2. Consuming too much salt and sugar
95% of the sodium consumed with foods is metabolized by your kidneys. So if you eat too many salty products, your organs have to work much harder in order to get rid of the excess sodium. Eventually, this may result in the reduced function of your kidneys and lead to retention of water in your body that, in turn, can increase your blood pressure.
The excessive consumption of sugar may also contribute to the development of high blood pressure, as well as, lead to obesity and increase the risk of diabetes. These are the leading causes of kidney failure.
The recommended intake of salt is about 3.75 grams (or 0.75 tsp) a day, for sugar it’s about 25-38 grams (or 6-9 tsp). To keep your kidneys healthy, pay attention to the ingredients when buying goods at a supermarket — processed and packaged foods are usually high in both sodium and sugar.
1. Ignoring common infections
When you have a common illness like a cough, a cold, the flu, or tonsillitis, your body makes proteins called antibodies to fight it. These molecules usually settle in the filtering parts of your kidneys and cause inflammation. So if the illness lasts for a long time, your kidneys could be seriously damaged.
To protect your kidneys, always treat bacterial infections properly — take a break from work, sleep enough, and use antibiotics if necessary.
