Acid fruits in moderation aid digestion and favor suitable elimination, but when eaten to excess, as lemons, taken two or three or more a day by those striving to reduce flesh, the urine is increased in acidity, and irritation of the bladder may ensue.
Too great an amount of food tends to overwork the kidneys as well as the liver and various derangements result; these must be treated dietetically as well as by medicine.
Acute Nephritis
In inflammation of the kidneys (nephritis), the secretion of urine is lessened or may cease. The kidneys and digestive system must not be overworked and all food must be eliminated save milk until the kidney function is restored. It may be diluted with lime or Vichy, or skimmed milk or buttermilk may be used.
Water flushes the kidneys and if the urine increases in amount when water is given its use may be continued. When the amount of urine is diminished or the kidneys are not functioning at all, water, or any fluid or food that gives the kidneys work, must be given only on the advice of a physician, as serious harm may be done unless the inflamed kidneys are given as near perfect rest as possible. Sometimes even milk must be reduced to one pint a day.
In the event that the kidneys do not excrete, the pores of the skin must be kept freely open by sweat baths to assist in the elimination of urea.
Dr. Hall recommends a milk and cream diet of from three to seven pints a day, for a few days, according to the case—two parts of milk to one of cream. If the urine is scanty, he reduces it to one and one-half pints a day, taken in four or five installments. After the three to seven days of milk diet he gradually introduces starches and fats into the diet.
Bright’s Disease
This is an inflammatory condition of the kidneys in which albumin appears in the urine. It results from irritation and may be acute or chronic.
The appearance of albumin in the urine does not always indicate disease. It may be temporary, merely indicating that the diet, for the time being, is too heavy or contains an excess of protein, especially meat. Several tests from one to two weeks apart are often necessary to determine whether the condition is merely temporary or is due to inefficient action of the kidneys.