The kidneys act as the body's main filtering mechanism, cleansing blood of bad nutrients, keeping good ones, and removing excess water.
The kidneys also help to control blood pressure, produce red blood cells and keep your bones healthy.
An estimated 26 million American adults have chronic kidney disease (CKD) and millions more are at risk of getting it.
How to protect your kidneys
There is no magic food or remedy that protects kidneys. According to the National Institutes of Health, a healthy body equals healthy kidneys.
That means most of the recommendations for kidney health are things you have heard before:
Exercise
Maintain a healthy weight
Don't Smoke
Don't take excessive amounts of over-the-counter pain medicine such as ibuprofen or naproxen sodium.
Keep your blood pressure at a healthy level.
Control diabetes and keep sugar levels stable.
Reduce salt intake.
Eat a balanced diet.
Drink more water — especially if you take ibuprofen or naproxen sodium.
Most people don't know their kidneys are in danger or failing until it is too late. When symptoms finally occur — itching, fatigue, weakness, nausea and vomiting– it might be an advanced case. Ask your doctor if you should be tested for kidney disease.
Rick Good spent ten years in the newspaper business, including with The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) and The Greenville News (Greenville, SC). He co-wrote, with Melinda Coleman, Rutledge to Riley: Governors of South Carolina, 1776–Present (Published by The Greenville News), and is the author of Mind Games Trivia #1 (Amazon). He has recently spent 15 years creating original trivia content through Sounds Good Mobile Entertainment and continues that with his new company, SGME Software. He edits The Smart Reader’s money, real estate, and business coverage.