For being such a vital part of our health and well-being, we sure do abuse our kidneys. It is important to show them a little support and help remove the toxins that may be impairing their functioning.
Our kidneys are essential because they filter out and remove waste from the bloodstream. When toxins float around your body, they cause a wide variety of problems that can be seriously detrimental to your health.
When we allow the kidneys to suffer from a buildup of toxins, other organs are affected such as the liver and other nearby organs.
Another downside to not maintaining your kidneys? Painful kidney stones and other painful disorders of the kidneys.
When the kidneys are purified, they help maintain a nice alkaline balance in the body. There are several ways you can help naturally maintain the health of your kidneys, and as a result, the rest of your body as well.
Signs You Need a Kidney Cleanse
So how do you know if you need a kidney cleanse or not? First of all, it’s not a bad idea to be proactive and to incorporate these foods kidney cleansing foods and drinks into your diet anyway, as all kidneys can use support and help keep your kidneys free of toxins. Your kidneys will send you the following signals if they need support:
- Water retention
- Frequent kidney and bladder infections
- Kidney stones
Those that frequently take pain relievers or suffer from Type 2 diabetes may want to take special care of their kidneys by enjoying kidney purifying foods and drinks.
Foods to Cleanse your Kidneys
Cleansing your kidneys is necessary to filtering out dangerous toxins from your system. Fortunately, this can be accomplished by adding some purifying foods and drinks to your diet.
1) Cranberry Juice
As a long known prevention method of UTIs, cranberry juice, cranberry is also great for cleansing the kidneys. Cranberry juice prevents the buildup of calcium folate oxalate in the kidneys, which is a key contributor of kidney stones.
As promised, cranberry juice does indeed protect the urinary tract from infections, removing bacteria. Overall, cranberry juice is great for your urinary tract and kidney health and should be added to your cleansing routine.
When purchasing cranberry juice, be sure to avoid cranberry cocktail juice or those loaded with preservatives and artificial flavors.
2) Fruit
Fruit loaded with antioxidants are a great way to keep your kidneys clean and free of toxins. Antioxidant-laden fruit that is dark and rich with nutrients are not only great for ensuring the health of your kidneys, but also, your overall health too.
First of all, cranberries are at the top of the list. Snacking on cranberries as well as drinking the juice will keep your whole system running cleanly. Other fruits on the list are blueberries and black cherries, which contain an antioxidant called resveratrol.
Resveratrol is vital to the health of your kidneys because it slows the progression of polycystic kidney disease and helps protect your kidneys from disease.
3) Beets
Eating beets and drinking beet juice is a great way to support the functioning of your kidneys in a variety of ways. First of all, beets are rich in nitric oxide, which purifies the blood.
Beets also contains a phytochemical called betaine, an antioxidant that helps to remove toxic and calcium buildup from the kidneys while increasing the acidity of urine.
Removing calcium buildup from the kidneys because it improves the functioning of the kidneys while preventing the development of kidney stones.
4) Seaweed
Seaweed is considered a superfood because it is rich in nutrients. Spirulina, blue algae, or chlorella is a great addition to your morning smoothie, particularly smoothies focused on kidney health.
Seaweed not only helps to cleanse the kidneys, but it is also known to remove heavy metals from the body.
5) Spinach
Spinach is rich in antioxidants, making it a great way to cleanse your kidneys. Another reason spinach is great for the health of your kidneys is because it is rich in B vitamins. Incorporating spinach into your diet keeps everything clean and running smoothly.
6) Lemon Juice
When it comes to detoxing, fresh squeezed lemon juice is usually high up on the list. Squeezing lemon juice into a glass of water prevents the development of kidney stones by increasing the acidity of urine.
Drinking a mixture of lemon juice and water is a great way to improve digestion, which in turn, improves the immune system and helps to ward off infection. To enjoy the benefits of lemon juice, squeeze four lemons into a quart of cold water.
If you would prefer to drink it hot, simply squeeze half of a lemon into 8 ounces of water and enjoy.
Other Kidney Cleansing Foods:
Along with the previously mentioned foods, the following foods are also great for purifying your kidneys and preventing the development of kidney stones.
- Celery
- Cucumbers
- Pomegranates
- Papaya
- Pumpkin
- Watermelon
- Potatoes
- Parsley
- Bananas
- Watercress
- Legumes
- Seeds
Herbs and Supplements to Cleanse your Kidneys
If you find that you are unable to incorporate enough kidney cleansing foods and drinks into your diet to sufficiently cleanse your kidneys, consider taking an herb or a supplement. Before adding any herbs or supplements to your kidney cleansing routine, be sure to consult a physician.
1) Burdock Root
A natural diuretic, you can drink burdock as a tea to increase the production of urine and cleanse the kidneys. When used appropriately, diuretics remove excess sodium and fluids from the body, effectively flushing out toxins. Burdock root is especially effective for those who have a tendency to retain water.
2) Stinging Nettle
When consumed as a tea, stinging nettle is a great way to flush out excess fluid from the kidneys. Stinging nettle is also a rich source of vitamin C, boosting your immune system and protecting you from infection.
3) Hydrangea Root
If you’re prone to kidney stones, hydrangea root is known to help buff away the sharp edges of kidney stones, making them a little bit easier to pass.
4) Goldenrod Root
Goldenrod root has been used for centuries is Native American Medicine to help maintain the health of the urinary tract and strengthening the kidneys.
5) Marshmallow Root
Marshmallow root works at a diuretic, helping to cleanse the kidneys of toxins and excess fluids, particularly water. Consider adding marshmallow root to your kidney cleanse to help support and maintain the health of your kidneys.
6) Chanca Piedra
This herb is loaded with phytochemicals that help break up kidney stones. Spanish for “stone breaker,” chanca piedra is a great way to help maintain the health of your kidneys and protect you from kidney stones.
Other Tips for Cleansing your Kidneys
Along with consuming foods and supplements, there are other ways you can keep your kidneys clean and free of toxins.
- Drink at least eight glasses of water a day.
- Avoid foods high in sodium and sugar.
- Avoid refined foods like pasta and white bread.
- Reduce your intake of foods high in fat.
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet.
- Avoid cigarette smoking and drinking alcohol.
- Get enough exercise. Staying active prevents obesity and high blood pressure, two things that can wreak havoc on your kidneys. Running, riding a bike, and swimming are great ways to get exercise which will not only improve the health of your kidneys, but help maintain your overall health as well.
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