Kidneys work day and night without a fail to produce hormones, filter blood, absorb minerals, produce urine and maintain a healthy acid-alkaline balance. You may not be aware but many of your daily habits are harmful to proper functioning of kidneys. By making changes now, you can protect your kidneys from possible damage in the long run and keep them in good health.
Here are the common habits that are harming your Kidneys:
1 . Too Much Carbonated Drinks
Soft drinks are very harmful to the health of your kidneys and unfortunately are highly consumed by most people, especially young people. Limit them in or diet or simply avoid them. In the long run, they can produce chronic kidney deficiency or stones.
2 . Not Drinking Enough Water
Kidneys need to get properly hydrated to perform their functions. If you don’t drink enough, the toxins can start accumulating in the blood, as there isn’t enough fluid to drain them through the kidneys. Doctors suggest drinking at least 12 glasses of water per day. An easy way to see if you’re drinking enough is to check the color of your urine. If you are passing a clear or light yellow urine, it means you are well hydrated.
3 . Holding In Urine
Maintaining a full bladder for a long time or delaying the urge to urinate is one of the main reasons behind kidney damage. When urine remains in the bladder for a long time, it can cause the bacteria breeding in urine to multiply. In turn, these harmful bacteria can cause a urinary tract infection or kidney infection. Moreover, retaining urine increases pressure on the kidneys and can lead to renal failure and incontinence.
4 . Consuming Too Much Salt
Salt (sodium) mainly makes your kidneys to work harder. They have to excrete it, which causes them stress in the long run until it causes various problems. So you should reduce or even eliminate salt from your meals.The daily salt intake should be controlled within 5 grams per day.
5 . Smoking
Smoking has been linked to atherosclerosis ( fat deposition within walls of blood vessels). This leads to narrowing and hardening of blood vessels which affects the blood supply to all vital organs, including the kidneys. Studies suggest that two cigarettes a day are enough to double the number of endothelial cells present in your blood. This is a signal of damage to blood vessels. Studies have cited smoking as one of the leading factor behind kidney failure.So be kind to your body and quit this habit as soon as possible.