The kids are back in school, vacations are coming to a close, and leaves are starting to change colors. This can only mean one thing: fall is upon us. September is often the month to get organized. So why not start with your kidneys? You can manage your kidney health the natural way with tips from Get Well Natural.*

What's So Great About Kidneys?

Kidneys are some of the most remarkable organs in your body. They're responsible for cleaning the blood that courses through your veins. We're all born with two kidneys, which work to remove waste, control fluid and electrolyte balances, and create urine. Each kidney contains close to a million tiny nephrons, or microscopic blood filters. One of the best ways to estimate the effectiveness of the kidneys ability to filter is to look at the Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) which measures the flow rate of volume of fluid filtered from the kidneys (renal). It is important to note that healthy kidney function should be maintained and supported throughout a person's life since you could lose as much as 90 percent of kidney function without experiencing any symptoms or health problems. Loss of kidney function can lead to several possible kidney diseases, including:

• Chronic kidney disease (CKD), is also known as "chronic renal disease": A progressive loss in kidney function over a period of months or years
• Pyelonephritis: An infection of the kidney's pelvis
• Kidney Stones: The formation of mineral-based crystals that block urine flow
• Glomerulonephritis (GN), also called glomerular nephritis), is characterized by inflammation of the glomeruli and can cause blood (hematuria) or protein (proteinuria) in the urine
• Acute Renal Failure: A sudden worsening in kidney function that is typically reversible
• Chronic Renal Failure: A permanent partial loss of kidney function
• Diabetes Nephropathy: High blood sugar from diabetes progressively damages the kidneys
• Kidney Cancer: Renal Cell Carcinoma most commonly caused by smoking*

Kidney Health: An Eastern Medicine Point of View

From an Eastern Medicine perspective, Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is often the result of abnormalities in a person's kidney and spleen energy. From a nutritional perspective, there are many healthy food recommendations that a licensed dietician can recommend for those concerned about CKD, high creatinine levels or proteinuria (excess of serum proteins in the urine) – all of which can be signs of kidney dysfunction. In his article, Dr. Graeme Shaw provides the Eastern Medicine perspective, along with helpful information on nutrition and lifestyle options for healthy kidneys.*

Hungry? Try These Kidney-Friendly Recipes

For organs as complex as the kidneys, you need better advice than simply "eat healthy food." The National Kidney Foundation offers a comprehensive guide to nutrition and diet with more information about how nutrients and food groups can affect kidney stones, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, dialysis and more. Here are some healthy recipes to get you started:*

• Banana Crepes
• Red Quinoa and Root Vegetable Pilaf
• Zucchini Alfredo with Basil and Cherry Tomatoes
• Cinnamon Baked Sweet Potatoes

Do you have any delicious and healthy recipes to share? Visit our Facebook Page or Twitter (@GetWellNatural) and leave us a comment or send us a message. We'd love to hear from you!