Your kidneys play a vital role in cleansing your system of toxins and waste. Keep them healthy with our favourite herbal teas for kidney support.
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When it comes to keeping our bodies free from toxins, there are few organs more vital than our kidneys. These two bean-shaped organs sit in the small of our backs, on either side of our spines, and also play an essential role in regulating our blood pressure and our fluid levels.
Plus, our kidneys turn the vitamin D we get from food and sunlight into its active form, so that our bodies can use it to support our immune systems and keep our bones and teeth healthy.
As you can see, there are plenty of reasons to want to support the health of your kidneys and make sure they function as well as they can.
Some of the ways we can protect the health of our kidneys include:
- Quitting smoking
- Eating a healthy diet
- Getting enough hydration
- Not drinking too much alcohol
- Exercising regularly
- Being careful about the number of painkillers we take
There are also certain herbal teas that may help to support our kidney health and keep everything working as it should.
Here’s our list of the best herbal teas for kidney support.
1. Parsley
You might be more familiar with parsley as a garnish on savoury dishes, but this humble herb also packs a big impact when it comes to our kidney health.
Parsley is high in antioxidants, helping to protect your kidneys against inflammation and oxidative stress. It also contains nitrates that help to dilate the blood vessels and let your blood flow more easily. In turn, this reduces high blood pressure, which is a risk factor for kidney disease.
And research suggests that parsley may even help to prevent and treat kidney stones.
2. Uva Ursi
Otherwise known as bearberry, uva ursi is a red berry from a small evergreen shrub that is native to North America. It is traditionally used by indigenous people in America to treat urinary tract infections and kidney stones.
Uva ursi contains a compound called arbutin. In our bodies, arbutin is converted to hydroquinone, an antiseptic and pain-reliever that then passes through our kidneys and urinary tract, protecting against infection.
As a natural diuretic, uva ursi can also help to increase our urine output – in other words, it makes us pee more. This might not seem that desirable but urinating regularly helps to protect against kidney stones and UTIs, so this is actually great news for your kidney health. Just make sure you are also staying hydrated.
3. Horsetail
A wild-growing fern that is native to Europe and America, horsetail is usually thought of as a weed. But, like many weeds, it has benefits for our health, including our kidneys.
Like uva ursi, horsetail is a natural diuretic, helping to maintain a healthy flow of urine and protecting your kidneys against kidney stones.
The high antioxidant levels of this herb also help protect our kidneys against inflammation and disease. And its diuretic action may relieve bloating and water retention too.
4. Cranberry
Cranberries are well known for flushing through our systems and keeping the kidneys and urinary tract healthy. Cranberry juice is a go-to home remedy for UTIs, but you can also drink herbal teas that contain cranberries.
Packed with antioxidants, cranberries help to protect our kidneys against oxidative stress and inflammation, lowering our risk of developing kidney issues.
5. Yarrow
Another common roadside plant, yarrow is used in traditional medicine systems across the world. Its antiseptic qualities make it particularly popular as a topical poultice for wound healing, but it can also be used internally in a tea.
Those antiseptic properties aren’t just great for keeping wounds clean and free from infection. Yarrow also has potential to protect our kidneys and livers against infections and inflammation.
One study found that supplementing with yarrow reduced the markers of kidney disease in patients with chronic kidney disease. And yarrow can also be used to treat kidney stones.
6. NutraFlow
At NutraTea, we aim to design herbal tea blends that are packed with benefits for your health. When it comes to kidney support, our go-to tea is NutraFlow.
As well as parsley, uva ursi, horsetail, cranberry, and yarrow, this premium blend contains herbs that protect your kidneys and urinary tract against infection and encourage a healthy flow of urine.
