What to Eat for a Kidney Cleanse

It’s no secret that the kidneys are incredible organs and pretty much filter the blood, removing waste products and excessive water to help detoxify the body. They basically aide the body by keeping things running as they should.

However, there are certain things that one can do to help the kidneys stay clean. Here are the top 5 natural tips to keep your kidneys clean.

Here are the top 5 natural tips to keep your kidneys clean:

  1. Drink a lot of water!

The most effective way to keep your kidneys functioning properly is by drinking water. Not only does the water dilute the materials that can lead to kidney stones, but water helps flush out all existing impurities.

You can even boost the natural ability of the water to cleanse your kidneys by warming up some water and adding lemon juice. The lemon juice helps filter the blood, flush-out toxins, and may prevent calcium build-up (which binds with other materials and leads to kidney stones).

  1. Watch what you eat.
  • Too much salt can increase the amount of calcium in the kidneys, which (you guessed it) leads to kidney stones.
  • Sugar! Another culprit of kidney stones. Sugar can affect the way calcium and magnesium are absorbed. Plus, sugar can lead to weight gain and can cause poor kidney health.
  • Lastly, be careful of soy foods. Soy contains high levels of oxalate because you may not be absorbing enough calcium, which again can cause kidney stones.
  1. Exercise.

By exercising, you help create a healthier heart. Cardiovascular exercises are especially great for heart health, which means good blood flow to all vital organs (including the kidneys since they benefit from good blood flow). Exercise also encourages weight loss, which reduces the chances of obesity. Obesity can lead to diabetes or high blood pressure and can increase kidney disease and kidney failure.

  1. Reduce your caffeine intake.

Yes, we have all heard caffeine can be very beneficial. However, everything needs to be in moderation! For instance, coffee is a diuretic, which we know promotes urination and can easily lead to dehydration. Dehydration can lead to an infection or kidney stones. So, limit your coffee intake and drink plenty of water!

  1. Eat some berries and beets.

As you may know, berries are a great source of antioxidants and powerful substances that have been shown to prevent kidney stone formation or slow the progress of kidney disease.[1] Beets are another great fruit to help kidneys, because they contain betaine, a strong antioxidant that increases the acidity of urine. Beets aid in the removal of calcium phosphate build-up. Not to mention, beets contain iron, folate, and magnesium, which help the blood flow, and the kidneys.

Can’t get enough of these cleanses? Can’t get enough of Nutrition Fridays? Stay tuned next week for a great article from Kristin on the best foods for a restful night!

Please leave your thoughts in the comments below!

[1] Prevalence of kidney stones in the United States. Scales CD Jr, Smith AC, Hanley JM, Saigal CS, Urologic Diseases in America Project..Eur Urol. 2012 Jul; 62(1):160-5. Epub 2012 Mar 31.

 

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About Jessica Pena

Jessica is a health blogger and content writer for Healthpointe, a healthcare organization specializing in orthopedics, sports injuries, injured workers, and more. Whatever it is you need to know – whether it’s the latest treatments for hernias, or tips for quick headache relief (and everything in between) – Jessica has you covered. For more of Jessica, check out her articles on the Healthpointe blog.

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