Promoting kidney health

Your kidneys are vital organs that function mainly as filters and, therefore, have a big impact on fluid and electrolyte balance, blood pressure regulation, urine creation, red blood cell production and energy levels.

Maintaining healthy kidney function is usually a combination of stopping certain harmful behaviors along with adopting some beneficial habits.

Stay well hydrated. Most Americans don't drink enough water during the day, which probably has the biggest negative impact on their kidneys. Being the high-volume filters that they are, the kidneys need adequate water to remove toxins, waste products and unwanted or unneeded compounds from the blood.

As such, drinking plenty of water at regular intervals throughout the day will help your kidneys function properly and not get too congested or calcified. Aim for four to six 8-ounce glasses of water a day if you're sedentary, or eight glasses if you're more active or live in a warm climate.