THE KIDNEY

After reading up on how kidneys work, I found that they're sort of second and third hearts that are set just below our ribcages in our back and are about the shape of a fist (each). They are a filtration system for all the liquids that pass through our bodies. Not only do they filter and absorb nutrients from all the different things we drink but they also pump about 20 percent of our body's blood in order to work. In consequence, maintaining your kidneys will help your blood pressure. This explains why drinking water is so much better for you than drinking soda or juice--it allows the blood to flow much more freely because it's far more easy to filter once it hits the kidneys. Kidneys also regulate calcium in the body; so when there isn't enough water provided for the kidneys to filter, the calcium can build up into a concentrate and eventually turn into kidney stones.

To maintain the health of your kidneys, first and foremost, drink at least 8 glasses of water every day. That is the best form of kidney cleanse one could use. A few foods to eat while attempting to cleanse and help the kidneys are watermelon (as well as any other fruits and vegetables--watermelon is just so packed with water that it's perfect!), lemon juice (astringent, helps cleanse both kidneys and bladder), cranberry juice (another astringent), and pumpkin seeds (also good for clearing up acne).

A few herbs to try while cleaning and maintaining the kidneys are dandelion, marshmallow root, juniper, nettles, parsley, red clover, ginger, and golden rod. Also, take your B Vitamins (B2 and B6)!

To avoid kidney stones, limit your intake of certain foods filled with oxalate, such as chocolate, okra, sweet potatoes, sesame seeds, greens, nuts, and spinach. Avoid too many sugary foods and drinks, especially soda and high-sugar juices (if you're going to drink juice, might as well get the good stuff with only natural sugars...from the fruit itself). As always, drinks lots and lots of water!