The kidneys are really important organs in your body. They purify your blood, secrete hormones, absorb minerals, remove toxins and neutralize the pH value. Well, as one of the most important organs, your kidneys require special attention. Kidney damage or even a partial disorder can go unnoticed for a long time.
According to the experts, these 10 habits may harm your kidneys function and cause very serious kidney damage:
Insufficient water intake
The most important function of the kidneys is filtering blood and removing toxins and harmful substances. If you do not drink enough water during the day, toxins will be retained in your body and blood. They can trigger many disorders, slow down the function, and they even can cause serious kidney damage.
Consuming too much salt
Your body needs sodium, or salt, to function normally. But according to experts, you should not consume over 5 grams of salt per day. If you intake more salt that necessary, it is important to know that it causes high blood pressure, and can also trigger kidney disorders.
Holding your urine for too long
Many people ignore the urge to urinate because they are busy or do not want public toilets. If this is one of your habits, you should stop that immediately. Holding your urine increases the pressure of your bladder and kidneys. This may lead to appearance of kidney stones, incontinence, and other kidney problems.
Consuming refined sugar
It is proven that many people consume 10 times more sugar than the recommended dose. Studies have shown that with only two drinks with added sugar, the concentration of protein in your urine significantly increases. Protein in the urine is a sign that your kidneys do not function properly.
Lack of vitamins and minerals
The lack of vitamins and minerals in your organism increases the risk of kidney stones and impairment of their function. Vitamin B6 and magnesium are especially important when it comes to protecting your kidneys from damaging.
Animal protein intake
Excessive protein intake, especially of animal origin, additionally burdens your kidneys. This means that your kidneys must work diligently, leading to their damage or reduced function.
Not enough sleep
You probably already know how important sleep and rest are for your overall health. The chronic lack of sleep is associated with many diseases, including those of the kidneys. During sleep, your body recovers damaged kidney cells, so it takes enough time to complete the whole process, that is about 6 to 8 hours each night.
Drinking too much coffee
Just like the salt, coffee can increases your blood pressure, thus increasing the work of the kidneys. Drinking coffee, over time, can cause more damage to your kidneys.
Use of painkillers
If you often use commercial pain relief drugs, even when you do not really need them you put your kidneys on very big risk. These drugs can cause real damage to the liver and kidneys.
Alcohol is a toxin that your kidneys have to process and eject. Very often drinking alcohol can be excessive and exaggerated, and this additionally damages your kidneys and liver. Alcohol is like a diuretic that takes water from your body, leaving you dehydrated and in this way affects your kidneys.