What are kidneys used for?

Kidneys are important organs in our body, but what are they used for? The health of the kidneys is key to the health of the entire body. Their main function is to excrete toxic substances and metabolites produced in the human body, thereby ensuring the normal physiological activities of the body. In addition, the kidneys are the main organ for producing urine, so urine must be excreted from the body in a timely manner. In particular, holding urine is very harmful to the body. At the same time, you should also pay attention to protecting your kidneys.

1. What is the function of the kidneys in the human body?

1.1. Produce urine and maintain water balance. Each human kidney has about 1.3 million glomeruli, which can filter and clean 200 liters of blood every day, equivalent to 10 barrels of drinking water, and form about 1.8 liters of urine. When there is too much or too little water in the human body, the kidneys regulate the urine volume to maintain water balance in the body.

1.2. Excrete metabolites and toxic substances from the human body. The human body's metabolism produces metabolic waste, such as urea, uric acid, creatinine, etc. The kidneys maintain normal physiological activities by excreting these wastes through urine.

1.3. Endocrine function. For example, it secretes erythropoietin (EPO) to promote bone marrow hematopoiesis; it produces active vitamin D to regulate calcium and phosphorus metabolism and maintain the normal structure and function of bones; it secretes vasoactive substances to regulate blood pressure, etc.

2. What are the symptoms of kidney disease?

It is precisely because the kidneys have these three functions that if there is a problem with the kidneys, problems will also occur in other parts of the body. Experts say that early symptoms of kidney disease are often fatigue, weakness, swollen eyelids, pale face, large amounts of foam in the urine, and painful or difficult urination. Next, you will experience loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, back pain, increased nocturia, generalized edema, increased blood pressure, urine odor on the breath, bone pain, itchy skin, muscle tremors, numbness of the hands and feet, and slow reaction.

3. What are the methods of protecting kidneys?

3.1. Take good care of your feet: Keeping your feet warm is a way to nourish your kidneys. This is because the kidney meridian starts at the soles of the feet, and the feet are easily invaded by cold air. Therefore, special attention should be paid to keeping the feet warm. Do not place your feet facing the air conditioner or electric fan when sleeping; do not walk barefoot in humid places for a long time.

3.2. Keep bowel movements smooth: Keeping bowel movements smooth is also a way to nourish the kidneys. Inconvenient bowel movements, accumulation of stool, and upward movement of foul air not only make people irritable, chest tightness and shortness of breath, but also damage the kidneys, leading to low back pain, fatigue, nausea and vomiting. When defecation is difficult, you can press the backs of your hands against the kidney area and rub them vigorously. This can stimulate kidney Qi and speed up defecation. When walking, rub the kidney area with the backs of your hands to relieve low back pain symptoms.

3.3. Sleep can nourish the kidneys: Adequate sleep plays an important role in the biochemistry of qi and blood and the maintenance of kidney essence. Clinically, it is found that many patients with renal failure have experienced staying up late, excessive fatigue, and lack of sleep. Therefore, do not stay up late too much, develop good work and rest habits, go to bed early and get up early, which is beneficial to the maintenance of kidney essence.

Diet therapy for nourishing and protecting the kidneys

1. How to make walnut porridge: add appropriate amounts of walnuts, rice and brown sugar. After peeling the walnuts, take out the walnut kernels, then crush them for later use; cook the crushed walnut kernels and glutinous rice together into porridge, and add an appropriate amount of brown sugar before serving. It is best to take it on an empty stomach in the morning and evening.

Efficacy: This recipe has a good effect of nourishing the kidneys and the spleen and stomach. Regular consumption of walnut porridge can make the qi and blood in the body more vigorous. Not only will the skin become more lustrous, but the body will also be more beautiful and gray hair will not easily appear.

2. How to make donkey-hide gelatin and chicken broth: 5 grams each of donkey-hide gelatin and fish maw glue, 1 large bowl of chicken soup, 50 grams of rice, and appropriate amount of salt. First wash the rice, add chicken soup and water to cook porridge, when it is cooked, add donkey-hide gelatin, after it melts, add salt, and cook for one or two more times. Eat 1-2 times a day.

Efficacy: It can replenish essence and blood, suitable for male impotence, premature ejaculation, low semen volume, etc.