The Kidney Cleanse Diet
Here are the top herbs and foods that can make up a kidney cleanse:
Kidney Cleanse Herbs
The best herbs are stinging nettle & burdock.
Stinging nettle is really high in vitamin C, and this herb has been shown to help to start filtering out extra fluids through the kidneys. Drink three glasses of nettle tea a day.
2. Burdock root
Another tea you can mix in is burdock root tea. Diuretics stimulate the kidneys and help the body get rid of excess fluid, mainly water and sodium. Burdock root is a natural diuretic so through burdock consumption, you can naturally and easily help your body to eliminate excess water by increasing urine output. Burdock root can help to remove waste from the blood and body. (2)
If you have issues with fluid retention, you should ask your doctor about trying burdock root before resorting to prescription products.
Kidney Cleanse Foods
Consume high-antioxidant foods and foods loaded with electrolytes. By the way — a kidney cleanse is great for anybody with kidney stone symptoms as well.
1. High-antioxidant fruit
Cranberries, black cherries and blueberries. These are very dark, antioxidant-rich “superfruits” that are nutrient-dense.
So drinking cranberry juice throughout your day or making a morning smoothie and throwing cranberries in there, whether they’re frozen or fresh, is a great way to jump-start a kidney cleanse. Also drink celery juice along with cranberry juice. Those are two best things as you’re cleansing your kidneys.
Meanwhile, blueberries and black cherries contain resveratrol, a very specific type antioxidant that’s great for gout and eliminating uric acid. Resveratrol is one of the most important compounds for kidney health.
2. Beets
Beets are high in what’s called NO2, nitric oxide, which is really good for naturally cleansing the blood. Nitric oxide is vital to kidney function as well, (9) Since beets are high in NO2, it makes them a blood cleanser that’s perfect for a kidney cleanse.
3. Seaweed
Seaweed is incredible because it’s one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet, so adding a tablespoon of chlorella, or just even a teaspoon — or green superfood powder — to a smoothie in the morning is a great idea.
4. Lemon juice
Fresh-squeezed lemon in some water upon wakening is a great thing to do as well when you’re on a kidney cleanse. Lemon water benefits the kidneys by aiding in digestion and detoxification. Lemon juice is even recommended as a way to prevent kidney stones due to its benefits on the kidneys. (13)
5. Spinach
On a kidney cleanse, spinach is a necessity. We know spinach is a powerhouse food. It’s high in B vitamins and high in certain antioxidants that help cleanse the entire body, especially the kidneys.
Of course, as is the case with beets, you want to be careful to not over consume spinach, because too much can actually lead to kidney stone formation. (14) However, in appropriate portions, both spinach and beets can help detox the body overall, including the kidneys.
Kidney Cleanse Protocol
You can drink that about three times for three days and then afterward follow a nutritional kidney cleanse diet.
- Breakfast: Smoothie with about half a cup each of cherries, blueberries and cranberries, along with some protein powder and coconut milk — or collagen protein powder and coconut milk — along with green powder.
- Lunch:
- Consume another smoothie or juice similar to the one you had for breakfast.
- Dinner:
- Eat a big salad with a chicken breast.
So remember, make sure to incorporate herbs like stinging nettle or burdock, along with the kidney cleanse diet, and you’re sure to feel better and improve your overall health.