Take Care Of Your Kidneys

You only get one liver but you get two kidneys; just as well as the kidneys are not as robust as the liver and are not able to repair and renew themselves like your liver can. So we thought it opportune to remind you that you need to take care of these 2 cashew nut-shaped organs that lie at the back of the abdominal cavity.

Kidney disease is common and contributes to 15% of all hospitalizations and 10% of deaths.

The kidneys perform amazing functions:

• Your kidneys filter your blood stream removing the waste products of metabolism (namely urea and creatinine and uric acid) from your blood, as well as any drugs you may be taking.
• They control the balance of salt and potassium in your blood.
• They make the hormone called erythropoietin which stimulates your bone marrow to produce red blood cells which carry oxygen to your cells.
• They make the enzyme called renin which exerts controls over your blood pressure.

Tests for kidney function include

Blood tests for:

• Serum levels of creatinine.
• Estimated glomerular filtration rate known as eGFR – this measurement normally declines with increasing age.
• Urine tests – analysis of a specimen of urine for protein, blood, cells, sugar and bacteria.
• Ultrasound scan of the kidneys and urinary tract – this can show shape and size of kidneys as well as tumours on the kidneys. If the outer layer of the kidneys (known as the renal cortex) is shrinking this is a bad sign of chronic kidney disease. Small kidneys, measuring less than 90mm in length, usually indicate a chronic disease process.

Causes of kidney disease include:

• High blood pressure
• Hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis)
• Diabetes
• Tumour infiltration
• Amyloidosis
• Dehydration
• Damage from radiographic contrast agents used in X-rays and CT Scans
• Auto-immune disease
• Infection
• Kidney stones and gout. Kidney stones are most commonly caused by low vitamin D levels, dehydration from lack of water and/or urinary infection
• Medication damage – analgesics, proton pump inhibitors used for stomach acid suppression, antibiotics
• Prostate enlargement

Patients with kidney disease may present with:

• No symptoms at all – thus the importance of regular blood and urine tests.
• Reduction in the amount of urine produced – less than 400 ml over 24 hours is abnormal.
• Fatigue, headaches, confusion, nausea, poor appetite, vomiting and fluid retention and anaemia.

Kidney Health Formula Capsules

These are designed to support optimal kidney function and to protect your kidneys from inflammation. Kidney Health Formula capsules can improve kidney function.

Kidney Health Formula Capsules contain:

• Phyllanthus Amarus which is a plant with thousands of years of traditional use to reduce kidney stones. It exerts anti-septic and anti-inflammatory properties on the kidneys and liver. It is ideal for people who get kidney stones.
• NAC (N-Acetyl- Cysteine) and Selenium which promote the production of the antioxidant glutathione which protects the kidneys
• Parsley to promote excretion of excess fluid from the body
• Cranberry to reduce kidney infections
• Vitamin C to prevent urinary tract infections

KIDNEY QUESTIONNAIRE

1. Do you sometimes retain a lot of fluid, more so than you used to?
2. Is the volume of urine that you pass each day less now than it used to be?
3. Have you had an unexplained rise in blood pressure?
4. Have you started getting unexplained headaches?
5. Has your skin become more tanned than it used to be, even with little sun exposure?
6. Have your nails flattened or become spoon shaped?
7. Have you experienced unexplained nausea or vomiting?
8. Do you have a family history of kidney disease?
9. Do you have a history of frequent urinary tract infections?
10. Do you have diabetes or a pre-diabetic state?
11. Have you experienced unexplained weight loss?
12. Has your urine changed color or odor?
13. Do you suffer with back pain?
14. Have you had kidney stones?

If you experience several of these symptoms, please see your doctor and ask for a kidney test.

To keep your kidneys healthy:

• See your doctor every year for kidney and liver function tests.
• Drink plenty of clean water.
• Control high blood pressure.
• Take Kidney Health Formula Capsules.
• Drink raw juices made from celery, cucumber, parsley, mint, ginger, green apple, lemon, orange and carrot.
• Avoid excess sugar in the diet.
• Keep your weight in the healthy range.
• Exercise regularly.

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