We are all aware of this well-known fact: kidneys are one of the most important organs in the human body.
They perform important functions, so we really should take good care of them. You all have to know how to protect your kidneys.
Experts claim that our kidneys filter about 120-150 quarts of blood so that they can produce 1-2 quarts of urine, filtering waste and extra fluid out of the body. Some of the vital functions our kidneys perform are: prevent the buildup of waste in the body, keep electrolyte levels stable, and make hormones that regulate blood pressure, make blood cells, and maintain strong bones.
A quite shocking discovery claims that more than 26 million Americans have kidney disease and 1 in 3 American adults is currently at risk for developing the disease!
In the United States only, kidney disease kills more people than breast or prostate cancer. You should really protect your kidneys and take a really good care of them, because numerous factors can lead to kidney damage, such as: type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, a disease called glomerulonephritis, which damages the kidney’s filtering units, infections, kidney stones, and overuse of some over-the-counter pain killers.
The first signs of kidney failure include:
- Fatigue, weakness
- Difficult, painful urination
- Foamy urine
- Pink, dark urine (blood in urine)
- Increased need to urinate (especially at night)
- Puffy eyes
- Increased thirst
In this article, we’re also going to present you several factors that may influence your kidney’s function negatively. Stop doing them right now!
Insufficient Water Intake
If you don’t drink enough water your kidneys may start malfunctioning. As we all know, one of the kidney’s main functions is to flush out metabolic waste from the body and regulate erythrocyte production.
That won’t be possible if you don’t have enough water in your body, so your blood gets more concentrated and the blood flow to the kidneys gets reduced. This affects the kidneys’ ability to remove toxins from the body, which eventually leads to toxin accumulation in the body.
According to the National Kidney Foundation you should drink at least 10-12 glasses of water every day (healthy adults) and this amount will be sufficient for the proper functioning of these vital organs.
Consuming Too Much Coffee
Make sure you don’t consume too much coffee! The caffeine found in coffee can damage your kidneys if it’s in excessive amounts because it can lead to hypertension and overwork your kidneys. This can have some serious consequences.
According to a recent study published by Kidney International, the results discovered a relation between excessive amounts of caffeine and kidney stones because caffeine increases calcium excretion in urine. Try to consume coffee moderately, about 1-2 cups of coffee and 3 cups of tea a day. That’s the only way to protect your kidneys and still drink coffee.
High Salt Consumption
Avoid salt! It can cause significant damage to your kidneys but also damage your health in general. Your kidneys metabolize about 95% of the sodium we take through food so excessively high amounts of it can overwork them and cause complications.
The high sodium consumption makes your kidneys work harder to eliminate the excess salt. Consequently, this results in reduced kidney function and water retention in the body. Water retention can increase blood pressure which further worsens your kidney health. Note: your daily intake of salt shouldn’t exceed the recommended dose of 5 grams a day! Protect your kidneys!
Drinking Too Much Alcohol
Drink alcohol in moderation. Excessive amounts of it can lead to serious kidney problems, but it can also cause numerous other health problems, too! High amounts of alcohol can lead to uric acid being deposited in the renal tubules and leads to tubular obstruction which consequently increases the risk of kidney failure.
Alcohol causes dehydration thus affecting normal kidney function. According to experts, 2 drinks for men and 1 drink for women and seniors is sufficient to protect your kidneys.
Lack of Sleep
Lack of sleep isn’t just bad for your kidneys but it’s bad for your entire organism. Every adult should get 6-8 hours of sound sleep every night.
Anything less can have damaging effects on the long run. While you sleep your organ tissues regenerate, so according to this, when you are sleep deficient, this regeneration process is hindered, which results in kidney and other organ damage.
According to a recent study, lack of sleep can lead to hypertension and atherosclerosis which increase the risk of kidney failure. If you have healthy sleeping habits and a sound wok-rest balance will help your kidneys operate perfectly.
Try some of these habits and protect your kidneys right away!
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