There’s ultimately no magic cleanse or “flush” when it comes to kidney detoxing, but optimizing your kidney health is important for a number of reasons. Here, we explain why you need to care for your kidneys and how you can help them function better, while boosting your overall health. Even though your kidneys are capable of detoxing on their own, they may not be functioning optimally. This can cause symptoms such as fatigue, bloating, and trouble sleeping. By making certain lifestyle modifications and creating a diet based on kidney-friendly foods and beverages, you can assist the body’s natural detoxification process. Plus, when you set out to do a kidney detox, Vincent Pedre, M.D., a board-certified internist and functional medicine doctor, says you’re not just detoxing your kidneys, you’re supporting detoxification for every organ system in your body. A review of studies published in the journal Nutrients found that in people with chronic kidney disease, adjusting their diet may help to protect kidneys from further damage1. More specifically, numerous studies indicate that consuming a diet rich in fish, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and polyunsaturated fatty acids (hello, Mediterranean diet!) is beneficial for people with chronic kidney disease. With that in mind, here are some specific foods to add to the diet described above:
