6 Drinks to Clean Your Kidneys Naturally
Kidneys are small organs that play a vital role in keeping you healthy. They are part of your urinary tract and work to filter your blood. What they filter out is passed out as urine.
If you’ve ever had a kidney stone, you are well aware of your kidneys. Passing a stone has been likened to giving birth. It’s not fun!
Kidney infections are very dangerous. Kidney (renal) cancer causes about 14,000 deaths annually with 63,990 new cases diagnosed each year.
Help keep kidneys operating happily and healthily by enjoying these drinks. In fact, one might be growing in your yard right this moment.
1-Dandelion Tea
Dandelion tea is a good source of vitamins A, B-complex, C and D, iron, potassium, and zinc. It is a diuretic (make you urinate more) and replaces potassium lost in urine.
Dandelions are used in Native American medicines to treat kidney disease. It’s an anti-inflammatory and dissolves kidney stones. Check with a doctor first and use it only for a month at a time.
Diuretic
Dandelion leaves have a slightly bitter flavor that goes well in salads and they are increasingly available in produce and grocery stores.Vitamins A, B-complex, C and D are found in the leaves.
Dandelion also provides the minerals iron, potassium and zinc. Dandelion has diuretic effects -- it promotes increased urine production -- and also replaces potassium that may be lost in the urine. Native
Americans used dandelion extract to treat a variety of conditions, including kidney disease, skin disorders and digestive problems, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Antiviral
Dandelion roots have antiviral effects and, combined with the herb uvaursi, which has antibacterial properties, may also help decrease frequency of urinary tract infections in women. A study published in the June 2011 issue of the "Journal of Ethnopharmacology"
found that Vietnamese dandelion decreased urinary tract infection by increasing urine production and flow,
and also by preventing bacteria from attaching to cells that line the bladder wall.
Preventing bladder infections also prevents kidney infections, which usually occur when bacteria ascend from the bladder.
Researchers concluded that dandelion may be a useful, safe alternative to conventional antibiotics,
many of which are becoming ineffective due to emerging strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Anti-Inflammatory
Dandelion root soothes inflammation and helps dissolve kidney stones. Drinking dandelion root tea continually during an attack can help break up and pass the kidney stone, according to Reader's Digest's book "1,801 Home Remedies:
Trustworthy Treatments for Everyday Health Problems." Talk to your doctor about using dandelion root to treat a kidney stone or other health condition.
Dosage
Dosage for dandelion root is 2 g to 8 g of dried root, three times per day. Powdered extract in capsules can be taken in 250 mg doses three to four times per day, according to Langone Medical Center of New York University.
Dandelion might interact with certain drugs, such as those used for diabetes or high blood pressure. Avoid using dandelion if you have gallbladder disease and do not take dandelion for more than one month at a time.
2- Beet Juice
This helps remove calcium decreasing the chance of developing kidney stones. Beets help cleanse your blood, supporting that part of the kidneys’ job.
A quick internet search yields many beet juice recipes, ranging from lemon/ginger/beet to a spicy basil/beet to watermelon and beet juices.
A second study, from the Heart Research UK is looking into whether these same beetroot supplements could be used to prevent kidney failure arising from the use of dyes for coronary angiography.
Coronary angiography is an x-ray technique that looks at arteries in the heart to diagnose various heart disorders.
It is also used in planning surgical procedures of the heart. During angiography, a special dye is used intravenously to make the blood vessels visible.
The trouble with this dye is that it is known to cause acute kidney injury – contrast induced nephropathy (CIN).
Part of the mechanism of action of CIN is that the contrast dye reduces nitric oxide levels in the kidneys. Dietary nitrate,
which is high in beetroot is known to increase these levels. If supplemental beetroot juice could be given to increase nitric oxide and prevent acute kidney injury after these imaging techniques,
the need for routine dialysis in these patients may drastically diminish.
3-Ginger Tea
Grate unpeeled washed ginger into hot water, cover it and allow it to step for 5 or more minutes. If you need a sweetener,
add a touch of honey and enjoy. This tea will help a cough and sooth an upset stomach, including morning sickness. It may also lower cholesterol levels and fight infections.
Ginger is an extremely beneficial root, with potent antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-parasitic properties.
It is a rich source of numerous nutrients, including vitamin C, magnesium, and many minerals.
It strengthens the immune system, treats pain, helps digestion, treats heart diseases, and asthma. It is also a popular natural remedy for cleansing the liver and treating infections.
The consumption of ginger tea fights common colds and the flu more effectively than conventional medicines.
This healthy drink provides many other health benefits, including:
- cleanses the liver
- Dissolves kidney stones
- lowers the risk of stroke
- provides the necessary oxygen, minerals, and vitamins
- Prevents cancer and destroys cancer cells
- Enhances circulation since ginger has potent warming properties
Ingredients:
- ¼ teaspoon of ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon of ground turmeric
- Coconut milk
- A cup of water
- Organic honey (optional)
You should boil the water and add the turmeric and ginger to it. Then, leave it to simmer for 10 minutes, and add the milk.
Strain the tea, and add honey to sweeten it.
4-Stinging Nettle
Stinging nettle is approved for use in several European countries for treating kidney ailments. Because it is a diuretic, stinging nettle helps flush bacteria from the urinary tract. Drink an extra glass of water with each cup of tea to help the kidneys flush.
Stinging nettle can be an allergen and pregnant women shouldn’t drink stinging nettle.
Nettle, or stinging nettle because of its stinging properties, is used both as a culinary herb and medicinally to treat various ailments, including those affecting the kidneys.
In fact, nettle is approved in some European countries, such as Germany, for treating certain kidney aliments. However, in the United States nettle is not approved for any health condition. Consult with your doctor before you use nettle medicinally.
How It Works
Nettle contains substances called polysaccharides, or complex sugars, and lectins, which are thought to be the active components.Nettle leaf has anti-inflammatory properties that may be caused by nettle acting in your body to prevent the production of natural inflammatory substances called prostaglandins.
The herb also acts to increase urinary volume and the loss of water from your body, which can help to wash out bacteria out of the urinary tract.
Preparations and Dosing
Nettle is available as dried and freeze-dried leaf or as supplements in root tincture, extract, and capsule forms. When you make nettle tea, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center,you can drink three to four cups per day but you should always drink additional water along with the tea. Nettle dry leaf is usually taken as 2 to 4 grams, 3 times daily.
Nettle and Kidneys
Nettle has long been used as a diuretic to remove excess water from the body through the kidneys. This effect also makes nettle useful as adjunct therapy for treating urinary tract infections,because by increasing urinary volume, it may help to flush bacteria out of the kidneys and urinary tract. Nettle is used with large amounts of water as irrigation therapy,
which forces fluids through the kidneys to treat kidney or urinary tract inflammation. Some use nettle for treating and preventing kidney stones.
Considerations
Nettle is considered generally safe, but it may occasionally cause side effects such as mild stomach upset and allergic reactions. Never allow an open wound to come in contact with nettle. Avoid nettle if you are pregnant because it may increase your risk of miscarriage.5- Lemon Juice
Squeeze your juices from fruit because store brought varieties have a lot of added sugar and the pasteurization process breaks down nutrients.
Lemon juice is a popular ingredient used in fresh lemonade, facial tonics, and natural household cleaning recipes.
Folk medicine says this vitamin C-rich juice may even dissolve kidney stones, yet science remains inconclusive on these claims. But, science does agree that lemon juice may support kidney health;
on the other end of that stick, lemon juice is by no means a cure all for kidney stones. Regardless of the ambiguity, lemon juice has potent nutritional benefits for the kidneys,
possibly providing protection against kidney stone development. Again, many factors come into play here; however, lemon juice may still be a beneficial addition to the diet of anyone wanting to support the health of their kidneys.
Types of Kidney Stones
Let's quickly examine the types of kidney stones before we fully investigate the benefits of lemon juice on stone development. The main contributors to kidney stones include:- Cystine – Often the result of a genetic disorder.
- Struvite – Typically develop after a kidney infection.
- Uric Acid – Typically result from overconsuming meat, fish, and shellfish – generally rare.
- Calcium Oxalate – Buildup of calcium deposits in the kidneys – most common.
The Role of Calcium
Calcium is a necessary mineral for the bones, teeth, heart, and nervous system. When the body has excess calcium, the kidneys respond by removing it from the blood and excreting it out through the urine.The concern arises when the body also has excess oxalate, a plant compound found in foods like spinach and kale. This combination can form calcium oxalate, the most common form of kidney stones.
The Benefits of Lemon Juice for Kidney Health
Lemon juice contains high levels of citric acid, not to be confused with ascorbic acid (vitamin C). While lemon juice contains both, citric acid seems to contribute to reducing the chances of developing calcium oxalate stones. In clinical studies,citric acid from lemon juice has been shown to reduce urine acidity, thereby reducing kidney stone incidence. Vitamin C may also provide protection, yet it is unclear whether or not this protection is as significant as citric acid.
Regardless, the bottom line is that lemon juice offers a complementary approach to supporting kidney function and, depending on the type of stones in question, possibly halting formation before it starts.
How Much Lemon Juice Should You Consume?
Two to four ounces of lemon juice offers plenty of citric acid and a variety of other nutrients and antioxidants, all of which may be helpful for supporting kidney health.Always consume lemon juice in its raw, natural form by juicing organic lemons yourself. Never purchase bottled lemon juice, as these products are usually pasteurized and stripped of their raw enzymes and vital nutrients.
Take a shot of it by itself or add it to smoothies, mix it with hot water and some raw honey, or make your own lemonade by combining fresh lemon juice with cold water. If you like your lemonade on the sweeter side, I suggest adding stevia.
Has lemon juice had a positive impact on your health? What are your favorite ways to consume lemon juice? Leave us a comment and let us know how you enjoy it!
6-Cranberry Juice
Bladder and urinary tract infections are unpleasant. Kidney infections that result from bacteria traveling from the urinary tract to the kidneys can be deadly. Cranberry juice can also prevent kidney stones.
Choose cranberry juice, not concentrate or cocktail. Straight cranberry juice can be a bit tart, so dilute with water.
Cranberry juice is full of health-promoting nutrients. In addition to playing a role in cancer prevention and heart health, cranberry juice is particularly beneficial for keeping your kidneys healthy.
Not only does cranberry juice help to treat and prevent urinary tract infections via its antibacterial properties, but it also helps prevent the formation of painful kidney stones.
Prevents and Treats Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) are common among women. In fact, one in four women will suffer from at least one UTI over her lifetime according to a 2004 report published by the Cochrane Database Systems Review (Edinburgh, UK).Cranberry juice is very effective at preventing UTIs. Cranberries contain antibacterial compounds known as tannins. Tannins prevent bacteria from sticking to the walls of the bladder and the kidneys. For an infection to grow and thrive,
infectious microbes must be able to latch on to the walls of the organs. This sets the stage for infection. Through its antibacterial properties, the beneficial compounds in cranberry juice flush bacteria out with the urine.
Kidney Stone Formation
Cranberries contain quinic acid, an acidic compound that is not broken down in the body but excreted (unchanged, not broken down) in the urine.Quinic acid increases the acidity of the urine slightly. Even though it only causes a slight increase in urine acidity, this is sufficient to prevent the formation of insoluble stones (made when calcium and phosphate ions join).
In people who have suffered from recurrent kidney stones, cranberry juice may decrease the amount of ionized calcium (in the urine) by more than 50 percent.
This is very important in prevention because approximately 75 percent of kidney stones are made up of calcium salts, according to D.R. Guay, author of "Cranberry and Urinary Tract Infections" published in "Drugs" in 2009.
Selection and Serving Recommendations
Pure cranberry juice is extremely tart. Many commercial cranberry drinks dilute the amount of actual cranberry juice and replace it with sweeter juices, such as apple or grape.While a cranberry juice cocktail must offer 25 percent cranberry juice, other juices that feature cranberries on the label are made of juice, but only contain a small amount of cranberry juice.
Consider making your own juice cocktail. Mix pure cranberry juice with orange or grapefruit juice. Or blend it with strawberries and crushed ice.
Another idea is to combine unsweetened cranberry juice in equal parts with your favorite fruit juice and sparkling mineral water for an enjoyable spritzer. At least 8-ozs. of slightly diluted cranberry juice is enough to offer substantial health benefits.
7-Turmeric Tea
Turmeric appears to stop leaky gut, also associated with chronic inflammation.
Turmeric lowers blood pressure, the second leading cause of kidney disease. Since it also improves liver function, drinking turmeric tea is a terrific kidney cleanse.
About 14 percent of American adults live with chronic kidney disease. Many sufferers turn to herbs for kidney failure and other renal disorders that may not respond to conventional treatment.
Turmeric, for instance, may relieve some of the symptoms associated with kidney disease.
How Does Turmeric Work?
This brightly colored spice is the main ingredient in curry powder and can be added to rice, egg salad, oatmeal, meat dishes and even smoothies. The popular golden milk, for instance,is made with turmeric and cow's or vegan milk. Proponents say that it scavenges free radicals, prevents inflammation and protects against heart disease.
Curcumin, a phenolic compound, gives this plant its yellow color. According to a January 2013 review in the AAPS Journal, curcumin exhibits hypoglycemic, antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-
inflammatory effects. In clinical trials, it has been proven effective in the treatment and management of peptic ulcers,
psoriasis, vitiligo, diabetes, atherosclerosis, inflammatory bowel diseases and even cancer. Compared to most medications, it's safe and well-tolerated at high doses.
There's a catch, though. This antioxidant has poor bioavailability, meaning that your body cannot fully absorb it.
To reap its benefits, it's necessary to mix it with piperine, an active compound in black pepper.
This combo may increase curcumin's bioavailability by up to 2,000 percent, as reported in the above review.
When you buy turmeric or curcumin supplements, check the label to make sure they contain piperine as well.
According to the AAPS Journal review, curcumin appears to be particularly effective against colon, breast, prostate and pancreatic cancers. Furthermore, it may help improve the symptoms associated with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
Other studies have found that it may increase bowel motility and reduce the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
This compound may also benefit those with arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, recurrent respiratory tract infections and diabetes-related disorders.
Curcumin and Chronic Kidney Disease
As it turns out, there might be a connection between curcumin and chronic kidney disease. According to a December 2014 research paper featured in Molecules,the leakage of cytokines and other pro-inflammatory compounds in the gut increases intestinal permeability.
This may lead to diabetes, chronic kidney disease and plaque buildup on the artery walls.
Curcumin may help reduce inflammation in the gut and hence protect against these disorders or improve their symptoms.
Furthermore, curcumin may delay the progression of chronic kidney disease, but more research is needed to confirm these findings.
Most studies conducted so far were small but had promising results.
For example, a small clinical trial involving 24 patients with lupus nephritis, or kidney inflammation caused by lupus, suggests that curcumin may reduce systolic blood pressure,
excess proteins in the urine and hematuria (blood in the urine) over just three months of treatment. The results were published in the Journal of Renal Nutrition in January 2012.
If you're thinking about using herbs for kidney failure, turmeric may help.
According to a December 2016 review in the Journal of Renal Endocrinology,
this spice may decrease certain inflammatory markers in hemodialysis patients,
improve blood lipids and reduce kidney disease risk. Researchers attribute these potential health benefits to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Again, more large-scale studies are needed to evaluate its effectiveness.
Are There Any Side Effects?
Turmeric is generally safe in healthy individuals when used in small doses. However, it may cause adverse reactions in some people.The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health warns against using turmeric in high doses or for long periods, as it may trigger digestive problems. Constipation, diarrhea, nausea,
vomiting, acid reflux and abdominal pain are common side effects.
This spice may also interact with certain medications, such as anticancer and immune suppressant drugs.
A case report published in Transplantation Proceedings in the January-February 2017 issue outlines the interaction between turmeric and Tacrolimus,
an immune suppressant drug. A 56-year-old man with a history of liver transplantation ended up in the ER after taking this medicine along with high doses of turmeric.
His symptoms included high creatinine levels and edema (fluid buildup in the body).
Another case report, which was published in Nefrologia in the November-December 2018 issue,
indicates that turmeric may not be safe for dialysis patients when used in large amounts.
A 63-year-old woman on dialysis developed hematomas and experienced spontaneous bleeding episodes after taking 3 to 5 grams of turmeric infusions for several days. As the researchers note,
this spice may have anticoagulant effects and increase the risk of bleeding.
In addition to these potential side effects, turmeric may contribute to acute toxic hepatitis,
contact urticaria and allergic dermatitis. Furthermore, it may not be safe for people with digestive disorders or at risk for kidney stones, warns the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
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