Here are 10 Common Habits that are really damaging our kidneys:

1. Not drinking enough water.   We went over this last week, so look back if you missed it!

2. Too much salt in your diet. Your body needs sodium to work properly. Most people however consume too much salt (and the wrong kind) which may raise blood pressure and put a lot of stress on the kidneys. As a good rule of thumb, no more than 5 grams of salt should be eaten on a daily basis.  If you “crave” salt, most likely your electrolytes are way out of balance.  True dehydration you actually might need sodium, but having too much sodium can throw off the balance of your electrolytes like magnesium, potassium and calcium and can be really hard on your kidneys.  You want a good balance.   Also the quality of salt is important too or else you won’t really be replenishing your sodium stores.

3. Delaying “when nature calls”.   Many of us ignore the urge to go because you are too busy or want to avoid public bathrooms. Retaining urine on a regular basis increases urine pressure and can lead to kidney failure, kidney stones, and incontinence. So listen to your body when nature calls.

4. That sugar addiction. Scientific studies show that people who consume 2 or more sugary drinks a day are more likely to have protein in their urine. Having protein in your urine is an early sign your kidneys are not doing their job as they should.

5. Vitamin and Mineral Deficiences. Eating a clean, whole food diet full of fresh vegetables and fruits is important for your overall health and a good kidney function. Many deficiencies can increase the risk of kidney stones or kidney failure. Vitamin B6 and magnesium, for instance, are super important to reduce the risk of kidney stones.

An estimated 70 to 80 percent of Americans isn’t getting enough magnesium, so there may be a good chance that you are one of them.  Those of my patients with Candida, Lyme are also supperrr magnesium deficient as they eat up our stores.  BUt in general, most individuals are deficient in magnesium.

This is another reason for electrolyte imbalance is hidden infections. There can be underlying hidden infections in the kidneys and bladder that can cause disruption in their function. This is where CBT Technique comes in handy decifering if this is going on.

6. Too much protein.  Over consumption of protein, especially red meat, increases the metabolic load on your kidneys. So more protein in your diet means your kidneys have to work harder and this can lead to kidney damage or dysfunction over time.  You need to make sure you are adequately breaking down your protein as well, which a good majority of people aren’t.  Low stomach acid is the culprit and is sooo common, I could probably safely say 99.9 % of my patients have low stomach acid.  We need good amounts of protein, but the quality of protein matters, as well as the amount.  This is why many body builders end up having kidney issues because they over consume protein and the quality is terrible, which puts severe stress on the kidneys

You can also get a type of dysbiosis caused by higher meat and low fiber diet.  It reduces the bifidobacteria species in our gut, deconjugates estrogens which elevates blood levels, and is linked to breast and colon cancer. **

So, if you eat meat like myself, you must make sure digestion, quality of meat, and adequate fiber is also consumed.

7.  Sleep Sleep what sleep?
We have all heard how important it is to get a good night’s rest. Chronic sleep deprivation is linked to many diseases and kidney diseases are also on the list. During the night your body repairs damaged kidney tissue, so give your body the time to heal and repair itself.

8.  Sorry in advance coffee lovers.   You know my motto is everything in moderation . Just as salt, caffeine can raise blood pressure and put extra stress on your kidneys. Over time excessive consumption of coffee can cause damage to your kidneys, if you are not replenishing the dehydration.  1 cup of coffee needs 32 ounces of water to replenish!

9. Painkillers. Way too many people take painkillers for their small aches and pains, while there are many all-natural, safe remedies available, not to mention chiropractic care! Excessive use or painkiller abuse can lead to severe damage of liver and kidneys.

10. Alcohol.  Although there is nothing wrong with enjoying a glass of wine or having a beer once in a while, most of us don’t stop after just one drink. Alcohol is actually a legal toxin that puts a lot of stress on our kidneys and liver.

To stay healthy and avoid kidney issues it is important to eat lots of fresh, whole foods and if you keep the above information in mind and avoid these common habits as much as possible, your kidneys will not be under constant stress and your body will thank you for that!  As always, with the new year I recommend doing a 21 day purification cleanse.  I guarantee with my program you will feel higher energy, less pain and sleep better!  The level of toxins around us is astonishing, so make sure your kidneys are up for the constant challenge.

If you have chronic back pain, this could be the reason.  So fix your kidneys, and you might notice less pain!

A patient case study I had this last year. The patient was symptom free low back wise, but each treatment I kept getting kidney reflexes showing up every treatment.  I suggested the patient get blood work. They patient went in for routine blood work, and ultimately found that levels were out of balance.  This led to further testing, and the patient ended up having multiple tumors in their kidneys.  This was without any symptoms, the patient was extremely active! So, these tumor could have actually spread, but we caught it early.  Thats the importance of preventative care as well.  The kidneys are huge or many complaints!

My new office location is open this week!!! Book online today for those in the Southern California Area!!
www.drrachelhamel.com!!