The Incredible Kidney

Did you know that about 1000 liters of fluid are filtered by your kidneys every day?  Our blood contains toxic molecules taken up from food or metabolic degradation, which our kidneys filter out.  Though 95% of urine is water, the other 5% contains poisons that would be fatal.  Our kidneys also remove acid and maintain a healthy balance of water, salts, and minerals —so that our nerves and muscles can function.  The kidneys are highly selective and sensitive, and know exactly how much salts and minerals to balance.  If the kidneys fail entirely, that person has only days to live without dialysis.

A Healthy Life for Healthy Kidneys

Maintaining healthy kidneys is not complicated - primarily it is about general health and a healthy lifestyle, which is good for everyone anyway!  The following are steps for keeping kidneys healthy (source: MedicalNewsToday.com): 

Eating a balanced diet: Many kidney problems result from high blood pressure and diabetes. As a result, maintaining a nutritious, well-balanced diet can prevent several common causes of kidney disease. 

Getting enough exercise: Exercising for 30 minutes every day can reduce the risk of high blood pressure and obesity, both of which put pressure on kidney health.

Drinking plenty of water:  About 4–6 glasses of water per day can help improve and maintain kidney health.

Manage supplements and medicines: Be careful when taking supplements and medicine, as excessive use can harm your kidneys.

Limiting salt: Limit sodium intake to a maximum of 2,300 milligrams, and ideally 1,500 milligrams, each day.

Avoiding alcohol: Consuming more than one drink per day for females and two per day for males can harm the kidneys and impair renal function.

Avoiding smoking: Tobacco smoke restricts blood vessels. Without an adequate blood supply, the kidneys will not be able to complete their normal work.

Screening: Screen for high blood pressure or diabetes as warning signs to improve your health, and consider regular kidney screening.

Managing diabetes and heart disease: Following a doctor’s recommendations for managing these conditions can help protect the kidneys in the long term.

Sleep and stress control: Medical research recommends getting 7–8 hours of sleep each night and seeking out activities to reduce stress.