Kidneys

The kidneys are vital organs in our body. They are a wonderful and sophisticated cleaning machine that filters a large amount of blood every day, separating about 2 liters of waste and excess water. So, we need to take care of them and keep them healthy. But are we doing it right? What mistakes do we often make every day?

How many glasses of water do you normally drink each day? Keep in mind that inadequate hydration of our kidneys can cause long-term kidney problems. Their main function is to eliminate metabolic waste from the body, helping to balance the number of red blood cells. If we don't do this, if we don't drink enough water, the low renal flow and accumulated toxins in the blood could harm us. We can avoid it by simply drinking between one and a half to two liters of water. If you find it hard and can't meet this recommended amount, try adding a bit of lemon to the water. It will be more pleasant.

We've all done it once, holding back the urge to go to the bathroom because we're busy. But how long do you hold your urine when your body tells you to go? An hour, two? You should know that holding a full bladder for too long can lead to urinary tract complications like hypertrophy, hydronephrosis (increased urinary pressure), or other diseases we could have easily avoided. We need to keep this in mind.

Sodas are very harmful to kidney health, and unfortunately, they are widely consumed, especially by the younger population. It would be advisable to limit or avoid them in your diet. Long-term, they can lead to chronic kidney failure or kidney stones.

Alcohol and tobacco are harmful substances that introduce toxins into the body, affecting kidney function and preventing them from doing their job. Avoid them whenever possible, especially if you have hypertension or diabetes.

The main source of sodium, as we know, comes from salt. But why is it so damaging? It mainly causes the kidneys to work overtime to excrete it, which stresses them over time and leads to various problems. So reduce or even eliminate salt from your meals.

Animal proteins are harmful to the kidneys, as are high-fat foods. Gradually, they make it harder for the kidneys to filter the blood properly. Try to limit or replace animal proteins with plant-based proteins whenever possible.

Sometimes, we can't know where everything we consume comes from: genetically modified corn, lab-grown fruits and vegetables, altered meats that come from animals fed modified food to make them grow faster... These are terrible factors we may not be aware of, but they are very harmful to our kidneys. Always try to buy organic food with a known origin—natural and healthy foods that won't harm you.

Hypertension leads to significant damage to kidney function. Blood flows through them differently, toxins aren't filtered the same way, and they gradually degenerate until serious kidney problems develop. It's easy to control our blood pressure regularly to manage it. We should make sure our doctor is aware of these checks.

We should control the use of medications as much as possible since they can severely damage the kidneys. They prevent their proper function and have negative long-term effects. It's a tricky issue because we take medications out of necessity, not pleasure, but there are always those that are less aggressive for the kidneys, so our doctor needs to monitor it.

How many hours a day do you stay seated? We need to consider this. Sedentarism gradually affects not only kidney health but many other basic functions that may unknowingly harm us. Lack of physical activity causes many kidney problems that we can easily avoid by moving more—taking walks, biking, for example. Think about it. If you do sports with a friend or family member, it will be much easier for you. Your kidneys will thank you, and remember... always carry a bottle of water with you.

Try to improve your lifestyle and nutrition habits as much as possible. Small changes in your diet can do a lot for your kidney health: drink water, avoid salt, foods with high fats, sugars... And above all, visit your doctor for regular checkups.