The kidneys are important detoxification organs of the human body. Their main function is to filter waste in the blood while retaining useful substances for reabsorption and future use. Proper nutrition is key to caring for these essential organs. What are the signs that our kidneys may not be functioning well?
Powerful and Hard Working–Kidneys Filter 200 Liters of Water a Day
The kidneys are high-performance organs. Blood pumped from the heart passes through millions of tiny “blood filter” renal tubules and glomeruli in the kidneys to be filtered of wastes. Throughout a 24-hour cycle, the kidneys filter a total of 200 liters (nearly 53 gallons) of water.Kidneys filter various metabolic wastes and harmful substances, including urea, uric acid, creatinine acid, excess minerals, food additives, water-soluble pesticides, drugs, alcohol, chemical toxins, and heavy metals.
Three Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease
Kidney disease lasting more than three months is called chronic kidney disease (CKD), which can be divided into three types according to the degree of severity.- Mild: Symptoms are proteinuria (elevated protein in the urine), hematuria (blood in the urine), foamy urine, and dark urine.
- Moderate and severe: Symptoms are lower extremity edema (swelling), elevated blood pressure, and anemia (low red blood cell count).
- End stage: At this stage of CKD, when the renal function drops below 15 percent of normal, the patient experiences extreme fatigue and requires dialysis (a manual process of kidney function).
