Is A Kidney Detox Really Necessary? How To Cleanse Your Kidneys Safely & Effectively

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. 

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.

Being in tune with your physical, mental, and emotional health is the best way to know if you need a kidney detox. If you're experiencing any one of these signs, it might be time to give your kidneys and the rest of your body a little extra attention: 

There is a correlation between high blood pressure and poor kidney functioning, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. More specifically, when you have high blood pressure, you're at an increased risk of damaging blood vessels in the kidneys, which interferes with their ability to work properly. 

When your kidneys are overworked and not functioning as well, you may retain water, especially in your feet and ankles. When fluid accumulates in these areas, it usually leads to some swelling. 

In addition to excess fatigue, you may also find it difficult to concentrate and notice a decrease in energy levels. Other signs that may indicate a potential problem with your kidneys include trouble sleeping, dry and itchy skin, a need to urinate more often, and poor appetite. 

Kidney detoxes or cleanses usually encourage people to eat specific foods and herbs or drink certain drinks, such as smoothies, juices, teas, herbs, and other foods. Although many, if not most of the recommendations can complement a healthy diet, Michelle Zive, Ph.D., R.D., says there is very little research to support the idea that eating certain foods or herbs during a kidney detox can actually remove specific toxins from the body. There are, however, foods and practices that can help in keeping the kidneys healthy and support their natural detoxification process. Here, Pedre shares some of his top tips to help kidney health:

To maximize kidney health, also focus on these beneficial habits:

Water, water, and more water. The amount you need to drink each day depends on your body size, climate, physical activity, and any medications you may be taking. That said, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine determined that an adequate daily fluid intake is about 15.5 cups or 3.7 liters of water for men and 11.5 cups or 2.7 liters for women. 

With that in mind, here are some specific foods to add to the diet described above:

Plain water is always an approved drink of choice, but you can supplement your fluid intake with dandelion tea, green juices, alfalfa, green tea, and alkaline water. 

If you want to try a kidney detox, Zive says you should first consult a doctor or registered dietitian to ensure you will be consuming enough calories and electrolytes to support your metabolism. In general, a kidney detox diet will include plenty of healthy foods, water, tea, and juices. It will also be full of fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, whole grains, nuts, low-fat dairy, healthy fats, and a moderate amount of lean proteins. 

Lifestyle habits like eating too much processed foods, drinking alcohol or soda instead of water, and not sleeping enough can put extra stress on our kidneys, which requires them to work overtime. By improving your diet and upping your water intake, you can help get your kidneys—and your health—back on track.