IF possible all persons should know and be conversant of what functions kidneys can do for them. The knowledge is vital so that we can choose food to eat, beverage to drink, etc. to make our kidneys always healthy. It is a wrong notion to say that the care and upkeep of kidneys and other vital parts of the body- for that matter- should be left to the domain of doctors and other health authorities. Doctors do help- but they're also human beings like us and preoccupied with many other things.

So let's do our level best to acquire enough tips and information about care of kidneys.  That we are just ordinary laymen is not a good excuse for us just to keep our hands akimbo and do nothing towards the acquisition of kidney-related information.  Be reminded that now is the era of information explosion.  There are useful information about kidneys here and there, left and right.  Make full and effective use of home and public libraries.  Books, magazines, newspapers, periodicals and other references  are there to be used intelligently, not to gather dust and rot.  Most especially, surf the internet where to find easy and understandable kidney-related articles.  They are all there complete with helps, drawings, diagrams and photos.

From the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse Website, I have dissected the following basic information for the care of our kidneys:

WHAT DO MY KIDNEYS DO?   The kidneys act as filters to clean the blood.  They get rid of wastes and send along filtered fluids.  The tiny filters in the kidneys are called glomeruli.  You have 2 kidneys.  Your kidneys clean your blood and make urine.

When kidneys are healthy - the artery brings blood and waste from the bloodstream into the kidneys.  The glomeruli clean the blood.  Then waste and extra fluids go out into the urine through the ureter.  Clean blood leaves the kidneys and goes back into the bloodstream through the vein.