WHAT YOUR KIDNEYS DO? Part 1

CLEANING THE BLOOD
The primary job of the kidneys is to clean blood. They filter and remove waste and excess fluid from thousands of pints of blood daily. They are responsbile for ensuring the body remains healthy by retaining its chemical balance. If both kidneys are working properly, the body has 100% renal function.

SYNTHESIS OF RED BLOOD CELLS
One of the lesser-known functions of the kidney is the role it plays in the sythesis of red blood cells. The kidney produces a hormone called erythropoietin, this promotes the formation of red blood cells in the bone marrow.

There are certain cells within the kidnes that are responsible for this job and they are sensitive to sudden changes in oxygen levels in the blood. When they detect that oxygen levels within the kidneys are low, they release erythropoietins, which, in turn stimulate the bone marow to form more red blood cells. The ability of the blood to carry more oxygen is, thus, increased.

SUGAR CAUSES DIABETES

IF YOU HAVE DIABETES, YOU SHOULD MONITOR YOUR SUGAR INTAKE. HOWEVER, SUGAR IN ITSELF WILL NOT CAUSE YOU TO DEVELOP DIABETES UNLESS YOU INDULGE IN EXCESSIVE SUGAR CONSUMPTION OVER A LONG PERIOD. CONSUMING TOO MUCH SUGAR PUTS PRESSURE ON THE PANCREAS TO MEET THE BODY'S INCREASING DEMAND FOR INSULIN AFTER EACH MEAL. FINALLY, THIS IMPAIRS THE EFFICIENCY OF THE PANCREAS TO PRODUCE INSULIN. WITHOUT ADEQUATE INSULIN, YOU BLOOD SUGAR LEVEL GOES HAYWIRE.

WHAT YOU KIDNEYS DO? Part 2

BLOOD PRESSURE REGULATOR
Kidneys also play a role in controlling the blood pressure. Not only they maintain the balance of fluids, kidneys react to low blood presure by releasing the hormone renin, which sets off a cascade of actions that promotes water retention.

However, kidneys are at the receiving end of changes in blood pressure. High blood pressure not only damages the kidneys, but may escalate further when the kidneys are damaged and unable to excrete fluids. Thus, the kidney has an important role in keeping blood pressure at normal levels.

High blood pressure of hypertension causes the heart to work harder to pump blood throughout the body. Over time, this causes significant damage to blood vessels. Once the blood vessels within the kidney are damaged, the other functions of this organ become impaired and can no longer get rid of waste and excess fluid efficiently. The excess fluid within the body further increases blood pressure levels.

BONE-STRENGTH PRESERVER
The kidneys also help maintain a proper balance of calcium and phosphorus in the blood. Renal osteodystrophy is a disease that results when kidneys fail to carry out this function.

Healthy kidneys produce a type of vitamin D known as calcitriol. Calcitriol promotes calcium absorption from food into the blood and bones, and works with the parathyroid hormone to maintain a normal balance of calcium in the body.

But when damaged kidneys are unable to produce calcitriol to absorb calcium from food, the parathyroid hormone level increases. The parathyroid hormone in turn, strips calcium from bones to maintain body's calcium levels as it is unable to. Prolonged removal of calcium from the body's storage can result in brittle bones and osteporosis.

SEAFOOD CAUSES CHOLESTEROL

TRANS FATS and SATURATED FATS are responsible for the increase in blood cholesterol. The cholesterol component of seafood barely includences blood cholesterol levels.