Kidneys are vital organs that have a big role in the body. This organ works to filter out metabolic waste substances that are not needed by the body and also 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. In order for the kidneys to function 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 clear sodium, urea, and toxins in the body. Well, besides drinking water, here are five other things you can do to maintain kidney health:
Keep the diet for the Kidneys Health
For healthy kidneys, you are advised to reduce salt consumption. Excess salt intake can disrupt the balance of minerals in the blood. This can aggravate the work of the kidneys 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 meats, and nuts.
Exercise regularly for the Kidneys Health
In addition to making the body fitter, regular exercise can also help improve kidneys health. An active body can lower blood pressure so that it can maintain kidney health. However, you also need to pay attention to your physical condition while exercising. Avoid high-intensity exercise, because it can damage muscle tissue and burden kidney function. Instead of choosing high-intensity exercise, you can choose the type of exercise that you like, such as jogging, cycling, swimming, and yoga that you can do for 20 minutes every day. Don’t forget to drink enough mineral water to replace the sweat that comes out during exercise.
Stay away from cigarettes and alcohol
Smoking can interfere with blood flow to the kidneys and make kidney function not run optimally. In addition, alcohol can make the body dehydrated and dehydrated conditions can interfere with the work of the kidneys. Not only have a bad impact on kidney health, consuming cigarettes and alcohol can also increase various physical disorders and other serious illnesses, so you should avoid smoking and alcohol from now on.
Avoiding Certain Drugs and Supplements
In addition to some of the ways above, avoiding certain drugs and supplements needs to be done to maintain kidney health. Try not to take some antibiotics and painkillers because these drugs have a 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. Certain herbal extracts and vitamin supplements can be harmful to your kidneys. It is better, before taking drugs or supplements, first consult about the use of 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 blood pressure stable. When blood pressure increases, blood flow also increases, so that blood vessels will stretch to facilitate blood flow. However, the stretch actually weakens the 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 blood pressure stable and kidney organs healthy.
Here are five things you can do to keep your kidneys healthy. You need to know, kidney function also declines 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 examinations to measure damage to kidney function through blood tests, urine tests, to GFR tests to measure how well the kidneys function in removing waste and excess fluid from the blood.