How to Keep Your Kidneys Healthy?

Your kidneys are fist-sized organs located at the base of your rib cage, on either side of your spine. They perform several functions.

Most importantly, they filter waste products, excess water and other impurities from your blood. These wastes are stored in your bladder and then excreted through your urine to help keep your kidneys healthy.

In addition, your kidneys regulate the pH, salt and potassium levels in your body. They also produce hormones that regulate blood pressure and control the production of red blood cells.

Your kidneys are also responsible for activating a form of vitamin D that helps your body absorb calcium to build bone and regulate muscle function.

Keeping your kidneys healthy is important for your overall health and general well-being. By keeping your kidneys healthy, your body will properly filter and excrete waste and produce hormones to help your body function properly.

Here are some tips to help keep your kidneys healthy

1. Stay active and kidneys healthy

Regular exercise is not only good for your waistline. It can reduce the risk of chronic kidney disease. It can also lower your blood pressure and promote your heart health, both of which are important for preventing kidney damage.

You don't have to run a marathon to reap the rewards of exercise. Walking, running, biking, and even dancing can all be good for your health. Find an activity that will keep you busy and have fun. It will be easier to stick with and have great results.

2. Control your blood sugar to help keep your kidneys healthy

People with diabetes, or a condition that causes high blood sugar, may experience kidney damage. When your body's cells can't use the glucose (sugar) in your blood, your kidneys have to work extra hard to filter your blood. After years of trying, this can lead to life-threatening damage.

However, if you can control your blood sugar, you can reduce the risk of damage. And, if the damage is caught early, your doctor can take steps to reduce or prevent additional damage to help keep your kidneys healthy.

3. Monitor your blood pressure to help keep your kidneys healthy

High blood pressure can lead to your kidneys healthy damage. If high blood pressure occurs in conjunction with other health problems such as diabetes, heart disease or high cholesterol, the impact on your body can be dramatic.

A healthy blood pressure reading is 120/80. pre-hypertension is between that point and 139/89. Lifestyle and dietary changes may help lower your blood pressure at this point.

If your blood pressure readings are consistently higher than 140/90, you may have high blood pressure. You should talk to your doctor about monitoring your blood pressure regularly, making changes to your lifestyle, and possibly taking medications.

4. Monitor your weight and eat a healthy diet to help keep your kidneys healthy

People who are overweight or obese are at risk for a number of health conditions that can damage the kidneys. These conditions include diabetes, heart disease and kidney disease.

A healthy diet low in sodium, processed meats and other kidney-damaging foods may help reduce the risk of your kidneys healthy damage. Focus on eating fresh ingredients that are naturally low in sodium, such as cauliflower, blueberries, fish, and whole grains.

5. Drink plenty of fluids to help keep your kidneys healthy

There's no magic behind the cliché of drinking eight glasses of water a day, but it's a good goal to aim for precisely because it encourages you to stay hydrated. Regular, consistent water intake is healthy for your kidneys.

Water helps remove sodium and toxins from your kidneys. It also reduces your risk of developing chronic kidney disease.

Aim for at least 1.5 to 2 liters a day. How much water you really need depends largely on your kidneys healthy and lifestyle. Factors such as climate, exercise, gender, overall health, and whether you are pregnant or breastfeeding should all be considered when planning your daily water intake.

People who have previously had kidney stones should drink more water to help prevent future stone deposits.

6. Don't smoke to help keep your kidneys healthy

Smoking can damage the blood vessels in your body. This causes blood flow throughout your body and kidneys to slow down.

Smoking also puts your kidneys at increased risk for cancer. If you stop smoking, your risk will go down. However, it will take many years Trusted Source to return to the risk levels of people who have never smoked.

7. Watch the number of over-the-counter medications you take 

to help keep your kidneys healthy

If you take over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers regularly, you may be causing kidney damage. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including ibuprofen and naproxen, can damage your kidneys if you take them regularly for chronic pain, headaches, or arthritis.

8. Kidney function tests can keep your kidneys healthy if you are at high risk

If you are at high risk for kidney injury or kidney disease, it is a good idea to have regular kidney function tests to help keep your kidneys healthy. The following people may benefit from regular testing.

People over 60 years old
People who were underweight at birth
People who have cardiovascular disease or have family members with this disease
People who have or have a family history of high blood pressure
People who are obese
People who think they may have kidney damage
Regular kidney function tests are a good way to learn about your kidneys healthy and check for possible changes. Knowing about any damage ahead of time can help slow or prevent future damage.

9. Be Careful With Alcohol to help keep your kidneys healthy

If you’re healthy, a drink or two isn’t likely to hurt your kidneys. But binge drinking (having more than four drinks in less than 2 hours) can cause sudden, serious damage and possibly lead to long-term problems. And alcohol often can dehydrate you, which can keep your kidneys from working well and lead to weight gain, liver disease, high blood pressure, and other conditions that put more stress on them.

10. Watch Your Salt to help keep your kidneys healthy

This mineral affects people in different ways. For some, it seems to raise the amount of protein in their urine. That can harm your kidneys or make kidney disease worse if you already have it. Lots of salt also raises your chances of high blood pressure, a typical cause of kidney disease, and kidney stones, which can be very painful and possibly cause damage without treatment.

When kidneys healthy go wrong

Waste buildup in your body can cause serious problems and lead to death. To remedy this, your blood would have to be filtered artificially through dialysis, or you would need a kidney transplant.

References

1. Ways to Keep Your Kidneys Healthy - WebMD

2. 8 Ways to Keep Your Kidneys Healthy - Healthline

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