Natural Remedies - Kidney Infection

You've probably heard this too many times to count, but it can't be stressed enough where kidney problems are concerned. You must increase the amount of water you drink. If you have a kidney infection or kidney stones, increasing the amount of water you drink can help flush the problem out of your body.

With a kidney infection, germs and bacteria take up residence within your kidney and multiple. Drinking extra water helps your kidneys be able to flush those germs and bacteria out of your body, taking the infection along with it.

Kidney stones are accumulations of waste materials from your body. Often these are created by calcium, but sometimes they can be created by too much protein or because you've had chronic urinary infections. These deposits can be kept from forming though, by keeping them diluted with extra water.

Now you don't have to technically drink water all day, but that is the best option. Drink at least a half gallon of plain water each day if at all possible. You can add real lemon juice to the water though, and this will give you flavor as well as provide your body with a way to help keep kidney stones from forming, because lemon juice dissolves kidney stones. Lemon juice is also a natural antiseptic, which means it can help prevent bacteria from multiplying into an infection within your kidneys.

You can also drink teas and juices if you'd like, because these are sources of liquid and liquid is the primary thing your body needs to keep your kidneys healthy. Try to avoid drinks with excess sugars though, because this can create a whole host of additional health problems which will eventually lead to creating kidney problems too.

If you drink caffeinated tea or coffee, you'll need to drink extra water. Caffeine can dehydrate your body, and if you're dehydrated you'll be more prone to developing kidney stones.

Since about 80% of kidney stones are made up of calcium oxalate, some people avoid foods high in oxalate as a natural way to avoid chronic kidney stones and infections. Foods high in oxalate include different types of berries such as blueberries and strawberries, instant coffee, chocolate, and dark leafy green vegetables.

It used to be believed that avoiding calcium rich foods would also help reduce chronic kidney stone problems, but that belief is starting to change. Some evidence now suggests that calcium rich foods can actually help prevent the development of kidney stones, but excess Vitamin D or Calcium supplements might cause problems because they're not absorbed well by your body.

Note: Some statements in this article may not be approved by the FDA. This article is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as professional medical advice.