KIDNEYS DAMAGING HABITS

The kidneys are two bean shaped organs, located against the back muscles in the upper abdominal cavity, they are essential to health as their main funtions are to remove waste products from the body and keep body chemicals in balance. The kidneys perform the following functions:

1. To ensure that there is no too much or too little water in the body
2. To make sure that blood pressure is not too high or too low
3. To make sure that the body is not too acidic or too alkaline
4. To maintain balance of electrolytes like potassium, sodium and calcium 
5. To get rid of uric acid, toxins, and other waste via urine
6. To activates vitamin D. which helps the body absorbs calcium 
7. To release erythropoietin, which tells bone marrow to make red blood cells

A gradual damage to the kidneys can go unnoticed for years and this is why lots of people  are down with kidney diseases and many more are potentially at risk, it is a steady process that happens over several years as a result of poor lifestyle and improper management of conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney stones etc.

Kidney disorders can be divided into two categories

1.  Acute: These are caused by infection and last for short period of time
2. Chronic: These are collection of diseaes that cause the kidneys to leak massive quantiity of protein into the urine

Symptoms of kidney disease

1. Fluid retention
2. Back pain
3. Abdominal pain
4. Reduuced amount of urine
5. Urinary urgency
6. Chills and  fever
7. Vomitting
8. Fatigue
9. Cloudy or bloody urine
10. Loss of appetite

Kidneys damaging habits
1. Eating too much of meat and protein
Eating too much of meat and protein can increase the metabolic load of the kidneys, most especially regular consumption of red meat which can cause dysfunction or failure

2. Not drinking enough water
The main functions of kidneys are detoxification, if we do not drink enough water  the blood will be concentrated and the blood flow to the kidney will not be adequate making it difficult to expel toxins from blood

3. Lack of vitamins and minerals
For proper kidney functioning we need adequate vitamin and minerals, vitamin B6 and magnessium are essencial for proper kidney functioning

4. Painkiller abuse
The use of analgesics for a prolonged period may reduce the flow of blood and greatly affects kidney function, causing kidney inflammation and damage

5. Not emptying your bladder early
Controlling yourself from urinating for a very long time can cause the bacteria breeding in urine to multiply quickly once the urine refuxes back to ureter and kidneys, the bacteria can result in kidney infections, then urinary tract infection and then nephritis, for this reason, do not delay urination

6. Alcohol
Drinking alcohol may cause the deposition of uric acid in renal tubules causing tubular obstruction and increasing risk of kidney failure

7. Lack of sleep
Lack of sleep can lead to several health problems including kidney disease, the body repair damaged kidney tissues when we sleep, so, better sleep means better kidneys

8. Not eating enough
This is also as dangerous as eating too much, both of them will damage the digestive organs which closely  relates to the immune system, this it why many kidney failure patients are diagonised with autoimmune kidney damages

9. Excess sugar
High sugar foods increase the protein contents in the system which in turn exerts pressure on the kidneys,  protein in urine is an early sign of kidney damage

10. Taking too muuch salt
Excess salt intake will make the kidneys work harder to excrete the excess salt and can lead to  decreased kidney function, the excess sodium will cause water retention which elevates blood pressure and increases the risk of developing kidney disease

11. Caffeine
caffeine stimulates blood flow, increasing blood pressure and stress on the kidneys, long term usage of caffeine causes kidney failure in obessed and diabetic people

12. Smoking
Cigarretes smoking slows the blood flow to important organs like the kidneys and can make kidney disease worse

13. Ignoring common infections
Ignoring common infections and signs like backache, breathing issues, change in quantity and colour of urine, fatigue, feeling cold most of the time, itching skin, bad breath and sudden pain in  the body

14.  Eating processed foods
These are significant sources of sodium and phosphorus, and are very harmful to the kidneys

15. Sitting for too long
Sitting for a long period have been linked to developement of kidney disease  

Treatment

1. kidney beans - Heal and maintain kidney function 
2. Watermelon - A duretic that keep the kidneys healthy
3. Aloe vera - Prevent stones formation 
4. Celery and pasley - Keeps uric acid in check 
5. Dandelion - Aid in excretion of kidney waste products
6. Fiber diet - Eating a high fiber diet is of much importance
7. Spices for health - Cook your food with turmeric and corriander
8. Exercise - Daily exercise helps keep calcium from draining out of the bones and ending up in the urine where it could contribute to formation of stones

 Protect your kidneys

1. Limit salt and sugar intake
2. Do not eat high protein foods e.g red meat
3. Drink 8-10 glasses of water daily
4. keep your blood pressure at 130/80mmHg
5. Do not rely on food supplements alone to protect your kidneys
6. Avoid all diary products except for those that are sowered 
7. Do a three days cleansing and juice fasting
8. Painkillers and some drugs can lead to kidney dysfunction
9. Keep your blood sugar below 120mg/dl
10. Do not take alcohol, coffee and any carbonated drink
11. Do a kidney check to know your health state

Keep your kidneys healthy.
Kidneys are the unsung
heros of our bodies