| |
Secrets
of Kidney Detox.
Your kidneys play a very important part in the normal and everyday
detoxification of your body. Yet not a lot is mentioned about the
importance of them in connection with detox programs apart from the
usual advice to drink a lot of water to help flush them out.
The Chinese believe the kidneys to be the center of a person’s
hereditary energy which is passed on at birth and that good kidney
function is linked with vitality and longevity. So kidney
detoxification is very important.
Most people are born with 2, fist sized, bean shaped kidneys located in
the back, one either side of the spine just above the waist protected
by the lower ribcage. They contain a complicated network of tiny tubes
which act like a water purification plant.
They have the job of processing nearly 180 litres (48 gallons) of blood
every day. They filter, cleanse, reabsorb nutrients and water vital to
the body, and excrete substances the body cannot use in the 1 - 2
litres (1–2 quarts) of urine they produce every day. Your kidneys play
an important part in getting rid of toxic waste, controlling blood
pressure and the manufacture of the active form of vitamin D.
So what is the importance of your kidneys in detoxification? Once the
capacity of the liver to detoxify is overloaded toxins can accumulate
in the blood stream. According to Dr Matsen there are even some
intestinal toxins that the liver detox function is unable to deal with
even if it is functioning well. Your kidneys are the organs left to
detoxify them.
An overload of toxins can cause irritation and the whole of the urinary
tract becomes more prone to infection. Normal kidney function may be
interfered with resulting in water retention, kidney stones and mineral
deficiencies.
Magnesium deficiency can have a direct effect on kidney function
because of its link to high blood pressure. This constant high pressure
of blood can damage the tiny kidney tubules. Some types of kidney
stones are due to a calcium/magnesium imbalance. Eating
magnesium rich foods which are included in most detoxification diets is
important. Good sources are green vegetables, nuts and seeds and
wholegrains.
A diet high in sugar causes some people to retain salt and water
contributing to weight increase. A high sugar and salt diet can have an
effect on calcium metabolism which can result in the formation of
certain types of kidney stones.
The breakdown of meat results in uric acid and oxalic acid both of
which are involved in stone formation. Alcohol too appears to
contribute to stone formation probably through its effects on uric
acid, calcium and phosphate excretion. Natural detox diets
eliminate alcohol, tea and coffee which are high in oxalic acid and
lower meat, salt and sugar intake.
Water intake is very controversial. Your body is 60 – 75% water and
your brain 85%. Approximately 1- 2 litres (1 -2 quarts) is lost daily
in urine and 1 quart in the breath which has to be replaced. There
appears to be no scientific validation for the 8 – 10 x 8oz glasses of
water rule. Dr Batmanghelidj, an Iranian physician, who wrote the Water
Cure maintains that the majority of Americans are dehydrated and that
water is the cure for many ailments.
Vegetables and fruit are high in water so this can count towards the
daily water intake. It used to be said that tea and coffee acted as
diuretics causing loss of water so could not be counted as part of the
day’s fluid intake. Some recent research seems to prove that this is
not the case so can count towards the total intake. However they
contain caffeine and other substances which can be harmful to health so
are eliminated or significantly reduced on detoxification programs and
healthy eating plans.
Too much water can be harmful and there have been documented cases
where people have become very ill from the effects of low sodium in the
body from drinking excessive amounts of water. 8 – 10 glasses of pure
water a day seems to be a rule of thumb and certainly will do no harm.
There are many herbs that help support kidney function and some
detoxification programs include herbal kidney cleanses.
For more information on detox request my Free Report below.
|
|
|
|
