Do You Need a Kidney Cleanse?
The kidneys are responsible for multiple body functions. They primarily act as blood filters by turning metabolites, urea, and other substances into urine to be removed from the body. They regulate glucose, blood plasma volume, and blood pressure, and they secrete hormones. Kidney health is crucial to our well-being, and kidney cleansing is an important step to ensure renal health.
When our kidneys are functioning improperly, they let us know. If you’ve ever had kidney stones or a kidney or bladder infection, you already know about the excruciating pain involved. Kidney symptoms can tell us we have too much protein in our blood causing kidney stones to form, that we have an infection from fungus or bacteria, or that we’ve taken in too many poisons and toxins. Some kidney problems stem from autoimmune deficiencies like Lupus, Hepatitis B, and HIV.
What is Renal Failure?
There are 2 types of kidney failure, and either can be fatal.
o Acute renal failure (ARF) happens when damage to the kidneys causes rapid loss of renal function. Diuretic use, dehydration, sepsis, drug overdose, and medications like NSAIDs and certain antibiotics can cause ARF. While it can be fatal if left untreated, ARF is reversible.
o Chronic renal failure (CRF), also called chronic kidney disease, or CKD, is marked by progressive loss of kidney function over a longer period of time. CRF can be the result of diabetic nephropathy or high blood pressure. It’s measured in stages from 1 to 5, with Stage 5 CRF considered end-stage and requiring dialysis or transplant. The prognosis is poor. Treatment exists mainly to try to slow its progression; quality of life is profoundly affected.
Do I Need a Kidney Cleanse?
Since the kidneys play such an important role in our bodies, it’s necessary, even vital, to do whatever we can to keep the system healthy. A great way to do that is with a kidney cleanse.
First you’ll need to change your diet. Eliminate animal foods (meat, cheese, eggs) that have too much protein. Stay away from fried, fatty, and greasy foods, and from salt, caffeine, soda and sugar.
o The majority of your intake should be from raw fruits and vegetables.
o Trade refined white flour for whole wheat grains, including breads and pastas.
o Helpful things to add include papaya, banana, and watermelon, asparagus, celery, and cucumber, and garlic and parsley.
Other Recommendations
o Herbal detox formulas can jump start your program. Be sure to look for one with whole food extracts. (See below)
o Adding a whole food supplement is a good idea to make sure you’re getting all the minerals you need.
o Flaxseed oil is full of omega-3 EFAs, essential for kidney function.
o Herbs that have a healing effect on the kidneys are juniper berries, marshmallow root, nettle, and uva ursi.
The organic herbal formula I recommend has helped thousands detoxify and heal their kidneys. If you’d like to learn more about it, click here.
