Fact: Kidneys aren’t an organ most people talk much about. Livers and colons are cleansed often, hearts and lungs are worked at the gym monthly but what have you done lately for your kidneys?

These two organs produce important hormones, extract water-based toxins from your blood, regulate your bodies pH and mineral balance as well as monitor and help maintain your blood pressure (Note: it’s even been said that the majority of high blood pressure is more of a kidney issue than a heart issue).

Cleaning your kidneys is important for your overall wellbeing and is a must if you deal with fluid retention, urinary tract infections, kidney stones and/or high blood pressure.

Water: Your Kidneys Best Friend


According to kidney.org increasing your water consumption is the first and easiest thing you can do to help cleanse your kidneys. Blood is constantly flowing through your kidneys and with dehydration comes thicker blood, making it not only harder to push through the kidney but also decreasing the ability of the kidney to remove toxins and create urine.

Kidney stones form as the result of stone-forming crystals sticking together under concentration. Flushing your kidneys (and blood) with water is the best way to not only prevent stone formation but also ensure proper excretion of water-soluble toxins. Under normal hydration, an adult will excrete 1.5-2 liters of urine daily that is only “lightly tinted yellow”. If your urine dark yellow (or even amber in color) it’s an indication you need to not only increase your water but also consider cleansing your kidneys to undo the previous damage.

Natural Kidney Cleansers

Parsley

The juice of parsley is known to be one of the most powerful kidney cleaners (as well as the liver). Parsley does this by preventing salt from being reabsorbed in the kidneys. This increases the salt concentration of the urine which acts to literally “draw” debris out of the kidney and bladder. Parsley has been shown helpful in reducing edema (water retention) and bacterial infections of the kidney and urinary bladder. Parsley contains beta-carotene, chlorophyll and vitamins A, B and C which give parsley its diuretic features. Parsley can be consumed directly, juiced or consumed as a tea.

Beets

Beets contain betaine which has enormous antioxidant qualities and has been shown to increase the acidity of the urine. This assists in the removal of calcium deposits from within the kidney and increases the overall flow rates of the kidney tubules. Beets are also high in dietary nitrate – which helps the body to produce Nitric Oxide (NO). Deficiency in NO has been linked to multiple kidney disorders, kidney stones and elevated blood pressure.

Beets can be consumed directly or juiced.

Stinging Nettle

This herb, AKA Nettle, has been used for thousands of years medically as a way to treat eczema, arthritis and even anemia. Its most famous as an alternative to antibiotics for urinary tract infections as its been shown to expand lymphatic tissues and increase the filtration and fluid excretion rates of the kidney. Stinging nettle is primarily consumed as a supplement or tea.

Burdock Root

Like stinging nettle, burdock root also stimulates lymphatic drainage and is a natural diuretic opening the kidneys to allow for elimination of excess water and removal of soluble toxins from the blood. Burdock root has also been shown to assist in liver detoxification, increase antioxidants as well as lower blood pressure. Burdock root is often the #1 ingredient in herbal kidney stone remedies. Burdock is primarily consumed as a supplement or tea.

Lemon Juice


Lemon juice is a powerful kidney cleanser as it increases the concentration of citrate in the liver – a molecule famous for preventing (and reducing) the formation of kidney stones. Simply squeeze 4-5 lemons into a quart of water and drink it daily to keep your kidneys clean.