The kidneys are two of the most important organs in our body. Not only do they make urine, which expels contaminants from the body, but they sift through that urine, ensuring that essential vitamins and minerals do not leave by way of waste water. The kidneys perform many other functions that fall under the radar as well. They adjust our bodily fluid levels, balance the amount of chemicals and release hormones that produce activity in other areas of the body. Well-functioning kidneys are vital to a long and healthy life, and there are things you can do to keep your kidneys in tip-top shape.
Step 1
Feed them a steady diet of oxygen-rich blood. Kidneys need a fresh supply of good blood cells to do their job. You may not think you have a hand in helping to ensure that the kidneys are getting all the oxygen they need, but you do. Much of it comes down to diet. A diet that is high in fat and carbohydrates will clog up arteries and blood vessels, thus slowing down the flow of blood throughout the body, depriving the kidneys of the rich oxygenated blood they require to work most efficiently.
Step 2
Stop smoking. We're all aware of what smoking does to the lungs and heart. But there is much less public awareness about what smoking does to the kidneys. As stated earlier, the kidneys require oxygenated blood to do their jobs. Smoking destroys oxygen in the blood, giving the kidneys less to do their jobs with. Smoking also affects the tiny blood vessels in the kidney, damaging the internal structure and leading to kidney disease and failure.
Step 3
Maintain your weight. How much a person weighs is often directly in relation to how they treat their body. Because of this, being overweight is undoubtedly bad for the kidneys as well as the other organs and arteries that allow your body to function. An important step in controlling your weight involves frequent exercise (30 minutes a day if possible). An exercise can be anything that increases your heart rate. Even cleaning the house qualifies as exercise.
Step 4
Watch what you eat. There are certain guidelines and general rules that you can follow for healthy kidneys. There are foods that affect kidney function, either directly or indirectly, more than others. Salt will raise blood pressure and increase water retention in the body. Because the kidneys are responsible for adjusting our fluid levels, a diet high in salt makes their job harder. High-fat proteins clog arteries and shut off blood flow. They also create additional waste products that the kidneys have to get rid of.
Step 5
Drink lots of fluids. On average, a good recommendation is four to six cups of fluids in a day. Water is a natural cleanser for the body. Generally, good clean water is absent of contaminants and does a fair job of moving germs and bacteria through our bodies and to the kidneys. Keeping the kidneys active and hydrated is a good step to take for kidney health.
