Our kidneys are one of the most vital organs of our body. It ensures the balance of the body by filtering out all the toxins in the body. They play an important role in waste excretion, acid regulation and even formation of red blood corpuscles.

It is crucial to maintain our kidneys so that we live a healthy and long life. Many people tend to take kidney diseases lightly and ignore the small signs our body gives us. But we need to give it just as much importance as we give our heart.

Now dieticians prescribe tough diets to follow in order to maintain the kidneys. But along with that, we need to make sure we steer clear of other factors that may affect us.  Given below are a few tips, which if implemented diligently, will keep our kidneys healthy and functioning:

• Stay hydrated:

Drinking at least 4-5 litres of water a day is important for the kidneys to function effectively. When you drink water, it makes the waste excretion process of the kidneys simple. It aids in this process and ensures the kidneys are not strained too much.

Another tip is to make drinking of water fun. You can try infusing your water with fruits like lemon, lime, ginger, cucumber, apples, strawberries etc. Doing so will get you into the habit of drinking a good amount of water and fruits are amazing for the body so it becomes a win-win situation.

• Eat healthy:

With the fast food trend, we often ignore the minor effects it has on our body. We should stick to eating healthy and organic foods, devoid from oil and added fats. Fast food sure shot causes high blood pressure because its saturated fat clogs the arteries.

So, high blood pressure teamed up with kidney diseases only spells doom. If you already have high blood pressure, it will overexert your kidneys when you eat junk food. It becomes difficult for your kidneys to process food with high fat content.

• Quit smoking:

It is already crystal clear that smoking affects the lungs but did you know it can damage the kidneys too? Smoking damages the blood vessels which in turn decreases blood flow to the kidneys. It can also increase the chances of kidney cancer.

You can try chewing nicotine gum or patches if you are keen on quitting the deadly habit. For a gradual phase-out, another less harmful & affordable alternative like vaping is also available. With this option you are merely taking in the vapours and not inhaling the smoke directly. This is why an e-cigarette is considered far less damaging than smoking a proper cigarette.

• Stay fit:

Exercising helps increase blood flow in the body ensuring your internal organs are fully functional, along with giving you a great physique. If you are not used to exercising, start small by going for walks and hikes. Do not start with heavy exercise in the beginning or else the exhaustion will defeat your motivation.

• Do not overmedicate yourself:

Taking over the counter medication can be very harmful to the kidneys because it is the wrong dosage for the body. Strong unprescribed medication affects the liver and kidney which in turn can lead to organ failure as the body will not be able to process it.

Painkillers are the biggest culprits. It’s ok if taken once a while for muscle pain or body ache. But taking it for problems like arthritis or other chronic pain without medical supervision can be very harmful for the body.

• Avoid health supplements:

It often happens that we take health supplements like fat burning pills or protein shakes to achieve a better physique. But this affects the body the same way unprescribed medicines do.

Protein shakes contain concentrated protein in them which becomes difficult for the kidneys to process, thus overworking them. Try protein-rich foods as an alternative. Sure, they won’t work as fast as supplements but will maintain your organ health.

• Get regular kidney screening done:

Diseases always come uncalled for, that is why prevention is better than cure. Make sure you get your kidneys screened bi-annually or at least annually to ensure your kidneys are functioning well and are free from diseases and maybe even kidney stones.

The best way to keep your body healthy is to take care of it yourself. It will automatically help you keep these life-threatening diseases at bay. Eat healthy, get enough sleep, regular exercise and controlling your weight will help you in the long run.