However, not all foods are effective. Amaranth is one of them.
Amaranth is a familiar food, rich in vitamins and minerals. But in nutrition and traditional medicine, people who need to nourish the kidneys or improve kidney function are recommended to limit consumption of this vegetable.
The reason is not in whether amaranth is harmful or not, but in its characteristics, ingredients and physiological effects on the body, especially the excretory system.
Amaranth contains relatively high levels of oxalate. Oxalate is a compound that can combine with calcium in the body to form calcium oxalate crystals – one of the main components of kidney stones.
For people with weak kidney function or wanting to nourish the kidneys, that is, to enhance the ability to filter and excrete, consuming a lot of oxalate can increase the burden on the kidneys. This not only does not support the recovery process but also risks worsening the condition, especially in people with a history of kidney stones.
Besides, according to traditional medicine, amaranth has cool properties, helping to clear heat and detoxify. Although this characteristic is useful in many cases, it is not completely suitable for people who need to nourish the kidneys in the direction of strengthening yang qi. Kidneys in traditional medicine are considered organs related to vitality and heat energy of the body. Consuming too many cold foods such as amaranth can reduce yang qi, thereby affecting kidney function according to traditional beliefs.
Another factor to consider is the diuretic effect of amaranth. Although diuretics help the body detoxify, for people with weak kidneys, frequent urination can cause electrolyte imbalance if not well controlled. This is especially important for the elderly or people with blood pressure and kidney function problems.
Amaranth is a nutritious food but not always suitable for everyone. For people who need to nourish their kidneys, limiting amaranth is reasonable to avoid increasing metabolic burden, maintain yin-yang balance and support kidney function more effectively.
Most importantly, the diet needs to be adjusted to suit the personal condition, instead of applying it mechanically.
