The Importance of Being a Kidney
November 24th, 2009 | by admin |
Yulia Berry asked:
What’s the deal with kidneys? These two little bean shaped organs may seem insignificant, but they perform a role so vital that our maker saw fit to give us two of them in case one failed. Kidneys are responsible for weeding out toxins that collect in the blood, ensuring that our bodies are free from harmful waste products, toxins and excess water.
Your kidneys work hard to keep you feeling healthy. Every day about 20 % percent of your blood (about 200 quarts) passes through your kidneys and is cleaned and everyday your kidneys sift out around 2 quarts of waste from your blood before allowing it to return to your general circulatory system.
How Kidneys function
Each little kidney is composed of millions of tiny units called nephrons. Inside the nephron is a tiney blood vessel called a glomerulus which is intertwined with a tubule which is a tiny urine collecting tube. As the blood passes through the nephron, a complex interaction takes place between the glomerulus and the tubule and the result is the elimination of wastes from the blood. These wastes are then expelled via the urinary tract.
Aside from cleaning the blood, kidneys also:
Regulate the composition of the blood Maintain the level of vital substances and ions in the blood Keep the body’s water volume at ideal levels Maintain the blood’s PH levels Normalize blood pressure Help promote red blood cell production Maintain the body’s calcium levels
Despite the kidney’s obvious role in our health, many people in the United State have a tendency to neglect this little organ that could. Three hundred thousand people in the United States suffer from renal failure every single year and either have to go through dialysis or get a kidney transplant. Add to this the fact that you have a 1 in 10 chance of getting a kidney stone in your lifetime, and you realize that kidney trouble has become an alarming trend indeed.
To keep out kidneys healthy and happy, we all need to take proactive steps in leading healthy lifestyle. Diabetes and high blood pressure are the two leading causes of kidney disease. High blood sugar negatively impacts the nephrons leading to abnormal kidney function. High blood pressure can strain the glomerulus and interfere with the systems function. The kidney is also susceptible to infections like glomerulonephritis and pyelonephritis which can trigger renal failure. Certain drugs can also be debilitating to renal function.
Healthy lifestyle tips that can keep kidney troubles at bay:
Keep track and maintain a healthy blood pressure Watch what you eat, avoiding foods that can increase blood sugar and cholesterol Stay hydrated Avoid salt Minimize stress Exercise regularly Take only medication that your physician prescribes
Cleansing the Kidney
A good way to keep your kidneys healthy and functioning is to perform a kidney cleanse. A Kidney cleanse pretty much means that you intake a large amount of liquids along with a healing diet. While sometimes it may be enough just to take more liquids and eat a healthier diet to get your kidneys back on track, some people may need to go through a stringent fast procedure in order to clear their kidneys of toxins.
Some people go on a water fast which involves drinking large amounts of water and abstaining from eating food for a specified period of time. Juice fasting is another less severe way to clean and detoxify the kidneys. Unlike water fasting, juice fasting allows your body to receive the essential vitamins, minerals, enzymes and nutrients that it needs to support its metabolic processes during the fast.
There are also several different herbs that nutritionists have found useful in cleansing the kidneys. Hydrangea root, gravel root, marshmallow root, ginger root and fresh parsley are a few good examples of good kidney cleansers.
When done properly, a good kidney detox program along with dietary and lifestyle changes can improve your health dramatically.
Interactive Kitchen Design
What’s the deal with kidneys? These two little bean shaped organs may seem insignificant, but they perform a role so vital that our maker saw fit to give us two of them in case one failed. Kidneys are responsible for weeding out toxins that collect in the blood, ensuring that our bodies are free from harmful waste products, toxins and excess water.
Your kidneys work hard to keep you feeling healthy. Every day about 20 % percent of your blood (about 200 quarts) passes through your kidneys and is cleaned and everyday your kidneys sift out around 2 quarts of waste from your blood before allowing it to return to your general circulatory system.
How Kidneys function
Each little kidney is composed of millions of tiny units called nephrons. Inside the nephron is a tiney blood vessel called a glomerulus which is intertwined with a tubule which is a tiny urine collecting tube. As the blood passes through the nephron, a complex interaction takes place between the glomerulus and the tubule and the result is the elimination of wastes from the blood. These wastes are then expelled via the urinary tract.
Aside from cleaning the blood, kidneys also:
Regulate the composition of the blood Maintain the level of vital substances and ions in the blood Keep the body’s water volume at ideal levels Maintain the blood’s PH levels Normalize blood pressure Help promote red blood cell production Maintain the body’s calcium levels
Despite the kidney’s obvious role in our health, many people in the United State have a tendency to neglect this little organ that could. Three hundred thousand people in the United States suffer from renal failure every single year and either have to go through dialysis or get a kidney transplant. Add to this the fact that you have a 1 in 10 chance of getting a kidney stone in your lifetime, and you realize that kidney trouble has become an alarming trend indeed.
To keep out kidneys healthy and happy, we all need to take proactive steps in leading healthy lifestyle. Diabetes and high blood pressure are the two leading causes of kidney disease. High blood sugar negatively impacts the nephrons leading to abnormal kidney function. High blood pressure can strain the glomerulus and interfere with the systems function. The kidney is also susceptible to infections like glomerulonephritis and pyelonephritis which can trigger renal failure. Certain drugs can also be debilitating to renal function.
Healthy lifestyle tips that can keep kidney troubles at bay:
Keep track and maintain a healthy blood pressure Watch what you eat, avoiding foods that can increase blood sugar and cholesterol Stay hydrated Avoid salt Minimize stress Exercise regularly Take only medication that your physician prescribes
Cleansing the Kidney
A good way to keep your kidneys healthy and functioning is to perform a kidney cleanse. A Kidney cleanse pretty much means that you intake a large amount of liquids along with a healing diet. While sometimes it may be enough just to take more liquids and eat a healthier diet to get your kidneys back on track, some people may need to go through a stringent fast procedure in order to clear their kidneys of toxins.
Some people go on a water fast which involves drinking large amounts of water and abstaining from eating food for a specified period of time. Juice fasting is another less severe way to clean and detoxify the kidneys. Unlike water fasting, juice fasting allows your body to receive the essential vitamins, minerals, enzymes and nutrients that it needs to support its metabolic processes during the fast.
There are also several different herbs that nutritionists have found useful in cleansing the kidneys. Hydrangea root, gravel root, marshmallow root, ginger root and fresh parsley are a few good examples of good kidney cleansers.
When done properly, a good kidney detox program along with dietary and lifestyle changes can improve your health dramatically.
Interactive Kitchen Design
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