We can’t stop sharing all the great moments we had this past weekend at the Kidney Walk for the National Kidney Foundation!

We are very grateful to everyone that came out to support this awesome event 🧡

This coming weekend, we have the PKD walk, so please bear with us, and help us support everyone that is going through Polycystic Kidney Disease.

Most people take drinking water for granted, but keeping hydrated has a huge impact on overall health. Despite how crucial water is, a significant number of people fail to consume recommended levels of fluids each day.

Around 70 percent of the body is comprised of water, and around 71 percent of the planet’s surface is covered by water. Perhaps it is the ubiquitous nature of water that means drinking enough each day is not at the top of many people’s lists of priorities.

Does the U.S. drink enough water?

A study carried out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2013 analyzed data from the National Cancer Institute’s 2007 Food Attitudes and Behaviors Survey.
Out of a sample of 3,397 adults, the researchers found the following:

▪ 7 percent of adults reported no daily consumption of drinking water
▪ 36 percent of adults reported drinking 1-3 cups of drinking water a day
▪ 35 percent of adults reported drinking 4-7 cups of drinking water a day
▪ 22 percent of adults reported drinking 8 cups or more a day
People were more likely to drink less than 4 cups of drinking water daily if they consumed 1 cup or less of fruits or vegetables a day.
The study only measured the intake of drinking water and, of course, fluid can be gained from other beverages. However, water is the ideal source of fluid because it is calorie-free, caffeine-free, and alcohol-free.
Because 7 percent of respondents reported drinking no water at all daily, and those who drank a low volume of water also consumed less fruit and vegetables, it suggests that there is a certain number of people who are risking their health by not getting enough fluid.
Even if the respondents reporting low levels of water intake were obtaining enough fluid, it is likely that they would be obtaining it from sources that could potentially compromise their health in other ways.
“The biologic requirement for water may be met with plain water or via foods and other beverages,” write the study authors. “Results from previous epidemiologic studies indicate that water intake may be inversely related to volume of calorically sweetened beverages and other fluid intake.”

Why do we need to drink water?

The Institute of Medicine recommends that men achieve a daily fluid intake of around 3 liters and that women take in 2.2 liters.
To function properly, all the cells and organs of the body need water. It is also used to lubricate the joints, protect the spinal cord and other sensitive tissues, regulate body temperature, and assist the passage of food through the intestines.
Although some of the water required by the body is obtained through foods with a high water content – soups, tomatoes, oranges – the majority is gained through drinking water and other beverages.
During every day functioning, water is lost by the body, and this needs to be replaced. It is noticeable that we lose water through activities such as sweating and urination, but water is even lost when breathing.
Drinking water, be it from the tap or a bottle, is the best source of fluid for the body. Beverages such as milk and juices are also decent sources of fluid, but beverages containing alcohol and caffeine, such as soft drinks, coffee, and beer, are not ideal because they often contain empty calories.
It was previously thought that caffeinated beverages had diuretic properties, meaning that they cause the body to release water. However, studies show that fluid loss because of caffeinated drinks is minimal.

How much water should you drink?
The recommended amount of water to be drunk per day varies from person to person, depending on factors such as how active they are and how much they sweat. There is no universally agreed upon amount of water that must be consumed daily, but there is a general level of consensus as to what a healthy amount is. According to the Institute of Medicine (IOM), an adequate intake for men is approximately 13 cups (3 liters) a day. For women, an adequate intake is around 9 cups (2.2 liters).
Many people will have heard the phrase, “drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day,” which works out at around 1.9 liters and is close to the IOM’s recommendation for women. Drinking “8 by 8” is an easy-to-remember amount that can put people on the right track regarding water consumption. Remember, all non-alcoholic fluid counts towards this recommendation.
Water also helps dissolve minerals and nutrients so that they are more accessible to the body, as well as helping transport waste products out of the body. It is these two functions that make water so vital to the kidneys.

How does not drinking enough affect the kidneys?

Every day, the kidneys filter around 120-150 quarts of fluid. Of these, approximately 1-2 quarts are removed from the body in the form of urine, and 198 are recovered by the bloodstream. Water is essential for the kidneys to function.
If the kidneys do not function properly, waste products and excess fluid can build up inside the body.
Untreated, chronic kidney disease can lead to kidney failure, whereby the organs stop working, and either dialysis or kidney transplantation is required.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the second most common type of infection in the body and account for around 8.1 million visits to health care providers in the U.S. every year.
If infections spread to the upper urinary tract, including the kidneys, permanent damage can be caused. Sudden kidney infections (acute) can be life-threatening, particularly if septicemia occurs.
Drinking plenty of water is one of the simplest ways to reduce the risk of developing a UTI and is also recommended to those who have already developed a UTI.
Kidney stones interfere with how the kidneys work and, when present, can complicate UTIs. These complicated UTIs tend to require longer periods of antibiotics to treat them, typically lasting 7-14 days.
The leading cause of kidney stones is a lack of water; they are commonly reported in people who do not drink the recommended daily amount of water. As well as complicating UTIs, research has suggested that kidney stones also increase the risk of chronic kidney disease.
In November 2014, the American College of Physicians issued new guidelines for people who have previously developed kidney stones, stating that increasing fluid intake to enable 2 liters of urination a day could decrease the risk of stone recurrence by at least half with no side effects.
Dehydration – using and losing more water than the body takes in – can also lead to an imbalance in the body’s electrolytes. Electrolytes, such as potassium, phosphate, and sodium, help carry electrical signals between cells. The levels of electrolytes in the body are kept stable by properly functioning kidneys.
When the kidneys are unable to maintain a balance in the levels of electrolytes, these electrical signals become mixed up, which can lead to seizures, involving involuntary muscle movements and loss of consciousness.
In severe cases, dehydration can also result in kidney failure, a potentially life-threatening outcome. Possible complications of chronic kidney failure include anemia, damage to the central nervous system, heart failure, and a compromised immune system.
Effects on other organs

Of course, it is not just the kidneys that are affected by a lack of water; below is a small sample of the other negative consequences dehydration can bring:
▪ Blood is more than 90 percent water, therefore, if water is in short supply, blood can become thicker and increase blood pressure.
▪ When dehydrated, airways are restricted by the body in an effort to minimize water loss, potentially making asthma and allergies worse.
▪ The skin can become more vulnerable to skin disorders and premature wrinkling.
▪ The bowel needs water to function correctly. If dehydrated, digestive problems and constipation can become an issue. Dehydration can lead to an overly acidic stomach which makes heartburn more common and can encourage the development of stomach ulcers.
▪ Cartilage, found in joints and the disks of the spine, contain around 80 percent water. If dehydration is ongoing, joints can become less good at shock absorption, which leads to joint pain.
▪ Dehydration can affect brain structure and function. If dehydration is prolonged, cognitive ability is impaired.

About 60-70% of your body weight is made up of water, and every part of your body needs it to function properly. Water helps the kidneys remove wastes from your blood in the form of urine. Be “water wise” and make sure you’re drinking the right amount of water.

Here are 6 tips to make sure you’re drinking enough water and to keep your kidneys healthy:

1 Eight is great, but not set in stone. There is no hard and fast rule that everyone needs 8 glasses of water a day. This is just a general recommendation based on the fact that we continually lose water from our bodies, and that we need adequate water intake to survive and optimal amounts to thrive. The Institute of Medicine has estimated that men need approximately 13 cups (3 liters) of fluid daily, and that women need approximately 9 cups (2.2 liters) of fluid daily.

2 Less is more if you have kidney failure (a.k.a. end stage kidney disease). When the kidneys fail, people don’t excrete enough water, if any at all. For those who are receiving dialysis treatment, water must actually be greatly restricted.

3 It’s possible to drink too much water. Though it is not very common for this to happen in the average person, endurance athletes like marathoners may drink large amounts of water and thereby dilute the sodium level in their blood, resulting in a dangerous condition called hyponatremia.

4 Your urine can reveal a lot. For the average person, “water wise” means drinking enough water or other healthy fluids, such as unsweetened juice or low fat milk to quench thirst and to keep your urine light yellow or colorless. When your urine is dark yellow, this indicates that you are dehydrated. You should be making about 1.5 liters of urine daily (about 6 cups).

5 H2O helps prevent kidney stones and UTIs. Kidney stones and urinary tract infections (UTIs) are two common medical conditions that can hurt the kidneys, and for which good hydration is essential. Kidney stones form less easily when there is sufficient water available to prevent stone-forming crystals from sticking together. Water helps dissolve the antibiotics used to treat urinary tract infections, making them more effective. Drinking enough water also helps produce more urine, which helps to flush out infection-causing bacteria.

6 Beware of pills and procedures. Drinking extra water with certain medications or before and after procedures with contrast dye may help prevent kidney damage. Read medication labels and ask questions before undergoing medical procedures involving contrast dyes. Always consult with your healthcare provider first though, especially if you are on a fluid restriction.

Remember….when “water wise,” healthy kidneys are the prize!  

How do you stock your kitchen for the kidney diet? Learn what to have in your kitchen to make it kidney friendly.

A well-stocked kitchen can help ensure you have everything you need to cook kidney-friendly meals. Use these 14 tips to get started.

1. Compare brands. Sodium and potassium levels can vary significantly from one brand to another.

2. Look for low-sodium labels on packaging. Stock up on the lowest sodium broths, stocks and condiments.

3. Choose fresh vegetables, or frozen or canned veggies with no added salt or sodium. If they’re not available or unaffordable, drain canned vegetables and rinse to remove some of the sodium.

4. Use only 1/4 as much of the tomato sauce and canned tomatoes that a recipe calls for to limit potassium and sodium.

5. When using canned fish or chicken with added salt, rinse to reduce the sodium. Try to limit use of canned goods in general.

6. Avoid baking and pancake mixes that have salt and baking powder added. Instead, make a kidney-friendly recipe from scratch.

7. Use sweet pickles instead of dill pickles and check for added salt.

8. Check cold and instant hot cereals for sodium amounts. Although oatmeal contains more phosphorus than some cereals, it may be okay one to two times a week if phosphorus is well-controlled.

9. Check the ingredients in vinegar. Some vinegars, such as seasoned rice vinegar, contain added salt and sugar.

10. Avoid store-bought sauces and gravies that have mystery ingredients in them. Make your own instead from real-food ingredients. C

11. Try homemade soup recipes, instead of premade or canned soups. Some soups contain more than 800 mg sodium per serving.

12. Low- and reduced-sodium broth is great for use in cooking. Save the homemade broth from stewed or boiled chicken or beef.

13. Don’t trade sodium for potassium. Some products replace salt with potassium chloride.

14. Limit nuts, seeds and chocolate as they are high in potassium and phosphorus.

Watch this awesome Davita video: