5 Ways to Keep Your Kidneys Healthy

How vital are these two bean-shaped organs in your body? Well, these tiny organs the size of a regular soda can are your very own natural filter to keep your blood clean.

By removing excess waste from the blood vessels, kidneys maintain multiple functions of the human body, including blood pressure and bone growth.

Nowadays, kidney diseases are getting quite common. According to a survey conducted in 2017, approximately 8000 in every 100,000 people globally suffer from chronic kidney disease at some point in their lives.

So, you must take good care of your kidneys to live a fit lifestyle. You can include these five simple steps in your daily routine to keep your kidneys in good shape.

Exercise Regularly

Regular exercise has proven health benefits. According to research, exercise can delay the onset of nearly 40 chronic diseases. It can effectively reduce your blood pressure, cholesterol levels and keep your heart healthy which will ultimately lead to an active pair of kidneys.

Keep in mind, you don’t have to be an athlete from day one. It’s completely okay to start slowly and work your way up. Simple exercises like walking, cycling, stretching are enough to sustain kidney function.

Hydration is Key

Water is like fuel for our bodies. To ensure maximum kidney activity, You need to consume at least 6 to 8 glasses of water daily. It helps remove useless fluids from the human body in the form of urine. Not drinking enough water will lead to severe dehydration causing acute damage to the kidneys.

While it’s crucial to stay hydrated, make sure not to drink too much water as it has its consequences. It can lead to several other health problems.

Avoid too many Antibiotics

Antibiotics are very useful for fighting off infections caused by bacteria, but over-the-top use of antibiotics can impair your kidneys.

Some antibiotics cause injury to the kidney by attacking kidney cells during the filtering process while others induce allergies that disturb the kidneys.

Research suggests 8 to 60 percent of all AKI cases are drug-induced. Vancomycin from the IV group, Aminoglycosides, and penicillin are among the top medications known to damage kidneys.

Maintain a healthy diet

A balanced diet composed of nutritious foods and a perfect amount of fluids can do wonders for your kidneys.

Although you can treat yourself occasionally, some foods to steer clear of include dairy products like butter and cream. They can increase your cholesterol levels significantly which affects kidneys.

Moreover, junk foods like sodas and sweets can cause weight gain which is not good for your kidneys in the long run.

Eating processed meat can also lead to chronic kidney disease. Berries like strawberry and blueberry, cabbage, spinach, and foods containing omega-3 fatty acids like walnuts are known to stimulate kidney health.

Quit Smoking

Smoking has serious effects on the well-being of your kidneys. Research indicates smokers have a significantly increased risk of developing chronic kidney disease compared to non-smokers.

It slows down the flow of blood in the veins. When blood takes time to reach all the organs, including kidneys, it fatally harms them.

The risk of kidney cancer increases by about 50 percent due to chain-smoking. Furthermore, smoking is also known to lessen the working capabilities of medicines used to control high blood pressure.

Conclusion

Keeping your kidneys protected assures a natural and healthy lifestyle. Ignorance and carelessness can result in serious health conflicts as far as requiring a transplant. So, it’s good to worry about your kidneys. As they say, prevention is always better than cure.