5 Tips For a Healthy Kidney

The kidney's major function is to excrete the waste products from the body. Through its more or less 3 million functional unit called nephrons, this vital organ is responsible in cleansing the body of acidic wastes coming from physiological processes. When these toxic substances are not properly excreted, they amass inside the system and consequently cause the other vital organs to be dysfunctional as well. This will result to organ shut down, coma and eventually death. It is important therefore, that you must be aware on how to keep your kidneys healthy. Here are some tips that you could easily utilize.

1. Drink lots of water

The body is composed of 60 - 70 % of water. Without water, cells would not survive and biochemical and physiologic processes in the body would not occur properly. The common knowledge is to drink at least eight glasses a day. You could do better if you increase your intake: two glasses upon waking up, one glass before and after every meal and two glasses before going to bed.

Drinking water before each meal will also lessen your "hunger" for more carbohydrates thus is a supportive measure when you are dieting. Ice-cold water is not advisable, as cold temperatures will deter the metabolism of foodstuff. Lipids are hardened and are more difficult to digest. The kidney responds to water intake accordingly. A healthy kidney would reabsorb what the body needs and dispense any excess. The more frequently you drink, the more you micturate. This action would enhance the excretion of metabolic wastes and would retain the integrity of the kidneys, making it healthy.

2. Avoid salty foods

Sodium chloride is the chemical name of our common table salt. Sodium and chloride are electrolytes and are responsible in maintaining water electrolyte balance and the acidity and alkalinity of blood. If they are ingested in excess, they can cause an imbalance and cause their accumulation in the kidneys, which would lead to kidney dysfunction eventually. A healthy kidney needs lots of water to "cleanse" it of impurities and of metabolic wastes.

3. Avoid alcohol

Alcohol is a diuretic, a substance that causes frequent urination or micturation, but it also causes the prevention of the excretion of other substances like uric acid. This would result to kidney stones or gouty arthritis. Uric acid is one of the causes of nephrolithiasis or kidney stones. A healthy kidney would properly excrete uric acid and other waste products.

4. Don't control your urge to urinate

If you feel like urinating, then do not stop the urge. Go and relieve yourself. The kidneys could only hold as much water as it can. Although kidney cells are elastic, imagine if that elasticity is persistently brought to its full capacity. Eventually it will wear out. One exercise for urinary incontinence is to control your urge to urinate, but well, you do not have that condition, so go on, and use the john.

5. Live a healthy life

The body is like one, oiled machinery. If one portion is not functioning well, then everything is affected. Eat well, sleep well, and live well. Meat fat can cause several diseases, so chomp on your veggies. Smoking can cause lung cancer, so throw out those life-threatening sticks.

Your kidneys have more chances of staying healthy if all of your body organs are healthy too.