The Importance of a Kidney Cleansing Diet

Posted: 02 Feb 2015 07:00 AM PST

The importance of a kidney cleansing diet cannot be overemphasized. Flushing out your kidneys keeps these vital organs in optimal health by helping your body release toxins. Healthy kidneys are essential to a variety of body functions. Our kidneys help detoxify our blood by removing toxic compounds and passing them out through the urine. If blood cleansing becomes impeded, toxins can remain in the blood and circulate throughout the body to various vital organs and tissues.

The Function of the Kidneys

Healthy kidneys help regulate the stability of our bodily fluids. They regulate the balance of sodium and water in the body which is essential to the prevention of a number of negative health conditions. The kidneys also manage the balance between alkalinity and acidity, and they regulate the hormones and enzymes responsible for controlling blood pressure. In addition, as mentioned previously, your kidneys help filter out toxins that build up in response to diet and the environment.

The imbalance of body water caused by toxic kidneys has also been linked to negative emotional states, such as stress, paranoid thinking, uncontrolled muscle shaking, general feelings of insecurity and fear, and even panics attacks. Kidney cleansing helps restore the optimal function of this crucial organ. When in optimal health, our kidneys can purify the entirety of our blood up to 60 times per day.

Teas That Cleanse the Kidneys

There are many teas that you can brew yourself that will help cleanse your kidneys.

Dandelion root removes excess water from the body by stimulating urine production. Dandelion root tea can be made by boiling 1 to 2 tsp. of organic roasted dandelion root in 8 ounces of pure water.

Ginger root and turmeric tea can be made by boiling a few dashes of turmeric powder with peeled ginger root. If consumed after lunch and dinner, the tea not only flushes toxins from the kidneys but also helps with digestion.

Cleansing with Fruits and Vegetables

You can also find many organic fruits that will help your body with kidney cleansing. Organic grapes can be eaten raw to provide nutrients and antioxidants that support detoxification. Grapes help flush uric acid and other waste products from the kidneys.

Organic cranberries provide us with quinine, a compound that is sent to the liver. Hippuric acid, which is converted from quinine, helps remove urea and uric acid from the kidneys and urinary tract. It also helps discourage bacteria from attaching to urinary tract walls. Cranberry juice is a great kidney supporter.

Organic apples are one of the best natural foods you can eat, and they also support natural cleansing. Beet juice is another great addition to help you cleanse your entire body. Check out this beets liver cleansing juice recipe.

There are also several organic cleansing vegetables that are readily available in almost every grocery store.

Garlic is a natural diuretic that helps stimulate urine production and flush out the kidneys. Cucumbers also work as a natural diuretic and can help dissolve kidney and bladder stones. Sprouts help flush out the kidneys because they contain so much water.

Onions have been reputed to help people pass kidney stones. The onions are boiled, then liquefied in a blender along with the water they were cooked in. Kidney beans, soybeans, and peas contain a vital amino acid called arginine that helps cleanse the kidneys of ammonia.

A General Rule of Thumb

Eating pure, whole, and raw foods will provide the necessary support for your kidneys as well as every other detoxifying organ in your body. Most raw leafy greens, low-sugar fruits (think berries), and nuts and seeds can support your health in numerous ways, not just for cleansing. Also, it is imperative that you drink enough pure, filtered water every day in order to provide an easier route for toxins to evacuate your kidneys. You can use distilled water for this purpose; simply add 1 tbsp. of raw apple cider vinegar to an 8-ounce glass to give it an extra boost.

What are your experiences with cleansing? Are there any foods listed here that you can't eat? Please let us know your thoughts in the comments!

-Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, NP, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM

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