Your kidneys and liver partner up to remove toxic waste from your body. Problems with the functioning of these organs can cause a number of physical symptoms and a range of serious physical and mental health problems.

Here’s the lowdown on your liver and kidneys and how you can promote optimal organ and body health by keeping them “clean.”

What Does Your Liver Do?

The liver is one of the hardest-working organs in your body. Its job is to detoxify the blood, produce bile that digests fat, break down hormones, and store essential nutrients. Good liver function is crucial for optimal digestion.

While excessive alcohol consumption is the most commonly cited cause of liver problems, it’s not the only one. Excessive sugar, chronic malnutrition, obesity, exposure to high levels of chemicals, some medications, and health conditions can also impair your liver function.

When the liver is doing its job, it produces toxic ammonia, which is converted by the liver to a substance called urea.

What Do Your Kidneys Do?

The urea that’s produced by the liver moves through the blood into the kidneys, where it’s turned into urine to be expelled from the body.

Your kidneys also process up to 150 quarts of blood every day, filtering out toxins and waste products and flushing them out through your urine. Poor kidney function can affect your overall health and contribute to diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.

Signs Your Liver and Kidneys Aren’t Functioning Optimally

Several symptoms, especially when they occur together, can indicate kidney and/or liver problems.

Signs that your liver may need some TLC include:

• Bloating, gas, heartburn, and constipation
• Jaundice (yellowed skin and eyes)
• High blood pressure
• Dark urine
• Chronic fatigue
• Excessive sweating
• Bruising easily

Signs that your kidneys aren’t working optimally include:

• Excessive thirst
• Frequent urination
• Pain or burning sensations during urination
• Foamy urine
• Blood in the urine
• Persistent puffiness around the eyes
• Dry, itchy skin
• Swollen ankles and feet

A Kidney and Liver Cleanse Can Restore Optimal Function

You don’t need to follow a complicated, expensive, or prescribed liver or kidney cleanse to restore the best possible functioning of these organs. Here are some ways to keep your liver and kidneys clean and functioning at peak performance.

Eat a healthy diet: A mostly plant-based, whole-foods diet of fruits and vegetables, seeds and nuts, beans and legumes, and whole grains is one of the most important ways to keep all your body’s organs functioning properly.

A healthy diet reduces inflammation, which can do a number on your liver and kidney function. It also contains fewer chemicals, since you’re not eating as many processed foods, and this means fewer toxins moving through the liver and kidneys.

Go organic: The quality of the food you eat is also important for promoting effective liver and kidney function. Industrial and agricultural chemicals find their way into our food, taxing your liver and kidneys. Opting for organic produce and meats that are cage-, hormone-, and antibiotic-free can make a positive impact on your overall health.

Reduce alcohol consumption: Alcohol destroys liver cells, which can lead to inflammation, swelling, and a buildup of fat in the liver. It can also cause kidney problems, reducing their ability to filter your blood.

Reduce stress: Stress hormones increase inflammation in the body and can contribute to liver disease. Reduce the stressors in your life and learn to reduce stress on the spot through exercise, deep breathing, meditation, and visualization.

Exercise: Exercise is essential for all the body’s organs, and the liver and kidneys are no exception. Specifically, exercise reduces stress hormones and promotes optimal blood flow through the livers and kidneys as well as helps you maintain a healthy weight, which is also important for organ health.

Supplement: A healthy diet is important, but so is supplementation. Stonehenge Health’s Liver and Kidney Detoxifier contains proven cleansing ingredients that support digestive, kidney, and liver health, including dandelion, zinc, milk thistle, choline, and turmeric.

 

Your liver and kidneys are the only ones you’ve got and keeping them healthy is essential for overall body functioning, physical health, and emotional wellbeing. Making lifestyle changes to support healthy liver and kidney function can improve your quality of life–and even extend it.

Sources:
https://www.kidney.org/news/ekidney/august14/10_Signs_You_May_Have_Kidney_Disease
https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/sixstepshealthprimer
https://liverfoundation.org/for-patients/about-the-liver/health-wellness/