There’s a lot of focus on liver cleanses these days, which are great and I do recommend, but cleansing your kidneys is just as important.

Just like the liver, the kidneys, are major detoxification organs of the body, and should be cleansed. Cleansing your kidneys will support the healthy functioning of these organs, so that they can keep doing what they do!

The kidneys are a pair of organs that filter the fluids of the body. They receive filtered blood from the liver, and filter it again, reabsorbing essential nutrients and water back into the bloodstream, and excreting waste products and unuseful materials through the urine.

The kidneys have a very important job! If your kidneys aren’t functioning properly, or they completely fail, things can get pretty ugly!

Which is why, it’s critical that we understand how to take care of these precious organs. Keeping our kidneys in good health is a necessity in today’s world where we are constantly being exposed to all kinds of pollutants. Which means our bodies have to process and deal with these toxicities. This includes everything from the air we breathe, food we eat, water we drink, to the personal care and household cleaning products we use.

But, there’s no need to worry. The key is to be conscious about these things, so that we can make informed decisions and choices that will better help us to optimize our current lifestyle to a healthier one. There are always things we can do to enhance the quality of our lives.

I think there’s a lot we can do to reduce our likelihood of developing unnecessary health related conditions and diseases. With that said, this post is meant to provide information that can help support kidney health, and prevent the occurrence of developing kidney complications.

Below, I have a list of what I consider to be some of the best kidney cleansing and supporting foods and herbs.

Start adding these into your diet. Add them to things you’re already eating. For example, if you eat a sandwich for lunch everyday, throw some cucumbers and parsley in it! That simple.

Best Kidney Cleansing Foods and Herbs

  • Hydration is Key to Kidney Health
  • It’s critical that you stay hydrated! The health of your kidneys depend on it. Putting the right types of liquids into your body, will help your kidneys flush toxins, replace lost fluids, and maintain the appropriate blood balance.  Keeping your body hydrated will reduce the likelihood of kidney stone formation, and promote kidney health and overall wellbeing. Drink plenty of high quality water, like fresh spring water or filtered water with added minerals. Try to include some of the teas, listed in this post, into your diet.

Best Foods and Herbs for Supporting Kidney Health

Note: I always recommend buying the best quality foods that you can. Opt for locally grown, organic, and/or homegrown options. Look into local farmers markets, and food co-ops for fresh produce. Check out your health food store or Mountain Rose Herbs for some of the herbs listed below.

Parsley: Easily add to salads, salad dressings, fresh green juices, wraps, sandwiches, pizza, dips, and soups.

Bee Pollen: Add a teaspoon to smoothies, unpasteurized yogurt, and cold cereals.

Pumpkin Seeds (Raw): Sprout and add to salads, or “toast” them in a dehydrator with a light coating of olive oil and your favorite seasonings.

Vitamin C Botanicals: Rose Hips, Camu Camu Berry, Hibiscus Flowers: These can be made into tea, or purchased in capsules and powders.

Lemons: Help reduce the formation of kidney stones. Squeeze lemon juice into your water, onto your salads, or try the popular Master CleanserThe Master Cleanser Lemonade:  2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice,1-2 tablespoons maple syrup, a dash of cayenne pepper, and 8-12 ounces water.

Cucumbers: Great in salads, sandwiches, burgers, and wraps. They’re also great for juicing, snacking, or this Cucumber Hummus  looks delicious!

Raw Apple Cider Vinegar: Helps prevent the formation of kidney stones. Use in salad dressings, or add 1-2 teaspoons to your water. Have you tried this apple cider vinegar weight loss drink?

Cranberries: Can help treat and prevent urinary tract infections. It’s also been shown to be effective for preventing and dissolving kidney stones.  Cranberry capsules are an easy and convenient way to help support urinary tract and kidney health.

Aloe Vera: This herb contains compounds that help prevent kidney stones. Aloe vera gel can be mixed into beverages.

Nettles: Are a natural diuretic and blood purifier (aka kidney cleanser). You can make a tea, or add nettle powder to your foods and beverages. I add nettle leaf powder to all of my smoothies and salad dressings.

Red Clover: A great blood purifier, so it will help cleanse the kidneys. I like to sprout red clover seeds and add them to salads. I also use the dried herb to make tea, as well as, add it to my daily smoothie.

Dandelion: A natural diuretic, so it will promote urination which will aid in the elimination of wastes. You may be interested in this recipe for Dandelion Root Coffee. Fresh dandelion greens can also be added to salads, or juiced with other vegetables.

Chanca Piedra: This South American herb helps break up any kidney stone formations that could be present, as well as, stones in other organs. It also has the added benefit of dilating the ureters and urethra, so that the stone(s) can be passed with less pain. You can make a tea, purchase in capsules, or as a liquid extract.

Noni Root: This herb provides great kidney and adrenal support. It can also be used as a thickening agent. You can add noni powder to smoothies, dips, cereal, unpasteurized yogurt, salad dressings, no bake energy bars, etc.

Reishi Mushroom: A Chinese herb supportive of kidney health. You can make a tea using the whole mushroom. This tea makes a great liquid base for smoothies and soups. Or, buy it as a powder, and add to smoothies, dips, dressings. etc. It’s flavor is undetectable, so it’s really easy to add to your foods and beverages. Reishi is also available in capsules, and liquid extracts. In general, this is a great herb for everyone. It is an immune booster, and promotes overall wellbeing.

Rehmannia Bark: Another Chinese herb supportive of kidney health. Make a tea.

I’d also like to point out that kidney cleansers are also known as blood purifiers. So, when you see an herb or food that has a blood purifying effect then you know it’s also cleansing for the kidneys.

In order to really support healthy kidneys, I think, it also makes sense to be aware of things that aren’t so great for your kidneys.

Foods to Avoid and/or Limit for Healthy Kidneys

Processed Foods: Basically anything in a package! These foods are high in refined salt and loaded with sugars, unhealthy fats, and artificial preservatives and additives. This includes cookies, chips, crackers, bread, pasta, ready made meals, cereal, canned foods, etc. Eat real food. Center your diet on fresh, whole foods that are grown locally, organically, and/or homegrown. If you want a cookie, make your own using wholesome ingredients. This is a far better choice, and even tastier!

Animal Protein: Eating an excessive amount of animal protein can be overwhelming to your kidneys. The filters of the kidneys are delicate and can easily be clogged by animal protein. Cutting back on your consumption of things like beef, chicken, pork, pasteurized dairy products, etc., and adding more plant-based protein sources is a great way to go! There are so many delicious, and nutritious vegan and vegetarian food ideas, so don’t be afraid to try new things!

The kidneys do have other intolerances, but I wanted to address processed foods and animal protein, because I feel that the overconsumption of these two food categories is common. Which, I think, is detrimental to the health of our kidneys, as well as, our overall health.

Well, that concludes this post. I hope you found it helpful!

Best of Health,

Shahné

What are your favorite kidney cleansing foods and herbs? Please comment below 🙂

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