Your body naturally detoxifies your system each day through the colon, liver, kidney, lungs, lymph, and skin. But we are exposed to toxins now way more than ever through the air, water, and food we consume.
This puts a strain on your organs. Especially the kidney is over-burdened and unable to remove the toxins. One of the most important functions of the kidney is to maintain the acid-alkaline balance of the blood.
It constantly monitors the pH of the blood and strives hard to alkalize the blood by removing excess acid through urine or absorbing more acid if the blood is too alkaline.
When the kidney is subject to prolonged toxin exposure, it becomes hard for the kidneys to maintain the right balance and in turn, kidney function tends to deteriorate. In this article learn how you can assess your kidney function using certain tests and diagnostics and take the right steps to maintain optimal kidney function.
Understanding Kidney Function
To assess the function of your kidneys, there are some critical tests. Here are some symptoms that can signify a problem with your kidneys:
- High Blood Pressure
- Pain During Urination or Difficulty to Urinate
- Swelling of the Hands and Feet Due to Build-up of Fluids
- Frequent Urges to Urinate
If you notice the above symptoms occurring persistently or in combination with other symptoms, kidney function tests can help you determine the reason.
Important Kidney Function Tests
Here are some important tests for understanding kidney function:
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Creatinine
Creatine is a waste product generated in the body through muscle activity. It is generally removed from the blood by your kidneys. However, when kidney function is not normal creatinine levels go up and are not removed.
Creatinine levels are usually measured by taking a blood sample or if needed can also be measured through a urine test. The creatinine levels are also used to determine the Glomerular Filtration Rate or GFR. This is an important assessment of your kidney function.
A normal blood creatinine result is 0.7 to 1.3 mg/dL for men and 0.6 to 1.1 mg/dL for women.
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BUN – Blood Urea Nitrogen
Another waste product generated from the breakdown of protein, urea nitrogen levels build-up in the body when the kidney is unable to remove it. Urea analysis is measured in two different ways across the world.
One method measures the nitrogen molecule of urea which is the BUN value and the other method measures the entire molecules of urea.
Approximate reference (normal) range:
Serum/plasma urea 2.5-7.8 mmol/L
Serum/plasma BUN 7.0-22 mg/dL.
How to Support Kidney Function?
A well-rounded diet rich in nutrients and adequate water intake is the most important pillars to keep your kidneys healthy.
- Hydration
Kidneys require water to secrete urine and it is the primary medium for waste secretion out of the body. So drink plenty of water to support your kidney to flush excess waste materials. - Foods for Kidney Health
A beneficial plant compound called resveratrol is effective to treat inflammation in the kidneys. It can naturally be found in red grapes, peanuts, and some berries. Also, cranberries are well-known to treat bladder-health issues and urinary tract infection.
Besides, fruit juices like lemon, orange, and melon contain citrate that helps prevent kidney stone formation. If your blood is too acidic, calcium crystals tend to form and when citrate binds with calcium in urine, it inhibits the growth of calcium crystals.
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Kidney-Cleansing Teas
Herbal teas made of natural herbs like stinging nettle, dandelion, hydrangea and Sambong are beneficial for optimal kidney function. As you support your kidneys with more fluids, it becomes easier to clear excess waste materials from your body.
Concentrate on the health of your kidneys as they continually maintain the right balance in your body and perform their duty of removing toxins in the blood. Understand your kidney function and discuss with your physician to assess any problems.