Are you taking care of your kidneys?

The kidneys perform a vital job in keeping our bodies functioning. Among other critical duties, these bean-shaped organs remove waste and excess fluid from the blood. Maintaining healthy kidneys depends a lot on good lifestyle choices. But despite this simple advice, millions of people suffer from chronic kidney disease, with many ending up on dialysis or even requiring a kidney transplant. So, are you taking care of your kidneys?

Click through and find out more about what the kidneys do, and how to look after them.

What are the kidneys?

The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs in our body's renal system.

How they work

They remove acid that is produced by the cells of your body and maintain a healthy balance of water, salts, and minerals.

Promoting a healthy body

The kidneys also produce an active form of vitamin D that promotes strong, healthy bones.

Bloodwork

And did you know that these useful little organs filter 200 liters (53 gallons) of blood a day?

Where are the kidneys?

There are two kidneys, each about the size of a fist, located on either side of the spine at the lowest level of the rib cage.

How kidneys are nourished

They receive blood from the paired renal arteries; blood exits into the paired renal veins. Each kidney is attached to a ureter, a tube that carries excreted urine to the bladder.

How to maintain healthy kidneys

Needless to say, looking after the kidneys is essential for maintaining overall health. So, how is this best done?

Whole grain high-fiber foods

Similarly, whole grain high-fiber superfoods are ideal for maintaining overall health.

Limit alcohol intake

Drinking too much alcohol can hike up blood pressure and pile on calories. Imbibe in moderation by limiting intake to two drinks or less in a day for men, and one drink or less in a day for women.

Get enough sleep

For optimum function, the human body requires seven to eight hours of sleep each night. If you have trouble sleeping, seek out ways to improve your sleep habits.

Underlying health issues

Diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease can all contribute towards kidney damage. According to your condition, keep within safe parameters. For example, the ideal blood pressure goal for most people with diabetes is below 140/90 mmHg.

Beware of blood in urine

Blood in the urine is indicative of a potentially serious problem and should never be ignored: blood in urine that can be seen with the naked eye may even be a sign of advanced kidney, bladder, or prostate cancer.

Kidney disease

According to the American Kidney Fund (AKF), 37 million Americans have kidney disease. In fact, it is so prevalent that it's the ninth leading cause of death in the United States.

Kidney transplant statistics

Approximately 240,000 Americans are living with a kidney transplant. But the shortage of available donor kidneys means that the vast majority of people who develop kidney failure are treated with dialysis.

Simple blood test

Though early onset kidney disease displays no signs or symptoms, simple blood and urine tests can tell how well your kidneys are working.