Dr. Henry G. Bieler's View of the Kidneys

By David L. Duffy, MD

Dr. Henry G. Bieler in his book Food Is Your Best Medicine (Random House, Inc. Feb 1966, Chapter 11) discusses the role of the kidneys and the relationship between kidney function and blood pressure.

Each kidney has about a million filtering units called glomeruli. Each day the kidney filters 1, 700 quarts of blood. In the filtration process the kidney reabsorbs water, sugar, and important minerals and eliminates chemicals which are not needed.

What Dr. Bieler calls "metabolic water" is the water content of fruits, vegetables, meats and milk which are eaten and also the water produced from the metabolism of sugars, starches and fats. The end product of carbohydrate metabolism is carbon dioxide and water. Metabolic water is reabsorbed and re‑used. Carbon dioxide is eliminated through the lungs.

A diet consistent of plenty of fruits and vegetables and a small amount of milk and meat contains enough water for man's needs. We get thirsty when we eat salty and spicy foods or have concentrated sweets and starches. Fruits and vegetables contain 70 to 90% water. Milk contains 85% water. The water content of meat is 50 to 60%. The water found in fruits and vegetables is more beneficial to the body than chemically processed tap water.

Dr. Bieler says: "But when the arterial blood contains abnormal impurities, due to improper diet, the kidneys need extra oxygen to force elimination; this extra oxygen is supplied by the adrenal glands. Nature wisely placed these glands near the kidneys, so that their internal secretion (adrenoxidase) can supply oxygen faster, in order to overcome any strain on the process taking place in the globule of the kidney. As I have noted earlier, the abnormal diet of civilized man throws extra work upon his adrenals. Thus, the hard‑working adrenals help to facilitate elimination of waste products through the kidneys, but this additional task tends to deplete the adrenal glands and perhaps shorten the individual's life".

From modern research we know that the adrenal gland makes cortisol and aldosterone. Cortisol affects body water. It retards the migration of water into cells and promotes excretion of water through the kidneys. It increases the rate of glomerular filtration and directly affect renal tubules.

The result is to prevent water intoxication and increase free water clearance. The other adrenal hormone called aldosterone acts upon the kidney to increase sodium retention and increase potassium excretion. The reabsorption of water follows the reabsorption of sodium. Dr. Bieler was correct in the sense that the adrenal glands have a great effect on the kidneys but he did not have a detailed knowledge of the biochemistry that we have today

Dr. Bieler strongly discourages that idea that we purify the body by drinking lots of water. Pushing excess fluid around the body is more work for the heart and can lead to sudden death. He also thinks that intravenous fluids are overrated. Additional adrenal stimulation may lead the kidneys to boost their function and help eliminate toxins, but this depends upon the strength of the adrenal glands.

According to Dr. Bieler blood pressure reflects the close relationship between the heart and the kidneys. When the kidneys are damaged blood pressure goes up. If 1,000 glomeruli filter a unit of blood in two minutes what would happen if 500 glomeruli were destroyed? It would take 4 minutes to filter the same unit of blood at the same pressure. In order to drive a unit of blood through the 500 glomeruli in 2 minutes you have to raise the flow of blood through the kidney and thus you need to increase the pressure to push the blood through the damaged kidney.

Elevating the blood pressure is an emergency measure to push the blood through a damaged kidney. Dr. Bieler notes that the high blood pressure here is the result of kidney impairment.

Then Dr. Bieler asks how the kidneys become damaged. When the liver is able to eliminate wastes properly the kidneys are protected. When the liver is overwhelmed and wastes build up the kidneys are forced to a level of function leading to damage. Dr. Bieler says that the common irritants to the kidney are salt, toxic protein acids, metals and drugs. He also cites the experiments of Dr. Goldblatt concerning renal artery stenosis.

From modern medicine we have three classic illustrations of kidney damage: kidney disease due to diabetes, kidney disease due to immune deposits, and renal artery stenosis.

In diabetes, sugar deposits in the basement membrane of the glomerulus. Chronic damage leads to the leakage of protein in the urine and ultimate renal failure. What is called "immune‑complex glomerulonephritis" involves acute inflammation of the kidney with deposits of antibodies directed against the kidneys. This leads to inflammation and progressive damage. Atherosclerosis of the artery to one of the kidneys deprives that kidney of blood flow. As a result of lack of blood flow the affected kidney increases the production of the hormone" called "renin". In turn the renin affects the production of the hormone angiotensin in the lung. Angiotensin constricts arteries and raises the blood pressure. Renal artery stenosis of one kidney leads to the enlargement and overwork of the opposite kidney.

Dr. Bieler illustrates his treatment of hypertension with three case studies. The first patient had a blood pressure of 260/110. The urine was clear. He did not have excess fluid in the body. He had been consuming large amounts of protein all his life. The treatment of this type of patient consists of vegetable broth for five to seven days. The blood pressure comes down to normal 120/80 as the kidney function returns to normal. If the blood pressure does not come down in a short period of time, it may reflect a greater degree of damage to the kidneys.

The second case was a woman with edema of the body. Extra water in the body caused the legs to swell three times their normal circumference. Her hands and face were swollen. She had eaten large amounts of cream all her life. Dr. Bieler attributed her kidney damage to excess fats. The urine had much debris ("casts"). She was taken off all fats, including cream and butter. Her only carbohydrate was raw cane sugar. She was given plenty of raw and stewed fruits and vegetables. The edema disappeared after three weeks. Afterwards she limited her consumption of cream.

The third case was a man bedridden with massive edema of the legs, abdomen, and lungs. The condition is called "ascites". He passed only a small amount of urine and that was filled with albumen. He had been a heavy starch eater all this life. His blood pressure was 200/120. The treatment consisted of only grapefruit juice and 20% milk enemas. The urine began to clear. In two weeks he lost 45 pounds. The blood pressure came down to 120/90. After three weeks he returned to normal activity.

Like Arnold Ehret, Dr. Bieler did not have complete understanding of the biochemistry of what he observed but he was on the right track. When a person has hypertension you should ask whether the liver and kidneys are overworked. Therapy consists of simplifying the diet to fruits and vegetables to give the body metabolic rest. Allow the body to restore its metabolic balance and alleviate the strain on the heart. The body is the ultimate team. The breakdown of one organ leads to overuse and breakdown of other organs. In this case an overworked liver leads to overworked kidneys and ultimately and overworked heart.

It is my recommendation we all should start with Ehret's Mucusless diet and have at least 60‑70% fruits and vegetables. The amount of concentrated carbohydrates and proteins needs to be individualized. I would completely avoid junk food and overly processed foods. Whole grains such as wheat, brown rice, and oats should be eaten in moderation. If one chooses to have dairy products such as milk or yogurt it should be eaten in moderation. If one chooses to eat meat or fish it should be eaten in small amounts. The idea is to feed the body what it truly needs. It does not help to starve oneself when one needs protein. Nor does it help to stuff oneself with unnecessary foods which overburden the liver, kidneys and heart.

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Dr. Henry G. Bieler's View of the Kidneys
BY David L. Duffy, MD

About the author:
Dr. David L. Duffy, MD graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1971. He trained in Internal Medicine and Ambulatory Care at Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, from 1971 ­ 1975. He continued seeing patients and supervising interns and residents at the Montefiore Medic Clinic until 1980. From 1981­1988 he had a private medical practice in Oceanside, California. In 1988 he returned to New York to work at Metropolitan Hospital Center in Manhattan. From 1996 to 2005 he served as Section Chief of General Internal Medicine. He also served as Chairman of the Patient Education Committee from 1999 to 2005. His medical office is located at 27­10 30th Avenue, Suite LA, Astoria, NY 11102. Astoria is in a section of Queens County, NY a part of New York City. Dr. Duffy is only available by appointment. Dr. Duffy can be reached by phone at 718­932­9870. Dr. Duffy will not be available for phone, fax, mail or e­mail consultations.

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Mucusless Diet Healing System.

Mucusless Diet Healing System is available from Ehret Literature Publishing for $4.95 (US) online. Click here to purchase Professor Arnold Ehret's Mucusless Diet Healing System.