Know Your Kidneys

 

The role of the kidneys is often underrated when we think about our health. In fact, the kidneys play a vital role in the daily workings of your body. They are so important that nature gave us two kidneys, to cover the possibility that one might be lost to an injury. We can live quite well with only one kidney and some people live a healthy life even though born with one missing kidney. However, with no kidney function, death occurs within a few days!

 

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Each kidney is about the size of a fist and weighs about 150 grams.

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Each kidney has about one million nephrons, which are tiny, filtering units.

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The nephrons make it possible for the kidneys to filter the body’s entire blood.

Human kidneys are bean-shaped organs.

Located near the middle of the back on both sides.

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supply every two (2) minutes which is around 180 liters of fluids per day to produce

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2 litres of urine.

Blood is filtered by the nephrons. The filtering process removes the waste, toxins and excess water from the blood to form urine. Urine flows from the kidneys to the ureters and then stored in the bladder until we urinate.

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Active Vitamin D

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Erythropoietin

Renin  

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– helps keep our bones strong.

– stimulates red blood cell formation.

– maintains a normal blood pressure.

What Are Kidneys?

1) Remove waste products.

What Do Kidneys Do?

2) Regulate the chemical balance in our body.

3) They release three (3) important hormones: