Which cooking methods can harm your kidneys?

Among cooking methods like stir-frying, making soup, boiling, steaming, or braising, which one is most harmful to health, especially to the kidneys? (Hoa, 35, Hanoi)

Answer:

Among various cooking methods like stir-frying, boiling, steaming, and braising, braised dishes tend to be richer in flavor and more appealing to the palate. However, consuming them too frequently or without controlling the seasoning can be detrimental to health, increasing the risk of many chronic diseases, including kidney disease.

Braised dishes, characterized by slow cooking until tender, are imbued with various seasonings. While spices like onions, garlic, ginger, and lemongrass don't pose health risks, flavor enhancers like salt, fish sauce, and soy sauce can be harmful if not measured carefully, potentially leading to excessive salt intake, which is damaging to the kidneys and overall health.

For the average person, excess salt intake can lead to high blood pressure, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and kidney disease. Essentially, sodium buildup over time causes the body to retain more water to balance sodium levels in the blood. This increases renal blood flow, forcing the kidneys to work harder to filter the blood. This is particularly concerning for individuals with underlying health conditions, as it can exacerbate their illnesses.

Both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Health recommend consuming 4-5g of salt per day, so consider measuring appropriately when cooking. If you frequently eat braised dishes and are accustomed to strong flavors, switching to healthier cooking methods like boiling or steaming may not be easy, as the food might taste bland, affecting meal quality and appetite.

Besides salt in braised dishes, cooks often add sugar based on intuition, making it difficult to measure the amount consumed. Using sugar liberally, especially refined sugar, can lead to problems such as obesity, high blood pressure, and liver damage.

In general, everyone should maintain healthy eating habits by limiting salt, sugar, and fat intake while increasing their consumption of vegetables. For those with kidney disease, diabetes, obesity, or a history of cardiovascular disease, controlling their diet is crucial.