Top 11 Tips on How to Keep Kidneys Healthy

Kidneys are fist-sized organs that help to flush out toxins from our bodies. They are responsible for the healthy state of our bodies as they filter impurities from the blood. In addition, kidneys also keep the pH balance accurate. Your body’s salt and potassium levels also depend on the function of the kidneys.

Thus, it is essential to maintain healthy kidneys to lead a quality life. A healthy and moderate lifestyle is at the core of keeping healthy kidneys. Follow the article to learn about some effective lifestyle habits on how to keep kidneys healthy.

Tip 1: Keep Your Blood Sugar Level Under Control

Diabetes is harmful to your kidney health. Excess sugar in your blood causes pressure in your kidneys. They need to work more to filter these sugar molecules from your body. Thus, over time, the situation gets worse and causes life-threatening harm. So, you need to keep your sugar level under control to avoid kidney dysfunction.

Tip 2: Exercise Regularly

Exercise is beneficial for overall health. It can boost organ functionality, increase body flexibility and improve immunity. Regular exercise helps to reduce cholesterol and, thus, promotes healthy kidney function.

Tip 3: Intake of More Fluids

Drinking more fluids is a beneficial habit for retaining overall health. It will help to flush out harmful toxins and extra sodium from your kidneys. In addition, staying hydrated is also necessary for lowering the risk of chronic kidney diseases. For this, you need to have 1.5 to 2 litres of water daily; however, it depends on the health condition of people.

For example, if you are a breastfeeding or pregnant woman, you need to drink water as per the guideline of your doctor.

Tip 4: Check Your Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is harmful to your kidney health. Besides, high blood pressure is also connected to other health disorders such as diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease etc. Thus, it will impact your overall health. Therefore, consider blood pressure monitoring as one of the most effective tips for a healthy kidney.

Tip 5: Keep a Healthy Weight

Obese people are always at the stake of several health damages. Besides, obesity also causes damage to kidney function. Thus, keeping a low weight is one of the most important tips for keeping kidneys healthy. For this, one can avoid low-sodium foods, processed meat and other kidney-damaging foods and go for a healthy diet such as fresh vegetables, fish, naturally low-sodium foods etc.

Tip 6: Quit Smoking

Smoking is harmful to your blood vessels, thus hampering the normal blood flow in your body and kidneys. Further, smoking is also a cause of cancer. Therefore, you should quit smoking and live a sober life to get healthy kidneys.

Tip 7: Manage Your Stress

Stress management is important for overall health. It can cause several health diseases and also degrade your daily lifestyle. Thus, it is essential to manage your stress effectively by practising yoga, meditation etc. You need to visit a therapist to manage your mental instability in case of serious stress issues.

Tip 8: Take OTC Pills Carefully

Over-the-Counter (OTC) pills or pain medicines are responsible for kidney damage. People who take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as naproxen and ibuprofen for headaches, chronic pain and arthritis are more prone to kidney damage. Hence, you should avoid these drugs completely if you already have any underlying kidney disease.

Tip 9: Cut Your Salt Intake

You cannot avoid salt as it is a basic food element and is also necessary for our healthy body functioning. So you can cut your salt intake by eating less salty junk and including salt-free groceries in your daily life.

Tip 10: Detox with Healthy Herbs

If you are wondering how to maintain kidney health, then using herbs can be an answer to your question. You can intake herbs that can detoxify your body effectively. For example, basil leaves, aloe vera extract, garlic, ginger, gooseberry (Amalaki), lemongrass, Haritaki etc., have medicinal value and have been used since ancient times to treat several health diseases.

In addition, herbs like chicory, red sandalwood, hogweed etc., are also helpful for a healthy, toxin-free body.

Tip 11: Have Frequent Kidney Function Testing

If you notice that you are at a high risk of kidney disorder, you should go for a routine check-up. You should go for such check-ups if:

• You are older than 60 years
• Have obesity
• You are suffering from cardiovascular diseases
• You have a low birth weight
• Have blood pressure
• Have an unhealthy lifestyle

Monitoring kidney disorders will help you identify the diseases at the initial stage and cure them easily.

Hope you now have a comprehensive idea of how to keep your kidneys healthy by following some effective daily healthy habits. As kidneys are responsible for managing our body waste, any infection, damage or injury in them will cause fluid accumulation and toxicity. So, if you find any abnormalities, you should consult a physician at the earliest.

Your kidneys silently perform several critical functions like filtering waste, balancing fluids, and regulating blood pressure. But when kidney health is overlooked, the consequences can be serious and often progress without obvious early symptoms.

If kidney health is ignored, it may lead to:

• Water retention and swelling, especially in the ankles and feet
• Changes in urination patterns
• Persistent fatigue, due to toxin buildup in the blood
• High blood pressure, as the kidneys help regulate it
• Chronic kidney disease (CKD), which can eventually lead to kidney failure

Many people don’t realise there’s an issue with their kidneys until significant damage has occurred. This is where regular check-ups become crucial. Some health insurance plans offer coverage for routine urine tests, blood pressure monitoring, and nephrologist consultations, making it easier to track kidney health without financial stress.