The kidneys are an important organ and should be kept healthy. They filter out 120-150 quarts of blood daily while eliminating excess waste material from the body. Besides this, they prevent accumulation of waste in the body, produce hormones important for our blood pressure, regulate your electrolyte levels and keep your bones strong.
Here are 8 bad habits that are damaging your kidneys every day:
- Not emptying your bladder
When nature calls, you should answer. Not peeing when you need to go is dangerous to the kidneys – when we retain urine in our bladder, we strain our kidneys too much which contributes towards renal failure.
- Not drinking enough water
The kidneys need to stay hydrated in order to perform properly. Not drinking enough water will cause toxin accumulation in the body, and there won’t be any fluid left to filter the toxins out. The National Kidney Foundation recommends drinking 12 glasses of water every day.
- High salt consumption
We need salt, but in limited amounts. Consuming excessive amounts of salt will increase your blood pressure and strain the kidneys, so stick to the recommended amount of 5.8 gr. of salt every day.
- Regular use of analgesics
People take medications in big doses and even when they don’t need them. These drugs have numerous side-effects and can damage your kidneys, so think twice before popping that pill in your mouth.
- High protein diet
Even though proteins are vital for our body, consuming them in excess from animal sources is unhealthy and can cause kidney disease. According to a group of scientists from the Harvard University, too much protein can harm your kidneys. When digested, proteins release ammonia which is harmful to the kidneys – the more protein you take, the higher the strain on your kidneys.
- Too much alcohol
Alcohol contains toxins which damage your kidneys, so try to drink in moderate amounts.
- Too much caffeine
Too much caffeine isn’t good for your kidneys either. Caffeine is present in all soft drinks and sodas and affects your kidneys negatively. When we take into consideration the fact that almost everyone drinks at least 2-3 cups of coffee daily, caffeine becomes a serious threat to the kidneys.
- Ignoring common infections
Not treating infections is one of the main reasons of kidney damage. People who suffer from kidney disease are sensitive to weather changes and get sick often, but leaving colds or the flu to go away on their own is dangerous and may damage your kidneys.
source and courtesy: weeklyhealthylife