Kidneys are the organ responsible for filtering blood, releasing excess fluid along with toxins and waste from the body in the form of urine. They’re necessary for life, but stress, waste buildup, and certain health problems can cause kidneys to reduce the function of the kidney filters, resulting in fluid and toxin buildup.
A natural kidney detox can flush the body of excess fluid, combating fluid retention. However, edema can be a sign of kidney disease. Talk to your doctor about any symptoms you currently have to rule out kidney disease. While healthy people can benefit from a kidney cleanse, it could actually cause a lot more damage if there’s already an underlying renal disease.
If you have kidney disease of any kind, there may be some foods you may need to avoid (i.e. high sodium, high potassium, and high phosphorus foods). Talk to your nephrologist about dietary restrictions/ recommendations before making changes to your diet.
High-antioxidant fruit
Cranberries, black cherries, and blueberries are all high-antioxidant fruits that are a great part of a natural kidney detox. All of these berries are packed with nutrients and are a tasty treat too. On top of their health benefits from their vitamins and minerals, they have some kidney specific benefits too.
Blueberries and black cherries both contain a vital antioxidant by the name of resveratrol. It has shown to reduce inflammation in kidney disease, slowing the progression of chronic kidney disease.
Cranberry juice is regularly used in the treatment of UTIs. Regular cranberry consumption can reduce the risk of a urinary tract infection. UTIs can cause damage to the kidneys, so prevention is key for optimal health.
Try adding these three berries to your diet on a regular basis; your kidneys will thank you.
Beets
Beets are a perfect addition to a natural kidney detox. They’re high in nitric oxide, which naturally cleanses the blood. Also, not getting enough nitric oxide can lead to a heightened risk of kidney damage. There are so many other benefits to eating and drinking beets, which you can read about in further detail by clicking here.
Seaweed
This green water-plant is going to help cleanse your system. Seaweed, or seaweed byproducts spirulina or chlorella, has shown to help remove heavy metals from the body. This helps keep your kidneys clear and functioning properly, not to mention the benefits it’ll have throughout the rest of the body.
Lemon Juice (Water)
We’re not talking about lemonade here. We’re talking about pure lemon juice (diluted with water to make it tolerable to your taste preferences). The juice from lemons helps detoxify and aid digestion. It’s also a diuretic, meaning it will help flush fluid from your body. As a bonus, lemon and lime juice can help prevent kidney stones.
Spinach
This is a good addition to a natural kidney detox, if you don’t have any kidney conditions. Spinach is packed with many nutrients and antioxidants that will help the detox the body. That being said, too much spinach can contribute to the formation of kidney stones. Also, some kidney diseases require you to watch your potassium intake, which would limit the amount of spinach you could eat.
Natural Kidney Detox Supplements
Be careful with a lot of the natural supplements out there that claim to cleanse the kidney. While some may be okay for healthy individuals, they can be dangerous for others with invisible kidney damage (early stages of many types of kidney disease have no real symptoms, so you could be doing damage without knowing it.). It’s always better to talk to a physician before adding supplements to your diet.
No processed foods, low sodium
Saying no to processed foods is something everyone should consider doing. Sticking to whole foods ensures you know what you’re eating, and that you’re getting all of the nutrients that real food has to offer. It will also cut out a lot of unhealthy additives, meaning you don’t have to worry about doing “detoxes” all the time.
Reducing your sodium intake could be another beneficial diet change for most people. The Standard American Diet contains far more salt than the daily recommended levels. Generally, you shouldn’t have more than 2,300mg of sodium a day, but a low sodium diet of 1,500mg is still considered healthier for most people. If you exercise regularly, or are a heavy sweater, you may need additional sodium, but not nearly to the levels you’ll find in processed foods.
