Our kidneys are among the most important organs in our body. Kidneys are responsible for detoxifying the blood. These two bean-shaped organs filter out waste material through urine.
Moreover, the kidneys eliminate excess water from the body and retain it when needed. They also regulate the levels of phosphate, calcium, and other minerals in the body.
Kidneys also help in the regulation of blood pressure. They do this by producing important hormones needed for this function, as well as in the production of red blood cells which carry important nutrients and oxygen throughout the body.
It is, therefore, important that we maintain our kidneys in good shape. In order to help you maintain the good health of your kidneys, we’ve compiled a list of the most common habits that are dangerous to your kidneys.
Here are 10 of the most common bad kidney habits:
1. Holding your urge to urinate for too long.
If you are fond of not emptying your bladder on time, you will most likely suffer after some time. When you hold your urine when you feel like urinating, the urine will remain in the bladder for a longer period (oh, you don’t say). This allows exponential growth of bacteria breeding in the urine. These dangerous bacteria can lead to kidney or urinary tract infection (UTI). Retaining the urine can cause urinary incontinence and renal failure as it increases the pressure on the kidneys.
RECOMMENDATION: Urinate when you feel like urinating. Don’t make it a habit to hold your urge to urinate, especially over prolonged periods of time.
2. Low water intake or constant quasi-dehydration.
Did you know that when you feel thirsty, it means that you are technically already dehydrated? Yes. Don’t make it a habit to drink only when you feel thirsty. Your kidneys can be severely damaged if you don’t drink enough water.
What happens when you don’t drink enough liquid? For starters, when your body lacks water, your blood becomes concentrated. A more concentrated blood finds difficulty flowing through veins and arteries. This also impedes the ability of kidneys to flush out the toxins from your body, and the more toxins in the body, of course, the worse it gets.
RECOMMENDATION: Consumes at least 10 to 12 glasses of water a day. If you are living in a hotter region, going beyond 12 glasses is okay. Remember, however, that consuming TOO MUCH liquid is also detrimental to your kidney’s health.
