Water and your Kidneys.. 6 ways to be “Water Wise”

1. Eight is great!- but it’s not carved in stone- there is no hard and set rule that everyone needs 8 glasses a day. It’s a general recommendation. The Institute of medicine has estimated that men need approx. 13 cups daily and women 9.
2. Less is more if you have kidney failure- when kidneys fail , people don’t excrete enough water, if any. For those on dialysis treatment, water is restricted.
3. It’s possible to drink to much water- though it is not common for this to happen, enurance athletes like marathoners may drink large amounts of water and thereby dilute the sodium level in their blood, resulting in hyponatremia.
4. Your urine can reveal a lot- for the average person, “water wise” means drinking enough water or other healthy fluids to keep your urine light and oderless. When it’s dark yellow – this indicated dehydration.
5. H2O helps prevents kidney stones- kidney stones form less easily when there is sufficient water available to prevent stone forming crystals from sticking together.
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 ALWAYS consult with your healthcare provider first- especially if you are on a water restriction.