Kidney function can often be fully restored in acute kidney injury (AKI), but damage from chronic kidney disease (CKD) is usually not reversible, though its progression can be significantly slowed with treatments like medication, diet, and lifestyle changes to preserve remaining function and prevent further damage. Regenerative medicine and stem cell research show promise for future repair, but currently, for end-stage failure, dialysis or transplantation are necessary.
Improving kidney function naturally involves a combination of diet, exercise, and lifestyle adjustments: Stay hydrated: Adequate hydration helps the kidneys clear sodium and toxins from the body. Aim for 1.5 – 2 litres of water per day, although individual needs can vary.
There's no cure for chronic kidney disease (CKD), but treatment can help relieve the symptoms and stop it getting worse. Your treatment will depend on the stage of your CKD. The main treatments are: lifestyle changes – to help you stay as healthy as possible.
Acute kidney failure can be caused by factors like severe dehydration, infections, or blockages. The good news is that with the right treatment, it's often possible to reverse kidney disease in these cases. Your kidneys can return to normal function after the underlying issue is resolved.
Diabetes is the most common cause of kidney disease. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. But also heart disease and obesity can contribute to the damage that causes kidneys to fail. Urinary tract issues and inflammation in different parts of the kidney can also lead to long-term functional decline.
Water is the best option, followed by kidney-friendly drinks like lemon water, cranberry juice, herbal teas, and coconut water. Avoid alcohol, sugary beverages, and excessive caffeine.
Three key early warning signs of kidney problems are changes in urination (more or less frequent, especially at night), foamy or bloody urine, and persistent swelling, particularly around the eyes, feet, or ankles, indicating fluid retention. Other common signs include persistent fatigue, nausea, itching, and loss of appetite, as toxins build up when kidneys aren't filtering effectively.
Vulnerable Kidneys Can't Repair
Kidneys play a vital role in filtering waste from the blood. However, unlike some other organs, damaged kidney cells have an extremely limited ability to regenerate or repair themselves.
Special renal vitamins are usually prescribed to provide extra water soluble vitamins needed. Renal vitamins contain vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12, folic acid, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin and a small dose of vitamin C.
Though kidney failure and CKD aren't reversible, you can take steps to help preserve your kidney function. Healthy habits and routines may slow down how quickly your kidneys lose their ability to function.
To support kidney health, focus on fruits like berries, apples, and red grapes; vegetables such as cauliflower, red peppers, and leafy greens; lean proteins like fish (salmon) and egg whites; and healthy fats from olive oil, using herbs and spices instead of salt for flavor, as a varied diet rich in whole foods helps filter toxins and manage inflammation.
The kidneys can often recover from alcohol damage. Studies show that kidney-related problems caused by alcohol may resolve with four weeks of abstinence. While the kidneys can heal quite well once heavy alcohol use is removed, there may be situations where the stress is so great that it causes lasting damage.
Eat a kidney-friendly diet and exercise regularly.
A dietitian can help you plan meals that you like based on your preferences. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight are also effective ways to help manage your disease progression. Talk to your doctor about incorporating exercise into your daily routine.
Your healthcare provider will order blood and urine tests to check kidney function. Specifically, the blood tests will check: Your glomerular filtration rate (GFR). This describes how efficiently your kidneys are filtering blood — how many milliliters per minute your kidneys are filtering.
You can check kidney function at home using at-home test kits for urine (detecting protein/albumin) or finger-prick blood tests (checking creatinine/eGFR), often with smartphone apps for analysis, or by monitoring symptoms like increased nighttime urination (nocturia), swelling, or changes in urine (blood, foam) and discussing results with a doctor, as home tests screen but don't replace professional diagnosis.
Water helps the kidneys to remove waste from your blood in the form of urine. Water also helps blood vessels stay open. Then blood can move through the blood vessels to carry nutrients to your kidneys. If you become dehydrated, then blood and nutrients can't get to your kidneys.
To strengthen your kidneys, focus on a healthy lifestyle: stay hydrated with water, eat a balanced diet low in salt and processed foods, exercise regularly, maintain a healthy weight, and avoid smoking and excessive alcohol, while also managing blood pressure and blood sugar to prevent damage.
Top 10 Drinks That Support Kidney Function and Detox
For instance, turmeric supplements may increase your risk of kidney stones, especially if this runs in your family. Curcumin supplements contain much higher concentrations of the compound than a person would consume by eating food flavored with the spice or by drinking turmeric tea.
Diabetes and high blood pressure are the top culprits damaging kidneys most, as they harm the delicate filtering blood vessels, leading to chronic kidney disease (CKD) and failure; other major factors include smoking, obesity, dehydration, poor diet (high sugar/salt/red meat), certain medications (NSAIDs), lack of sleep, and genetic conditions. These factors create a cycle where damaged kidneys worsen blood pressure, further damaging them.
Cell reconstitution, matrix remodeling, and tissue reorganization are major mechanisms for kidney regeneration.
Symptoms can include:
Kidney function tests are urine (pee) and/or blood tests that evaluate how well your kidneys work. Your kidneys support your overall health by getting rid of waste and balancing body fluids and electrolytes. Most kidney function tests measure how well your glomeruli (glo-MARE-yoo-lye) work.
You feel kidney pain near the middle of your back, just under your ribcage, on each side of your spine where your kidneys are. Your kidneys are part of the urinary tract, the organs that make and remove urine from the body. (pee). You may feel kidney pain on one or both sides of your back.
Canned foods, some frozen foods, and most processed meats contain large amounts of salt. Snack foods such as chips and crackers are also high in salt. Table salt, some seasonings, ketchup, mustard, and certain sauces such as barbecue, soy, and teriyaki sauces are high in sodium.