Your Kidneys Work Hard. Are You Protecting Them? with Dr. Stephan Esser

Summary

Dr. Stefan Esser explains how the kidneys filter blood and regulate several essential body functions, then discusses common causes of kidney damage and habits he believes can help protect kidney health.

What the kidneys do

• Each kidney contains millions of tiny filtering units called nephrons. Blood is filtered through structures including the glomeruli and tubules; useful water and substances are retained while waste, excess fluid, and salt are removed.
• Esser says the kidneys filter about 50 gallons of blood per day and receive a substantial share of the blood pumped by the heart.
• The kidneys produce urine, help regulate blood volume and blood pressure, and maintain the body’s tightly controlled acid–base balance.
• They also contribute to vitamin D activation and produce erythropoietin, which supports the production of red blood cells.

Tests and indicators to know

Esser highlights several measures used to assess kidney function:

• GFR (glomerular filtration rate): An estimate of how effectively the kidneys filter blood. He presents a higher GFR as generally preferable and says a declining value can indicate impaired function.
• BUN (blood urea nitrogen): A measure of nitrogen in the blood associated with protein breakdown.
• Creatinine: A waste product related to muscle activity and metabolism that is measured in the blood.

He emphasizes monitoring rather than guessing about health, including checking blood pressure and getting routine laboratory tests.

Common kidney problems

• Kidney stones: Esser describes calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate, struvite, and cystine stones. He says stones can form when substances accumulate and crystallize, potentially blocking urine flow, causing inflammation, and damaging kidney tissue. Stones entering the ureter can cause severe pain.
  • He argues that higher meat and animal-protein consumption is associated with greater stone risk, while eating more fruits, vegetables, and fiber-rich foods is associated with lower risk.
  • He notes that oxalate-rich foods such as spinach may matter more for people with a strong predisposition or certain medication exposures. He suggests that most people eating a whole-food, plant-based diet need not avoid them solely because of oxalate.
• High-blood-pressure-related kidney damage: He explains that persistent high pressure can damage the delicate kidney vessels and nephrons, leading to inflammation, scarring, and reduced filtration.
• Diabetic kidney disease: He says chronically elevated blood sugar can injure small blood vessels and nephrons, contributing to inflammation, scarring, and declining kidney function.
• Chronic kidney disease (CKD): He describes CKD as progressing through stages as GFR falls, with waste products accumulating as kidney function worsens. He stresses that early detection and risk reduction are important.

Lifestyle, diet, and medication factors

Esser identifies both risk factors people may not be able to change—such as age, family history, and some inherited or structural kidney conditions—and factors he says can often be addressed, including diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, smoking, diet, hydration, and some medication use.

His dietary recommendations emphasize:

• Eating more whole plant foods, including vegetables, fruits, berries, greens, herbs, and other foods rich in fiber and micronutrients.
• Limiting meat and animal-based protein, particularly for people with kidney concerns.
• Favoring a diet that is high in fiber, water, polyphenols, and micronutrients.
• Considering individual circumstances: he says people with a history of kidney stones or a strong family history may want to discuss lower oxalate intake, and people with CKD may need individualized protein guidance.

He also cautions that some medicines and supplements may affect kidney function. Examples he names include NSAID pain relievers such as ibuprofen and naproxen, proton-pump inhibitors, diuretics, some laxatives and contrast agents, and certain herbs. He advises reviewing medication and supplement risks with a healthcare professional rather than assuming they are harmless.

Practical kidney-health checklist presented

• Know your BMI and waist-to-hip circumference.
• Check your blood pressure at least monthly; check it daily if it is elevated.
• Get routine labs annually, including a CBC and CMP, and ask about kidney-related markers such as GFR, BUN, and creatinine.
• Pay attention to urine appearance and symptoms. Esser says unusually dark or abnormal-smelling urine, burning, or discharge should prompt evaluation and urine testing.
• Address urinary tract infections, since he warns that an infection can spread to the kidneys.
• Review medications and supplements with a clinician, especially if they may affect kidney function.
• Make food choices deliberately; he frames the refrigerator and pantry as important places where kidney-supportive habits begin.

Overall message: Esser’s central point is that kidney health is influenced by blood pressure, blood sugar, hydration, diet, and medication choices. He encourages routine monitoring and early attention to potential problems. His comments about changing medication or treating kidney disease should be understood as matters to discuss with a qualified clinician, not as instructions to stop treatment independently.

Speakers and sources

• Dr. Stefan Esser — host and presenter of NHA Today. The video title spells his first name “Stephan,” while the subtitles give it as “Stefan.”
• National Health Association (NHA) — the organization and podcast named in the program; no other interview guests or speakers appear in the subtitles.