Your kidneys play an important role in filtering waste and eliminating excess fluids from your body. While most beverages help guard against dehydration, drinking adequate amounts of plain water can help maintain an optimal fluid balance without adding calories, fats and artificial ingredients. Cranberry juice can also play a role in the health of your urinary system, although your bladder is more likely to benefit from this beverage than your kidneys.
Kidney Stones
An inadequate amount of fluid in your body is the main cause of kidney stones. Kidney stones are small masses of crystals that form solid clumps within your kidneys. These stones can cause excruciating pain and may lead to kidney damage and scarring. Most kidney stones contain calcium, a substance that can bind with other minerals and form crystals in your kidneys. Consuming plenty of fluids can help cleanse these minerals from your kidneys before they have a chance to form large crystals that grow into kidney stones. Drinking 6 to and 8 glasses of fluid each day helps produce adequate amounts of urine, aiding in the formation of kidney stones.
Electrolyte Balance
Your kidneys work to maintain a proper balance of electrolytes within your body and regulate the amount of fluids lost and replaced throughout the day. Your body can lose as much as 1 liter, or 1 quart, of water each day through your lungs, skin and feces. Your kidneys perform this function in response to vasopressin, an anti-diuretic hormone that your hypothalamus gland secretes. This hormone causes you to feel thirsty and makes your reabsorb water, reducing the amount of fluids and electrolytes released in the form of urine. Drinking fluids helps you keep your urine dilute and your electrolytes in balance.
Urinary Tract Infections
Cranberry juice comes from the Vaccinium macrocarpon plant. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, cranberry products may help prevent urinary tract infections by keeping bacteria from sticking to the walls of your bladder. While this may be helpful in preventing urinary tract infections from developing, there is no evidence that drinking cranberry juice can help cure an existing infection. Drinking about 3 oz. of cranberry juice per day may help reduce your chances of developing a urinary tract infection.
Precautions
Contact your doctor if you think you have a urinary tract infection or experience kidney pain. Kidney stones and urinary tract infections require medical treatment. Although cranberry juice is generally a safe beverage for most people, drinking excessive amounts of cranberry juice may increase your consumption of sugar, leading to an increase in weight.
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