The kidneys each of which has 1.2 million functional subunits called nephrons function as a highly selective active filtration system. The purpose of which is to maintain health.
Life requires the expenditure of energy. Energy is produce by burning fuel which is derived from the foods we eat. During the process lots of waste products are produced within the cells of our body. In order for life to continue these waste products must be removed to allow the machinery of the cell to continue to function.
The primary means of removal consists of the liver and the kidney. The kidney produces urine as a result of it primary function, this urine is rich in the substances that need to be removed for the cells in your body to function properly.
The kidney is capable of regulating the content of urine to enable removal of different substances at different rates, it is also capable of stimulating the marrow of your bones to produce blood. This function of the kidney is of vital importance as it is the primary source of the hormone that stimulates your bone marrow to form red blood cells, which in turn carries oxygen to the parts of your body that need it most.
The kidney also regulates the amount of calcium in your body by producing vitamin D. This is very important to the health of your bones.
The major constituent of urine is in fact water, it is vitally important that excess water is removed from the body. It is the kidneys job to determine how much water needs to be retained within the body and how much should be removed in the urine. Disturbance of this vital function leads to a state known as fluid overload which is essentially the accumulation of excess water in the tissues of the body. This strains the heart and the lungs because of increased blood pressure and can lead to significant ill health.
In summary the functions of the kidneys are.
- Regulate your body water and other chemicals in your blood such as sodium, potassium, phosphorus and calcium.
- Remove drugs and toxins introduced into your body.
- Release hormones into your blood to help your body:regulate blood pressure make red blood cells
- Promote bone health.
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