Monday, January 28, 2013

Kidney loving: Taking care of the kidneys



Due to the rising costs of medical care in the US, more and more people are seeing the importance of taking care of their body. However, two of the most neglected body organs that people often take for granted are the kidneys, with one in six Americans binge drinking about four times a month.


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Why are the kidneys important?

Kidneys are important because they remove waste products and excess fluid from the body through the urine. This process is essential to maintain a constant balance in body chemicals. In addition, hormones that affect the function of other organs are also produced by the kidneys.
 
It is vital that people take care of their kidneys. To do this, here are some simple tips that people need to remember:

Staying hydrated. Hydration helps the kidneys produce more urine, thus preventing the buildup of toxic chemicals in the body. Urine that is colored yellow or lighter is a sign of proper hydration, while dark-colored urine is a sign of dehydration.


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Eating healthily. People should eat more fresh fruits and vegetables because these types of food keep blood pressure at an optimum level, which is beneficial to the kidneys.

Reducing salt consumption. Excessive salt consumption causes hypertension, which in turn causes kidney dysfunction and failure.


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Avoiding smoking and binge drinking. Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption cause damage to the kidneys and have been linked to kidney cancer.

Proponents of medical travel, like Raj Joseph and Steven Lash, believe that getting a kidney transplant in the US is very expensive and that a better option would be to have the procedure performed overseas, where it is far cheaper.

For more healthcare-related matters, visit this website.

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