Kidney is a vital organ that has a big role for the body. This organ works to filter waste products of metabolism that are not needed by the body as well as filter toxins in the blood to be excreted through urine. In addition, the kidneys also play a role in regulating water levels in the body. So that the kidneys can carry out their functions properly, of course you need to take care of them and avoid things that can damage their health.
One way to maintain kidney health is to drink enough water, which is approximately 1.5-2 liters a day. Adequate fluid intake will help the kidneys to cleanse sodium, urea and toxins from the body. So, besides drinking water, here are five other things you can do to maintain kidney health:
- Keep the diet
For healthy kidneys, you are advised to reduce salt consumption. Excess salt intake can disrupt the balance of minerals in the blood. This can make the kidneys work harder and interfere with kidney function.
In addition, kidney disorders can also be triggered by high blood pressure. So, you should avoid foods that can cause high blood pressure, such as fatty meats and junk food. Choose healthy foods, such as fruits, organic vegetables, fish or lean white meat, and nuts.
- Exercise regularly
In addition to making the body fitter, regular exercise can also help improve kidney health. An active body can lower blood pressure so it can maintain kidney health. However, you also need to pay attention to your physical condition when exercising. Avoid high-intensity exercise, because it can damage muscle tissue and burden kidney function. Instead of choosing high-intensity sports, you can choose the types of sports that you like, such as jogging, cycling, swimming and yoga which you can do for 20 minutes every day. Don't forget to consume enough mineral water to replace the sweat fluids that come out during exercise.
- Stay away from Cigarettes and Alcohol
Smoking can interfere with blood flow to the kidneys and make kidney function not work optimally. In addition, alcohol can dehydrate the body and dehydrated conditions can interfere with the work of the kidneys. Not only does it have a negative impact on kidney health, consuming cigarettes and alcohol can also increase various physical disorders and other serious illnesses, so it's best to avoid smoking and alcohol from now on.
- Avoiding Certain Medications and Supplements
Apart from the methods above, it is necessary to avoid certain drugs and supplements to maintain kidney health. Try not to take some antibiotics and painkillers because these two drugs run the risk of damaging the kidneys. Common non-prescription pills, such as ibuprofen and naproxen (NSAIDs), can cause kidney damage if taken for a long time.
In addition, you need to be aware of the excessive use of supplements and herbal medicines. Some herbal extracts and certain vitamin supplements can be harmful to your kidneys. We recommend that, before taking drugs or supplements, first consult about using these drugs with your doctor.
- Maintain Blood Pressure
More or less, about 35% of cases of kidney disease are caused by high blood pressure. To maintain kidney health, of course you also need to keep your blood pressure stable. When blood pressure increases, blood flow also increases, so the blood vessels will stretch to make it easier for blood to flow. However, the stretching actually weakens blood vessels and causes scars, including scars on the kidneys. To maintain blood pressure, you can eat foods high in potassium, such as bananas, fish, milk, potatoes and avocados. In addition, you should avoid stressors to keep your blood pressure stable and your kidneys healthy.
Here are five things you can do to keep your kidneys healthy. You need to know, kidney organs also experience a decline in function with age. Moreover, if you have a history of diabetes or hypertension, the risk of kidney disease is even higher. Therefore, it never hurts to do an inspection as early as possible. Usually, doctors will carry out tests to measure kidney function damage through blood tests, urine tests, and GFR tests to measure how well the kidneys function in removing waste and excess fluid from the blood. Let's keep your kidneys healthy so that they #LiveExcellently.