The
kidneys are vital organs responsible for waste management that is
crucial to maintain you body's chemical balance and blood pressure. If
you don't take good care of your kidneys, you're risking a slew of
health problems, some of which could cause them to shut done altogether.
You may be aware that the kidneys filter the blood, expelling many
waste products in the form of urine. But did you know that these crucial
organs also neutralize acids, absorb minerals and produce hormones?
Along with the liver, the kidneys bear the brunt of the impact from
exposure to toxic substances, which means that they may slowly fail
from chronic poisoning. Because these organs are so important, they are
able to keep functioning even at only 20 percent capacity – which
unfortunately means that kidney disease can go undetected for years.
This makes it all the more important to make sure you are doing all you can to protect your kidneys.
Protect your kidneys from damage.
The best way to take care of your kidneys is, of course, to keep
from mistreating them. Obviously, that means avoiding the abuse of
drugs, including prescription drugs. Painkillers in particular –
including over-the-counter drugs – are a major cause of kidney damage
and failure. Another major cause of kidney failure is chronic sleep
deprivation, which prevents all the body’s organs from getting the
downtime they need to repair themselves.
Be sure to drink plenty of water, which is critical for the kidneys
to fully flush out the toxic substances that they accumulate while
filtering the blood. For a similar reason, make sure to empty your
bladder as frequently as possible, rather than holding your urine in.
Regular urine retention can eventually lead to kidney stones,
incontinence and even kidney failure.
Avoid eating too much salt or sugar. Excessive salt changes the
fluid balance in your body, stressing the kidneys, while studies have
shown that the consumption of two or more sugar-sweetened drinks per day
increases the risk of kidney dysfunction. Caffeine, by raising blood
pressure, also stresses the kidneys, and should therefore be consumed
only in moderation. And while a regular glass of red wine is good for
you, excessive alcohol consumption is a major source of stress and
damage to both kidneys and liver.
One of the major categories of toxins that the kidneys process are
the wastes produced as a byproduct of protein metabolism. That’s why
diets that are especially high in protein – particularly diets low in
other caloric sources, requiring the body to break apart more protein
for energy – are a major source of stress on the kidneys, and can lead
to kidney failure.
Finally, dietary deficiencies in general can stress the kidneys
along with all other bodily organs. In particular, deficiency in
magnesium or vitamin B6 can increase the risk of kidney stones and
kidney failure.
