Kidneys are work horses that plays a vital role in our body. They are bean-shaped organs located on both sides of the spine behind the stomach. Each one is about the size of a human’s fist.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the kidneys filter extra water and toxins from the blood. The kidneys filter about 120 to 152 quarts of blood to create 1 to 2 quarts of urine everyday.
Therefore, having said that, it is but important for us to take care of our kidneys to make it healthy and fully functioning.
But sad to say, there are ways that we might be unaware that we are “killing them softly.”
Here are 10 of them:
1. Excessive consumption of caffeinated drinks like coffee.
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Caffeine increases urinary calcium levels that increases the risk of forming calcium oxalate kidney stones if consumed at a higher level. Coffee is not bad at all provided it is consumed in moderation.
2. Insufficient Water Intake.
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Inadequate water consumption puts our kidneys at risk. Kidneys serve as filters that drains wastes in our body. If the amount of water is insufficient, the renal flow (arterial blood delivered to the kidneys) will be decreased leading to accumulation of body toxins.
3. Frequent intake of analgesics (pain killers).
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Analgesics or pain killers are Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAID) that are available over the counter without prescription. They can cause risks of sudden kidney failure.
4. Delaying “Pee” Time.
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Go to the comfort room when your bladder is full. Keeping the urine there for a longer period of time puts your kidneys in trouble.
5. Excessive intake of salt.
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Too much intake of sodium is not good for the body because it holds excess fluid thus, increasing our blood pressure which can be a risk for stroke, heart failure, stomach cancer and kidney failure.
6. Consumption of high-protein diets and dairy products.
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High protein diets like red meat and full-fat dairy products may increase the risk of heart disease and may worsen kidney function with people who have kidney problems because the body is having a hard time eliminating the waste products of protein metabolism. Protein also has high amount of acid in the blood which the kidney cannot eliminate fast.
7. Excessive Alcohol Intake.
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Drinking excessive amount of alcohol can affect the kidney’s ability to filter blood. Chronic drinking has detrimental effects on the kidneys including impaired sodium and fluid handling and even acute kidney.
8. Eating too much foods that have sugar.
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Sugar contributes to obesity and obesity increases the risk of high blood pressure and diabetes. High blood pressure and diabetes are two among the leading causes of kidney disease.
9. Deprived of enough rest and sleep.
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A goodnight’s rest is as important as eating healthy foods to take care of our kidneys. Kidney function is regulated with the sleep-wake cycle which coordinates the kidneys workload for 24 hours. People with less sleep are found to be more prone to having kidney disease.
10. Smoking.
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While smoking is not good for either lungs or heart, it goes the same with our kidneys. People who smoke are more likely to be having protein in their urine which is a sign of kidney damage.
Now that we have known 10 among the common ways of hurting and damaging our kidneys, may we be able to avoid them so we can maintain our kidneys healthy.
After all………Health is Wealth!