Kidney Cleanse Diet

As part of the excretory system, the kidneys act as blood filters, removing toxins from the bloodstream and eliminating them through urination. This filtration and elimination prevents internal toxic poisoning due to buildup. Barring serious kidney failure, which requires prompt and professional medical attention, cleansing the kidneys on a regular basis is quite simple, with most suggestions centering around a common theme of basic hydration.

Why Is A Kidney Cleanse Necessary?

The kidneys need to have a regular flow of water passing through them to prevent uremia, or the buildup of toxins or metabolic wastes in the bloodstream. This buildup can spread to the urinary tract, causing infections that can lead to severe fevers as well as urinary tract pain. Less than stellar kidney health can also lead to gout -- the formation of uric acid stones in the kidneys and joints -- and kidney stones. Passing these stones while urinating can be excruciating, but if the stones are large enough, they will prevent urination altogether, acting as a "dam" that keeps in all of the toxins and metabolic wastes the body needs to eliminate to function properly.

An Effective Kidney Cleanse Diet

First and foremost, for multiple reasons beyond maintaining kidney health, it is imperative to drink at least six 8-oz. glasses of pure water per day. Preferably, one should drink 8 to 10 8-oz. glasses of water per day. The benefits of drinking water daily are numerous -- clear skin, improved bowel movements, less digestive discomfort, suppression of appetite, etc. -- but for the intents and purposes of this article, rest assured that drinking 48 oz. to 80 oz. of water per day will do wonders in helping the kidneys flush out toxins.

As for herbal recipes, look for such supplements as hydrangea root, gravel root, marshmallow root, parsley, goldenrod, and ginger. Fruits and vegetables conducive to kidney cleansing include celery, cucumbers, lemons, apples, and watermelon. Also bear in mind that B vitamins are vital to maintaining kidney health; if you are not already taking a multi-vitamin containing a B vitamin complex, it is strongly advised.

Utilizing all of these methods daily, and in tandem, should produce positive results within three to six weeks.

Reducing Protein Intake

If you eat a high-protein diet -- either as part of a specialized diet program or simply because of personal food preferences -- bear in mind the dangers associated with "overloading" the kidneys with protein. For people with a predisposition toward kidney problems, consuming too much protein can spell trouble for normal kidney functioning. This does not mean that part of a kidney cleanse diet should be the elimination of protein, but rather the reduction of protein intake. Obviously, the protein-heavy Atkins Diet would not (and should not) be a part of a kidney cleanse diet. For those who eat meat-heavy diets, look to reduce meat intake to three or four meals a week on alternating days, or at the very most, to one meal per day. The recommended daily allowance for meat constitutes a serving between 6 oz. and 8 oz.