Kidney stones currently affect 10% of the US population and considering the fact that passing a kidney stone is comparable to "passing a baby" and they are very likely to reoccur in those affected, it is no wonder that people are looking for a solution as a preventative measure.  And one such solution is the Kidney Stone Cleanse.  But does the Kidney Stone Cleanse work and just as important, do the kidneys need cleansing in the first place?

Your kidneys are probably one of the most important organs in your body.  Without the kidneys (and liver), you body will start to shut down very quickly and you will die.    The reason is that your kidneys are responsible for flushing out the majority of toxins out of your bloodstream and purifying your blood.  In fact, it is estimated that in a typical day, the kidneys have processed nearly 200 quarts of blood and removed roughly 2 quarts of excess water and toxic material from the blood.

I have to admit, the first time I heard about kidney stone cleanses was on the internet.  And my first question, just like the colon cleanse scams out there was, do you really need a kidney stone cleanse?  Is it really necessary?

If you are drinking a lot of water and fluids, then chances are good that you won't need to do anything for your kidneys....the kidneys pretty much cleanse themselves.  What the products that claim is that a natural kidney cleanse will help to detoxify your body and in effect will help to not only improve general function but also help to prevent kidney stones from forming.

Other benefits that are claimed include leveling out blood pressure, boosting overall immunity (which means you would get less sick) and a general improvement of the digestive system, most notably the bladder and urinary tract which are the final stop for toxins before they exit your body.

So, now that we have established that cleansing your kidneys by using a kidney stone cleanse product isn't as necessary, are there any other benefits to using one?  Well, the answer is maybe, although most researchers haven't confirmed that using a natural kidney cleanse product will or won't help to prevent kidney stones.  All that said, the best thing you can do if you are interested is find a naturapathic doctor in your area and asking a few questions.

Of course, you could simply add a few foods to your diet that will help the body cleanse itself....

There are a lot of foods that actually will help detoxify the kidneys. The real deal however isn't that they are detoxing just the kidneys but the entire digestive system altogether. And if you take a look at these, you will notice that many of these foods are also recommended for dissolving all kidney stones, even the more popular uric acid kidney stones.

Also, notice that most have a lot of water content in them. Coincidence? Hardly? Here is the list...

• Watermelon- There is actually a more famous kidney cleanse called the watermelon cleanse. Watermelon is composed of over 70% water. Diabetics should refrain from using this cleanse as it may increase blood sugar levels.
• Lemon Juice
• Cranberry Juice
• Pumpkin Seeds