by The Grenada Food and Nutrition Council
Drinking adequate water daily can help your kidneys stay healthy because water helps to flush wastes and toxins from the body.
The kidneys are responsible for removing wastes, toxins and excess fluids from the body; most of that waste is excreted through urine. Drinking the daily recommended amount of water will keep your body hydrated and also help the movement of blood and essential nutrients through blood vessels, the kidneys and other essential organs. When you become dehydrated, this movement becomes difficult.
Research has also shown that drinking the right amount of water can also assist in lowering your risk of chronic kidney disease because water is the primary agent which helps the kidneys to clear sodium, urea, and waste products from the body.
Men should drink about 10 cups of water a day while women should drink 8 cups of water a day. Additionally, children ages 4 to 8 years should consume 5 cups of water, children ages 9 to 13 should drink 5 to 6 cups and teenagers ages 14 to 18 should drink 6 to 8 cups of water daily. The amount of water you drink may increase depending on factors such as climate, exercise and physical activity, pregnancy, illness and age.
If you are diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, your water intake may differ from what is normally recommended. According to the “American Kidney Fund Kidney Kitchen,” people who are diagnosed with stages 1 and 2 chronic kidney disease are advised to drink enough water; around 64 ounces which is equal to 8 cups every day, as this helps the kidneys to stay hydrated and working well. Those diagnosed with stages 3, 4 and 5 and are not on or on dialysis, may need to limit the amount of water and fluids they consume as in these stages of kidney disease fluid retention occurs. A medical doctor would advise their patient on water and fluid consumption as each individual case may be different.
