Take Care of Your Kidneys: They are filters that are not easy to change!

Your kidneys filter at least 4 ounces of blood per minute. They remove wastes, produce urine, remove excess acid, and help balance water, salt, and minerals such as sodium, potassium, calcium, and phosphorus in your blood. Kidneys also produce hormones that help control blood pressure, produce red blood cells, and maintain strong bones. 

Your risk of kidney disease increases with 

• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• Untreated urinary tract infections
• Family history of kidney failure
• Dehydration
• Exposure to toxins, including lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic, uranium, aristolochic acid, melamine, and pesticides 

Your risk of kidney disease decreases with

• Regular physical activity
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Getting adequate sleep
• Not smoking
• Limiting alcohol intake
• Managing stress
• Good hydration
• Making healthy food choices that include fresh fruits and vegetables, herbs and spices, whole foods instead of refined or processed foods, baking, broiling, and air frying instead of deep frying, and avoiding excess sugar and salt.
• If kidney disease does set in, seek out professional nutrition advice, as some healthy foods would need to be restricted. 

References

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/chronic-kidney-disease-ckd/prevention

https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/kidneys-how-they-work