Give your Kidneys an Overhaul Naturally
Your kidneys, the pear shaped organs located near the middle part of your back, are responsible for clearing your body of waste. Over 200 quarts of blood is processed by your kidneys every day. This blood is used to help remove the two quarts of excess water, food & tissue breakdown from your body. That’s a lot of work for these small organs!
Keeping your kidneys healthy is vital to maintaining a healthy body. Here are some natural ways to keep your kidneys healthy:
Kidney Cleanse
A kidney cleanse is a way to detox your kidneys from an unhealthy diet. It helps prevent kidney stones and keeps the kidney functioning smoothly. A kidney cleanse can also improve your urinary tract and bladder function, regulate blood pressure and boost immunity.
Cleanse Components
There are many types of kidney cleanses available, from pills to drinks. Each will vary in how it is used and the ingredients included. Typically, the ingredients are integrated into a whole-foods diet, specifically designed to clean out the kidneys.
Here are some herbs that will help you take a natural approach to enhancing your kidney health:
- Dandelion
- Juniper
- Nettles
- Parsley
- Marshmallow root
- Ginger
- Goldenrod
- Red clover
Incorporate cranberry juice, watermelon, lemon juice & pumpkin seeds into your diet to help cleanse the kidneys.
Vitamins B2 and B6 as well as Magnesium aid in keeping your kidneys clean.
Maintain Kidney Health
You can maintain healthy kidneys by not smoking. Cut back on alcohol and caffeine as well. Keep your blood pressure at a normal level as well as your blood sugar levels. Your cholesterol should be kept in a healthy range. Most of these factors can be done by drinking plenty of water, maintaining a healthy weight, and eating a whole-foods natural diet.
Eat plenty of fruit: Bananas, oranges, apples & melons. Vegetables like carrots, broccoli & peas should be a part of your diet. Add fish such as tuna and snapper as well as small servings of low-fat meat.
Get some form of exercise every day. Take a walk, ride a bike, garden, or swim. It doesn’t matter what you do, 30 minutes of exercise every day will help keep your kidneys healthy.
Reduce the amount of over- the-counter (OTC) pain killers and NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, aspirin or acetaminophen you use. These are all hard on the kidneys.
Prevent Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are a hard mass formed from crystals separated from urine in the urinary tract. Stones normally develop from calcium oxalate.
Symptoms are usually extreme pain in the kidney area or possibly in the lower abdomen. You might also experience difficulty urinating, blood in the urine, fever, or nausea.
The risk of developing kidney stones can be reduced by cutting back on salt and drinking recommended amounts of water. Avoid chocolate, okra, sesame seeds, greens, spinach, nuts, and sweet potatoes if you have a history of kidney stones.
Keep your kidneys clean with an occasional cleanse to remove toxins and waste buildup from unhealthy eating habits. Maintain healthy kidneys by eating a whole-food, healthy diet, exercising regularly and avoiding bad habits like alcohol and smoking.