High blood pressure
- Increased abdominal size due to enlargement of kidneys
- Kidney failure
- Urinary tract or kidney infections
If you are finding the above-mentioned symptoms, you must consult your doctor. If you have a first-degree relative (parents, sibling, or child) with polycystic kidney disease, consult your doctor for screening for this disorder.
If you want to know the reasons for the formation of these cysts, the answer is that researchers still are unable to find the root cause. They only know that simple cysts aren’t inherited while PKD usually is.
Polycystic kidney disease treatment in ayurveda
As per Ayurveda, the Vata, Pitta, and Kapha doshas drive the Kidney’s function in the body. However, if people suffer an imbalance of the doshas, a kidney cyst or Gurda Granthi may be formed. Polycystic Kidney disease varies in severity and the complications are preventable.
According to Ayurveda, the problem may arise in the body due to improper eating habits, an undisciplined lifestyle, and a lack of physical activity. Ayurvedic way of lifestyle and treatment can help you regulate PKD. The ayurvedic medicine system and its suggestive Lifestyle changes might help you reduce damage to your kidneys from severe complications.
Pumpkin, a plant native to South America, now grows worldwide. Pumpkin fruit, seeds, and oil are also used to make medicine. Pumpkin fruit and seed are commonly used in the diet. The chemicals in pumpkin seeds can increase urination, which might help relieve bladder and prostate discomfort. Some chemicals in pumpkins might also help reduce swelling in the prostate. People commonly use pumpkins for prostatic hyperplasia. It is also used for UTIs, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these other uses. It is also possibly effective for Enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH). Taking pumpkin seed or pumpkin seed oil products by mouth might help relieve BPH symptoms. There is interest in using pumpkins for several other purposes, but there isn’t enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful or not.
Free radicals are the chemicals produced in your body during the metabolic process. They are highly unstable and have useful roles such as destroying harmful bacteria. But, it should also be kept in mind that excessive free radicals in your body create a state called oxidative stress. The state of oxidative stress has been linked to chronic illnesses like heart disease and cancer. Pumpkins are also a good source of antioxidants like alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, and beta-cryptoxanthin. These antioxidants neutralise the free radicals, stopping them from damaging your cells.
Pumpkin is loaded with nutrients helpful in boosting your immunity. It is high in beta-carotene, which inside the body is turned into vitamin A. Studies show that vitamin A is found useful in strengthening your immune system and helps you fight infections. On the contrary, people with a vitamin A deficiency are also found to have a weaker immune system. Pumpkin is also found high in vitamin C content, which is involved in increasing white blood cell production. It also helps immune cells work more effectively and make wounds heal faster. Pumpkin is also found as a good source of vitamin E, iron, and folate. These all have been shown to aid the immune system as well.
Pumpkin contains a variety of nutrients helpful for your heart’s health. It is found to contain a high amount of potassium, vitamin C, and fibre, which have been linked to heart benefits. For example, it is seen that people with higher potassium intakes appear to have lower blood pressure and a reduced risk of strokes.
Pumpkin is also high in antioxidants, which may protect from oxidising “bad” or LDL cholesterol. On oxidation, LDL cholesterol particles clump along the walls of blood vessels and can restrict your vessels and raise your risk of heart disease
Who Shouldn’t Eat Pumpkin?
Pumpkin is very healthy and is considered a safe food for most. However, some people may experience allergies after eating pumpkins. So, it is a big “NO” to them.
It’s also found to have mild diuretic action. This means consuming a large amount of pumpkin may induce a “water pill” or diuretic effect. This effect may be harmful to people taking certain medicines containing lithium. Diuretics impair the body’s ability to remove lithium and this could cause serious side effects.
Since potassium content is high in pumpkin, people undergoing hemodialysis and other people with high potassium levels, if prescribed for a low potassium diet, should limit pumpkin.
It is important to limit your potassium, sodium, and phosphorus intake for patients undergoing dialysis. Fresh or frozen fruits or vegetables often contain no salt. Therefore these are considered kidney-healthy foods. However, the canning of fruits can have unduly high levels of sodium and potassium.
It is also advised to avoid caffeine and drinks. Similarly, dairy products should be replaced with low-phosphorus non-dairy items.
To avoid protein deficiency, one should seek leaner sources of proteins such as eggs and seafood instead of red meat, and also should keep cholesterol in check.
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