Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU), Health Sciences Faculty, Nutrition and Dietetics Department academic staff member Assist. Prof. Dr. Müjgan Öztürk released a statement on World Kidney Day. The statement issued by Assist. Prof. Dr. Öztürk reads as follows:
“Every year, the second Thursday of March is celebrated as the World Kidney Day. This year, the day will be observed on 12 March, with the aim of increasing awareness about kidney health and kidney diseases. Kidney diseases affect people of all age groups, and globally one out of every five men and one out of every four women aged between 65 and 74 lives with chronic kidney failure. The 2026 theme of World Kidney Day has been determined as “Kidney Health for All: Caring for People and Protecting the Planet.” The theme emphasizes that early diagnosis of kidney diseases can be achieved through routine screenings, particularly among high-risk individuals with conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and obesity. It is highlighted that early diagnosis enables early intervention, which is important both for protecting patients’ health and safeguarding planetary health in the long term. Moreover, air pollution, rising temperatures, dehydration, and extreme weather events have been identified as factors that increase the risk of chronic kidney disease and accelerate its progression.
Nutrition plays a crucial role in both preventing and treating kidney diseases. The first step in protecting against kidney diseases is ensuring dietary variety and consuming foods from all food groups in a balanced manner. Numerous studies show that the Mediterranean diet—rich in whole grains, olive oil, herbs, vegetables and fruits, fish, legumes, and low-fat dairy products, and low in red meat, saturated fat, and sugar—has protective effects against kidney diseases.
It is known that 25% of greenhouse gas emissions are attributed to the food sector. Adopting the Mediterranean diet, which is a sustainable dietary pattern, and replacing animal-based proteins with plant-based proteins is important not only for its contribution to protecting kidney health, but also for its role in reducing water and carbon footprints.
In summary, by organizing our meal times, including all food groups and increasing dietary diversity, choosing plant-based protein sources such as legumes and fiber-rich foods, consuming sufficient amounts of vegetables at every meal, including whole grains in our diet, reducing red meat consumption, and avoiding ultra-processed foods, beverages, and excessive salt, we can protect both our kidney health and the environment.
In addition to these recommendations, a regular lifestyle is as essential as proper nutrition in protecting kidney health. In this context, sleeping 7–8 hours every night, maintaining a healthy body weight by losing excess weight, engaging in regular physical activity, avoiding smoking, and limiting alcohol consumption, if one consumes alcohol, are important steps that can help prevent kidney diseases.”
