The kidneys are a very important part of the body. They filter the blood flow of toxins and wastes which, if allowed to build up, can cause serious damage or failure of the organs. Because of this they must be kept functioning efficiently.

The best way to keep the kidneys functioning is by drinking enough water and by eating a healthy diet. Drink more water and reduce the amount of salt in your diet. Limit or avoid processed foods, sugars and artificial sweeteners. But there are methods to help people keep their kidneys healthy as well; one of those being the kidney cleanse. While there are several varieties, they involve consuming certain foods for a certain amount of time.

One kidney cleanse runs for two days and has a variety of foods which are not all that fancy.

On the first day, start with an 8-oz glass of water with a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice.

• Breakfast should consist of a smoothie containing 1 beetroot, half a cucumber, 2 apples, the juice of half a lemon and 1 inch of grated ginger.

• Lunch is a mixed green salad consisting of grilled chicken or tofu, half a red onion, 1 cup of chopped apple, one quarter cup grapes and a topping of sliced almonds. The dressing can combine one-third cup of low-fat greek yogurt, a tablespoon of lemon juice and salt and pepper.

• Dinner is another smoothie. This one can contain 1 cup of coconut water, one cup of berries, one half cup of mango, 1 cup of kale, a tablespoon of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed.

Day two allows for something a little more substantial. Start by drinking green tea with a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice.

• The breakfast smoothie should contain 1 cup almond milk, one-half
  cup spinach, one-quarter cup mixed berries, 1 frozen banana, 1 tbsp ground flaxseed.

• At lunch, combine these foods and saute them together with olive oil. Eat 1 cup cooked brown rice, one-half cup cooked beans, one-quarter cup green beans, one-quarter cup chopped carrots, and 1–2 tsp minced garlic.

• Dinner is going to be a vegetable soup. This will consist of 1 sweet potato, 1 cup carrots, 2 celery stalks, 1 yellow onion, 1 cup tomato, 1 can kidney beans, one-quarter cup parsley, 2 tsp minced garlic, and 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth. Heat the vegetable broth over medium heat while chopping the vegetables up and adding them to the broth. When the vegetables have cooked, stir in the parsley and add some salt and pepper.

 

Before going on any kind of cleanse, it is important to talk to your doctor. They may be able to help you design a diet even better suited for your unique needs. And for more information about the unique dietary needs of the CKD sufferer, be sure to check out our Complete Guide to Renal Diets & Cookbooks!