Healthy Habits For Healthy Kidneys!

Your kidneys work hard day in and day out – filtering blood, removing waste products, and balancing body fluids. To ensure they are taken good care of, you should focus on adopting healthy habits and lifestyle changes.

Here is a look at some of the healthiest habits to keep your kidneys healthy –

• Eat Healthily

Cut back on sodium intake. Avoid eating processed foods that are high in bad cholesterol and saturated fats, such as fries, cheese and butter, red meat, and others. Instead, focus on eating a healthful, balanced diet that comprises foods containing omega-3 fatty acids, minerals, and essential vitamins. Fill up your plate with leafy greens, fresh fruits, lean meat, nuts, and seeds.

• Exercise Regularly

Regular exercise can fight off high blood pressure and obesity. Any sort of physical activity – cardio, yoga, or weight training – can help lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels, increase insulin sensitivity, and keep your weight under control. All these are essential for keeping your kidneys healthy.

• Drink Water Mindfully

We all know about the umpteen benefits of drinking water – it keeps you hydrated, helps flush out toxins from the system, and is great for the skin. However, going overboard may not be a wise thing to do. If your kidneys are unable to excrete the excess water, the sodium content of blood is diluted, which could be fatal.

• Quit Smoking

Smoking leads to the damage or scarring of the blood vessels, which prevent blood from flowing to the kidneys. Kidneys that do not receive a sufficient amount of blood cannot function at their optimal levels. Moreover, cigarette smoking is linked with an increased risk of hypertension and kidney cancer. Therefore, if you are a smoker, it is high time that you give up the habit.

• Get Tested

You should get yourself checked at least once every year to monitor how well your kidneys are functioning. This is even truer for people who have diabetes or hypertension. A kidney function test as part of a routine checkup can help your doctor detect any abnormalities in the functioning of your kidneys.

Often, your kidneys bear the brunt of underlying health conditions or ailments. The best you can do to keep them safe is to take care of your body so that you are not at risk of developing diseases, which can stress your vital organs. The above mentioned health practices are not specific to kidney health only, these will help you maintain good health in the long run.