Kidney Smart Campaign
The Kidney Smart Campaign is an annual initiative of the BC Renal Agency, designed to raise awareness about the importance of healthy eating to protect both our kidneys and heart.
The campaign takes place in March and encourages people to make Kidney Smart dietary choices.
What is a Kidney Smart diet?
A Kidney Smart diet essentially follows the recommendations of Canada’s Food Guide. In addition to being good for your kidneys, a Kidney Smart diet is also good for your heart.
Reduce your chances of developing kidney disease by following these Kidney Smart tips (available in 4 languages):
What you should know about your kidneys
Unless you’ve been diagnosed with kidney disease, you probably haven’t given much thought to your kidneys. You may not know that kidney health is closely related to heart health, and that your life depends on your kidneys. If they were to fail, you would need regular dialysis treatments or a kidney transplant to survive.
In BC an estimated one in 10 people has some level of kidney disease, but most don’t even know it. Over 90 percent of people with early-stage kidney disease have no symptoms. Without diagnosis and treatment, this means their kidney health can gradually deteriorate over time until their kidneys no longer function properly.
Are you at risk of kidney disease?
If you have high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease or a family history of kidney disease, you may be at risk. In fact, up to 40 percent of people with diabetes and 35 percent with heart disease also have some level of kidney disease. As well, people of Asian, Aboriginal, African, and South Asian descent are at increased risk.
View the Kidney Smart Public Service Announcement
View the Kidney Month Public Service Announcement
The good news
If kidney disease is diagnosed early, its progression can often be slowed and sometimes stopped through medication and changes to lifestyle and diet. If you are in one of the risk categories listed above, talk to your family doctor about assessing your kidney health with a quick and easy blood test.
You can also find out more about your risk level for kidney disease by completing the kidney self-assessment.
Kidney Month and World Kidney Day
March is Kidney Health Month in Canada. Learn more about Kidney Month and World Kidney Day.
Upcoming events
Join us at these events for your chance to learn about kidney health:
2013 Vancouver Diversity Health Fair
Date: Saturday, March 9
Time: 10:00AM - 3:00PM
Location: Croatian Cultural Centre, 3250 Commercial Drive, Vancouver
Website: 2013 Vancouver Diversity Health Fair
Granville Island Public Market
Date: Monday, March 11
Time: 9:00AM - 5:00PM
Location: Granville Island Public Market
Website: Granville Island Public Market
Vancouver Winter Farmer’s Market
Date: Saturday, March 23
Time: 10:00AM - 2:00PM
Location Nat Bailey Stadium (30th and Ontario Street, Vancouver)
Website: Vancouver Winter Farmer's Market
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter and enter to win a Kidney Smart American Apparel hoodie and other great prizes!