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THE KIDNEYS - FILTERS OF YOUR BODY SYSTEMS
What are the kidneys? They are bean-shaped organs located in the small of your back (lumbar region) on either side of your spine. Each weighs less than eight ounces and is approximately four inches long, two inches wide and one inch thick.
The kidneys are an extremely complex part of the human machine. They are dedicated to maintaining the chemical balance of the body, the regulating of the volume and the composition of fluids, and the eliminating of harmful substances. They are the super filters of the body.
These amazing filters have specific actions and activities. Each kidney is composed of one to three million tubular structures called nephrons - the basic unit. (A nephron is made up of a tuft of tiny blood vessels, known as glomerulus, and an attached tube or tubule.) As blood enters the kidneys through the renal artery, it is filtered and purified, and returned to the blood system by way of the renal vein. The organs, acting as screens, retain 99 percent of the water and most of the small blood substances and chemical molecules. Waste, as urine, is channeled from the body through the urinary system.
A healthy kidney filters about 200 quarts of blood (three times the body weight in water and salt) every twenty-four hours. It returns some 198 quarts to the bloodstream, producing about seven drops of urine per minute.
The kidneys carry out all of these steps without conscious control. Yet, your kidneys are adaptable. They can adjust to regulate the flow 0f urine so that during period of sleep the bladder, which collects the urine, will not fill too rapidly.
As stated above, problems occur when the kidneys do not function properly, especially when they release renin into the bloodstream. This enzyme catalyses the formation of angiotensin from a plasma protein. That powerful blood-vessel constrictor is the most potent agent known for raising blood pressure. Regular consumption of fresh liquids and juices help to wash out the kidneys and keep them free of toxins and the accumulation of angiotensin.
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GENERAL HEALTH
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