What Guys Are Saying About Their Health

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By the age of 40, most of us have had a relative or buddy who has endured the indescribable agony of passing a kidney stone. Here are some tips for maintaining kidney health.

Action Rx:
Kidney stones are caused by a high uric acid level in the blood. Drinking at least ten eight-ounce glasses of water a day helps keep kidneys hydrated and running at peak efficiency. As alcohol and caffeinated beverages are dehydrating and somewhat irritating for the kidneys to process, limit consumption of these.

Other ways to keep kidneys strong include:

• Rest: Get at least eight hours of sleep each night. As the kidneys are the "batteries" of the body, sleep deprivation means that kidneys have to work that much harder at vital tasks such as blood filtering.

• Relax: Practice stress management. Chronic anxiety and stress has been linked to higher uric acid levels in the blood.

• Diet: Eat a low-fat, balanced diet free of processed foods. Proper nutrition helps control uric acid levels in the blood, which translates to lower risk of kidney stones.

More Info at ThirdAge
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