Kidneys

Our Kidneys are our blood balancing organs.  They filter out water soluble toxins and pass excess water and salts from the blood to the bladder for excretion from the body as urine.

The balance between water and salts in our body fluids is critical and monitored by the brain.  A hormone in our blood called Anti-Diuretic Hormone (or ADH) is one of the mechanisms used to control exactly how much water and salts are excreted.

Kidney Disease

Kidney Disease is a very broad term, but the major factor observed to determine kidney health is its maximum filtration rate.  In other words how much blood can a kidney filter per minute?  Over time, Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) leads to a lessening of capacity, which is rated 1 to 5.

Acute Kidney disease is mostly restricted to kidney infection or trauma, which themselves may ultimately lead to chronic (or long term) Kidney Disease.  Read more about kidney disease.

Kidney Toxins

One of the major 'toxins' the kidneys filter out is called Urea.  This is actually deliberately created by the liver as a byproduct of breaking down amino acids.  It is then filtered out by the kidneys.

Kidney Function

Proper kidney function is crucial for the maintenance of good health, and the gradual decline of kidney function is now so common it is referred to as 'age related deterioration'. 

To help ward off any 'age related' conditions it is recommended that we cleanse our organs once or twice a year.  The kidneys are no exception, and our natural kidney cleanse formula is a powerful, gentle and effective blend of herbs traditionally used by herbalists and naturopaths to cleanse and support the kidneys.

Kidneys and pH Balance

Much of what the kidneys must remove from the bloodstream, is acid.  Well functioning kidneys easily manage this, but increasing numbers of people are finding their kidneys under-function.  This may lead to a condition called metabolic acidosis, where the blood remains too acid and is not buffered or balanced correctly by the kidneys.

The Solution?

A major 'buffering agent' is Sodium Bicarbonate.  This is produced in the pancreas and also in the kidneys to 'mop up' the acidity.  Recent studies including one in 2009 at the Royal London Hospital have confirmed that oral ingestion of Sodium Bicarbonate can dramatically slow down kidney failure, particularly in the presence of metabolic acidosis.   Kidney inflammation is prevented by baking soda because a chemical reaction takes place limiting ammonia production in the kidney.

Very importantly, aluminium is often used as an anti-caking agent in sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) in the food industry.  Aluminium is a known toxic metal, thought to be linked with many neurological diseases including Alzheimer's disease.  We therefore only recommend the consumption of Aluminium Free Sodium Bicarbonate (baking soda).

A full Daily Telegraph article on the use of Sodium Bicarbonate in the treatment of kidney patients at the Royal London Hospital may be read here .