Keeping your kidneys healthy

Kidneys are the unsung heroes of our bodies and perform a number of important jobs. They control your blood pressure, clean your blood, create urine, and manage Vitamin D production.

There are several ways to maintain kidney health. Here are our top four:

• Avoid smoking. People who smoke are three times more likely to have reduced kidney function. If you smoke and you’d like to take this first step, that’s great news. You can call the Quitlink on 13 78 48 or visit www.quitnow.gov.au.
• Be mindful of food and exercise. Eat a balanced diet consisting of fruit, vegetables, wholegrains, proteins and low-fat dairy products. And where possible, minimise long periods of time sitting and be active on most days (if not all) during the week.
• Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water and avoid sodas and fruit juice.
• Minimise alcohol. Excessive drinking can lead to high blood pressure, and this increases the risk of kidney disease. We recommended limiting your intake to less than two standard drinks per day.

Even if you know what is kidney disease, it can be difficult to tell if you have it. If you are in early stages, you will feel normal. There are no obvious signs; you can lose up to 90 per cent of kidney function before symptoms appear. You’re most likely to notice kidney disease in the middle stages, as levels of waste in your blood increase and you start to feel unwell.

If you’re wondering whether kidney disease might be relevant to you, be aware of the risk factors that may lead to kidney failure in the future and have a chat to your doctor.

For more information, you can also download our e-book "My Kidneys My Health" or take the Kidney Risk Test.