The International Kidney Day for this year featured some young people who took part in the ”DrinkWaterChallenge’’ to spread awareness on the importance of drinking enough water to maintain the health of our kidneys. There is a common saying that water is the kidney’s best friend. This is a result of the roles water play in maintaining the healthy state of the kidneys.
The kidneys are bean-shaped organs of the body that helps in the excretion of harmful substances from the body. When blood enters the kidney, it filtrates substances out of the blood, reabsorbs needed nutrients and excretes the wastes in form of urine. Water aids this process by dissolving the wastes and getting excreted as urine, thus preventing the wastes from sticking together and remaining in the kidney.
Also, for blood to enter the kidney, the blood vessels must stay open and the blood must be able to move freely within the vessels. Adequate water aids in the free movement of blood into the kidneys for filtration to occur.
When there is low water intake, harmful substances that are filtered from the blood are retained in the kidney and it works harder, thus wearing out the kidney and leading to kidney damage. Meanwhile, water consumption must not be in excess as this might lead to water toxicity.
Water needs depend on the daily activities or body weight of individuals. It is suggested that a woman of normal weight should take between 1.5 to 2litres of water daily, while a man of normal body weight should take 2 to 2.5litres of water daily. Water intake should not be limited to mornings or during meals but should be done throughout the day. Make your kidney smile. Stay hydrated.
For investigations on the state of your kidney, visit MedBioTechLab for your Kidney Function Tests.
