Detox Your Kidney's

Each day, our bodies work tirelessly to keep us healthy and thriving. As blood is pumped from the heart and through our veins, and food is digested through our vital organs, the kidneys are picking up the slack.

Your kidneys are basically the most sophisticated trash collection service that was ever invented. These two small organs are about the size of your fist. They live at the base of your spine and are responsible for finding the waste we don’t need and getting it out of our bodies.

Throughout the day, as you’re going to work, school, hitting the gym (hopefully), and watching Netflix, your kidneys cleanse about 200 quarts of blood through your body. As the blood flows through, the kidneys find waste and water that is extra and transforms it into urine. That waste flows through tubes to the bladder where it is stored until you can’t hold it any longer and you got to go. Just imagine all that happening while you’re pounding soda and chomping on popcorn during the latest binge-worthy series you can’t stop watching.

Tiny Waste Management Twins

There are around one million nephrons in each kidney keeping you healthy! What are nephrons? They are the little worker bees that find the waste from foods or muscle breakdown and move it where it needs to go.

These tiny powerhouses also release three hormones as they work, these hormones are responsible for regulating your blood pressure (renin), providing you with Vitamin D (calcitriol) and stimulating your bone marrow (erythropoietin). See? I told you they were powerhouses.

Clearly, without a healthy kidney (you need at least one), the waste in your body would continue to build up in the blood, and that story does not end well. Because our kidneys work so hard for us, it is important to take care of them as well with a healthy kidney cleanse.

What Is a Kidney Cleanse?

A kidney cleanse is basically power washing your waste management system so it can perform as it should. In our modern “chemical society” the kidneys have way more to manage than say, fifty years ago.

Today, they are bombarded with additional chemicals in everything from bananas to makeup. They have more preservatives to handle than ever before and even small amounts of cleaning products and pollution we breathe in affect our kidney function.

A kidney cleanse helps to protect your kidneys and remove toxins from the body to promote better kidney health. A kidney cleanse typically involves dietary changes for several days to detoxify and improve the health and function of your kidneys.

Signs You Need To Do a Kidney Cleanse

The following are common signs of toxin overload. Do you experience any of these?

• Skin issues like dry skin, skin rashes, hair loss, acne

• Vision problems including the inability to focus, fuzzy vision

• Tired feelings like fatigue, lethargic feeling, drowsiness

• Heart and blood issues including heart palpitations, high blood pressure

• Incontinence, kidney stones, urinary tract infections, decreased urine flow, increased nightly urination, burning or painful urination, dark-colored urine

• Severe itching, sleep problems, metallic taste in the mouth

• Ill feeling such as nausea, coldness, fever

• Problems with swollen joints, stiff neck, cramps, abdominal or lower back pain

• Poor appetite, diabetes, anemia

If this list sounds like your daily life, it might be time to hit the reset button through a kidney cleanse. You may also benefit from a kidney cleanse if you:

• Are prone to urinary tract infections or bladder infections (or if you’ve had more than 3 in your life)

• Have had more than 1 kidney infection in your life

• Have a history of kidney stones (and have been searching for a natural kidney stone remedy)

• Have chronic low vitamin D levels and supplementation is slow to work or ineffective

• Are older than 50

• Have diabetes

• Have high blood pressure

• Have a family member who has chronic kidney disease

What Are Kidney Stones?

Kidney stones are exactly like they sound, small rocks that develop in the urinary tract. Of course, we’re not talking common rocks you find outside, but they actually look and feel similar. These pebble-like masses come from both genetic and environmental factors. There are four different types of kidney stones:

Types of Kidney Stones:

• Calcium stones: These are the most common and they are often seen in older women who take excessive calcium and vitamin D supplements (greater than 1000 mg. and 400 IUs, respectively).

• Uric Acid stones: These types of stones occur in people with a high urine acidity (as can happen with gout).

• Struvite stones: This type of stone may develop as a result of infection.

• Cystine stones: These are rare, they are genetic and tend to run in families.

Other than the rare Cystine stones which come as an unfortunate genetic package deal, a kidney cleanse may help prevent the other three types of kidney stones.

How To Do a Natural Kidney Cleanse at Home

Most people can keep their kidneys healthy by staying hydrated and eating a balanced, healthful diet. However, there are some specific herbs and foods that are popular to use in a kidney cleanse to boost overall kidney health.

Hydration

The first key to a kidney cleanse is hydration. The human body is made of up mostly water. Every single organ needs it to function, especially the kidneys. Because they are the filtration system, they need a carrier (water) to get the waste out. When your water intake is low, urine is low, and waste is high. This can often lead to a buildup and the creation of kidney stones. The recommended daily intake varies depending on who you talk to. Some say 3 liters, others say to drink half your body weight in ounces, some say at least 8 8-oz glasses. Whatever it is, you probably need to be drinking more than you are to support an effective kidney cleanse.

Food

There are several foods that can aid in the functioning of your kidneys and prevent inflammation, which can lead to stones.

• Grapes, peanuts, and some berries contain a beneficial plant compound called resveratrol that was able to lower kidney inflammation in rats.

• Cranberries have often been praised for their bladder health benefits.

• Fruit juices with citrate help prevent kidney stone formation by binding with calcium in the urine. Brown seaweed has beneficial effects on the pancreas, kidneys, and liver.

• Calcium-rich foods like soy or almond milk, tofu, and fortified cereals.

• Very dark foods such as black walnuts and black beans.

• Kelp, seaweed, and fish.

• Asparagus, pineapple, kale, grapefruit, apples, lemons, ginger, garlic, and onions are all very good at helping to flush your kidneys of toxins.

Tea/Herbs

Using natural teas and herbs can be beneficial in a kidney cleanse and can help the kidney perform at its highest level. Ingredients to look for in your tea include:

• Nettles: Nettles are high in vitamin C and are a natural detoxifier to filter out extra fluids in the kidneys. It’s also high in antioxidants, which help to protect the body and organs from oxidative stress.

• Dandelion Root: This is a diuretic that helps in a kidney cleanse.

• Ginger: This herb inhibits the spread of bacteria in the kidneys.

• Celery Root: Another natural diuretic, specifically to increase urine output and is a tonic for your kidneys due to high potassium content.

• Parsley: This is a well-known treatment for the kidneys that you can make yourself by boiling for 10 minutes, filter the parsley out and save the water for drinking one cup each day.

• Hydrangea: Extracts of Hydrangea paniculate offered a protective effect against kidney damage due to the antioxidants in the plant.

Drink

If you prefer to get a two-per option, combining the best of foods and herbs along with hydration, you can try the “kidney love” cocktail recommend by Christa, a clinical and holistic nutritionist and author of The Whole Journey Food as Medicine cookbook. She recommends taking this drink daily for 7-14 days to give your kidney cleanse a boost.

The Whole Journey Kidney Cleanse Home Remedy Recipes

• 1 cup unsweetened cranberry juice

  • Cranberries prevent bacteria (mostly E. coli) from attaching to the wall of the bladder. This means that infections cannot stick around inside your body. Cranberries also work by helping your liver remove excess cholesterol out of your blood while flushing out bacteria and toxins from your kidneys.

• ¼ cup chlorophyll

  • This is known as the “building blocks” of photosynthesis. Chlorophyll contains vitamin C, inorganic salt, and is alkalizing, which is the perfect combination to assist in a kidney cleanse

• ¼ cup raw apple cider vinegar

  • Apple cider vinegar helps detoxify the liver because it helps break down fats and remove bad bacteria.

• Juice of two freshly squeezed lemons

  • Good old-fashioned lemon juice can increase citrate levels, which discourages kidney stones from forming.

• Optional: 3-5 drops of dark liquid stevia (for taste only)

These four simple ingredients are Christa’s go-to formula for a powerful kidney cleanse to be taken on a regular basis, or at the first sign of a bladder or urinary tract infection to knock it out fast.

Supplements

Some supplements, when used regularly can help to prevent kidney stones and aid in the overall function of the kidneys and support a healthy kidney cleanse.

• Vitamin B-6 is an important cofactor in many metabolic reactions.

• Omega 3’s can naturally decrease the metabolism of omega-6s, which may be a contributing factor in kidney stones.

• Potassium citrate is a necessary element of electrolyte balance and pH balance of urine.

• Kidney support is a whole kidney supplement that provides all the benefits of Cranberry Extract, Astragalus, Birch Leaf Powder, Gravel Root Powder, Goldenrod Herb Powder, Uva Ursi Leaf & Java Tea. All of these combine to provide bladder, urinary tract, and kidney health.

Other Kidney Help:

In addition to increasing your water, making dietary changes, teas, and supplements, there are a few lifestyle changes that can also help your kidney cleanse.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture stimulates certain acupoints and improves functioning inside the body. Other similar therapies like massage, cupping, and heat therapy can also be good ways to nourish the kidneys and support a kidney cleanse.

Stress reduction

Kidneys, along with other vital parts of your body can be damaged by stress. Reducing the stress in your life is an important way to nourish your kidneys. Meditation, yoga, massage, or a relaxing hobby are all good ways to reduce stress and help with your overall physical and mental health and promote relaxation and rejuvenation.