A liter-and-a-half of water every day renews the kidneys

BY JOAQUIN ORAMAS

PRECAUTIONS that are indispensable to avoiding kidney problems and the close relationship among the various organs of the human body are aspects touched on by Dr. Raúl Herrera Valdés when he considers the proven possibilities of humans reaching the age of 120 with quality of life.

Dr. Herrera, who is also a professor and the director of Cuba’s National Nephrology Institute, reminds us that water is a fundamental element of life, and that the kidneys are the principal organ for the regulation of waters and salts in the human body.

Water makes up 70% of the human organism, he explains, adding that between a liter and a liter-and-a-half per day must be consumed in order to adequately maintain balanced bodily functions. We’re not talking about liquids here, but about water, he emphasizes.

When less than this amount is consumed, that takes its toll on the kidneys, which then must work harder to save water, producing a concentration of salts in urine and the resulting formation of kidney stones.

Dr. Herrera adds that this concentration creates a breeding ground for bacteria that produce infections, with women being more prone to suffering from this type of condition.

After stressing an ample consumption of water as one way of avoiding kidney problems, he warns that in case of such problems, the kidneys have to reserve the vital liquid even more. Under the normal physiological conditions of daily life, the kidneys eliminate the least amount of water and an equal amount of salts and toxic substances. In turn, in extreme cases – dehydration, for example – these organs extract water from inside the body’s cells, trying to achieve the necessary balance so that other harmful consequences are avoided.

ALL OF THE BODY’S ORGANS ARE IMPORTANTAlthough he highlights the importance of good kidney functioning for reaching longevity and aspiring to reach the age of 120, Dr. Herrera reminds us that all of the body’s organs are important and cannot be isolated from each other. They form a very complex system, and a very perfect one if not damaged, he says. Many times, people begin to hurt themselves right from the start as a result of smoking and other erroneous behaviors. He then insists on the importance of education and developing prevention policies. Expanding on the subject, Dr. Herrera says that “we should work very hard on disease prevention, prioritizing education to try to eliminate all of those tendencies and bad habits that lead to risk factors which may develop into disease in a supposedly healthy population.”He warns of increased diseases in spite of scientific advances that are achieving an increased life expectancy rate. For example, there is a higher incidence of diabetes mellitus, with research indicating a 200% increase in anticipated cases, which could lead to a greater number of kidney and cardiovascular conditions, he says.

According to Dr. Herrera, specialists believe this phenomenon is presenting itself more intensely because of a greater tendency to consume foods that are high in fats and carbohydrates – poor nutritional habits favoring the development of an obesity and overweight epidemic.

This is a sickness that must be attacked with adequate nutrition so that it does not become an obstacle on the road to reaching 120 with quality of life.

Information: redac2@granmai.cip.cu