Cleveland Clinic Nephrologist Says It Takes More Than Water to Keep Your Kidneys Healthy

Thu, Jun 5th 2025, 03:23 PM

High blood pressure, diabetes or a family history of kidney failure puts 1 in 3 people at an increased risk of developing kidney disease.

But even if you don’t have any of those risk categories, it’s still important to take care of these critical organs that filter your blood.

Nephrologist James Simon, MD, Kidney Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Ohio explains that there are several things you can do to keep your kidneys as healthy as possible at every stage of life.

“Contrary to popular belief, studies haven’t proven overhydration as an effective practice in enhancing kidney function,” clarifies Dr. Simon.

So, while it’s always a good idea to drink enough water, drinking more than the typical four to six glasses a day probably won’t help your kidneys do their job any better.

Dr. Simon points out that most kidney problems arise out of other medical conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

With this in mind, he suggests you follow healthy eating habits to maintain a healthy weight and manage blood pressure, including cutting out excess salt. Preventing diabetes and high blood pressure can help keep kidneys in good condition.

Like eating a well-balanced diet, regular physical activity can help you maintain a healthy weight and stave off high blood pressure. But be mindful of how much exercise you do, especially if you’re not conditioned.

“Overexerting yourself when you’re not in good shape can lead to serious problems, especially if you are at high risk for heart disease,” Dr. Simon cautions.

When it comes to how to keep your kidneys healthy, you may think adding a supplement or herbal remedy is the way to go. But not so fast, says Dr. Simon.

Excessive amounts of certain vitamin supplements and some herbal extracts may be harmful to your kidneys. Dr Simon advises talking to a healthcare provider about any vitamin supplements you plan to take.

Smoking and vaping also pose a threat as they can damage blood vessels, which decreases the flow of blood in your kidneys. When your kidneys don’t have adequate blood flow, they can’t function at optimal levels. Smoking also increases the risk of high blood pressure, as well as the risk of kidney, ureter and bladder cancer.

While vaping may not expose someone to many of the toxins in tobacco smoke, the nicotine is still very addictive and hard on the body, Dr. Simon states. Plus, there are many chemicals in the vaping solutions.

“Common nonprescription pills like ibuprofen and naproxen (NSAIDs) can cause kidney damage if taken too regularly over a prolonged period,” Dr. Simon warns.

If you have healthy kidneys and use these medicines for occasional pain, they probably don’t pose a risk. But he says that if you take them for chronic pain or arthritis, you should talk to your doctor about monitoring your kidney function or finding alternative ways to manage your pain.

“If you have diabetes, high blood pressure or cardiovascular disease, your doctor should screen for kidney dysfunction as part of routine care for those conditions,” Dr. Simon recommends.

A kidney function test, which is typically a blood test, measures how well your kidneys are working.

When you’re thinking about how to keep your kidneys healthy, the most important thing you can do is to take care of your body to help reduce your chances of developing diseases that put a strain on your kidneys.

“Eat healthily, exercise regularly and control your weight,” Dr. Simon reiterates. “These healthy practices are not new and not necessarily specific to kidney health but healthy kidneys like a healthy body.”
 
About Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. Cleveland Clinic is consistently recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for its expertise and care. Among Cleveland Clinic’s 82,600 employees worldwide are more than 5,786 salaried physicians and researchers, and 20,700 registered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic is a 6,728-bed health system that includes a 173-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 23 hospitals, 280 outpatient facilities, including locations in northeast Ohio; Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2024, there were 15.7 million outpatient encounters, 333,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 320,000 surgeries and procedures throughout Cleveland Clinic’s health system. Patients came for treatment from every state and 112 countries. Visit us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at x.com/CleClinicNews. News and resources are available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org.

High blood pressure, diabetes or a family history of kidney failure puts 1 in 3 people at an increased risk of developing kidney disease.
But even if you don’t have any of those risk categories, it’s still important to take care of these critical organs that filter your blood.
Nephrologist James Simon, MD, Kidney Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Ohio explains that there are several things you can do to keep your kidneys as healthy as possible at every stage of life.
“Contrary to popular belief, studies haven’t proven overhydration as an effective practice in enhancing kidney function,” clarifies Dr. Simon.
So, while it’s always a good idea to drink enough water, drinking more than the typical four to six glasses a day probably won’t help your kidneys do their job any better.
Dr. Simon points out that most kidney problems arise out of other medical conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
With this in mind, he suggests you follow healthy eating habits to maintain a healthy weight and manage blood pressure, including cutting out excess salt. Preventing diabetes and high blood pressure can help keep kidneys in good condition.
Like eating a well-balanced diet, regular physical activity can help you maintain a healthy weight and stave off high blood pressure. But be mindful of how much exercise you do, especially if you’re not conditioned.
“Overexerting yourself when you’re not in good shape can lead to serious problems, especially if you are at high risk for heart disease,” Dr. Simon cautions.
When it comes to how to keep your kidneys healthy, you may think adding a supplement or herbal remedy is the way to go. But not so fast, says Dr. Simon.
Excessive amounts of certain vitamin supplements and some herbal extracts may be harmful to your kidneys. Dr Simon advises talking to a healthcare provider about any vitamin supplements you plan to take.
Smoking and vaping also pose a threat as they can damage blood vessels, which decreases the flow of blood in your kidneys. When your kidneys don’t have adequate blood flow, they can’t function at optimal levels. Smoking also increases the risk of high blood pressure, as well as the risk of kidney, ureter and bladder cancer.
While vaping may not expose someone to many of the toxins in tobacco smoke, the nicotine is still very addictive and hard on the body, Dr. Simon states. Plus, there are many chemicals in the vaping solutions.
“Common nonprescription pills like ibuprofen and naproxen (NSAIDs) can cause kidney damage if taken too regularly over a prolonged period,” Dr. Simon warns.
If you have healthy kidneys and use these medicines for occasional pain, they probably don’t pose a risk. But he says that if you take them for chronic pain or arthritis, you should talk to your doctor about monitoring your kidney function or finding alternative ways to manage your pain.
“If you have diabetes, high blood pressure or cardiovascular disease, your doctor should screen for kidney dysfunction as part of routine care for those conditions,” Dr. Simon recommends.
A kidney function test, which is typically a blood test, measures how well your kidneys are working.
When you’re thinking about how to keep your kidneys healthy, the most important thing you can do is to take care of your body to help reduce your chances of developing diseases that put a strain on your kidneys.
“Eat healthily, exercise regularly and control your weight,” Dr. Simon reiterates. “These healthy practices are not new and not necessarily specific to kidney health but healthy kidneys like a healthy body.”
 
About Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. Cleveland Clinic is consistently recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for its expertise and care. Among Cleveland Clinic’s 82,600 employees worldwide are more than 5,786 salaried physicians and researchers, and 20,700 registered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic is a 6,728-bed health system that includes a 173-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 23 hospitals, 280 outpatient facilities, including locations in northeast Ohio; Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2024, there were 15.7 million outpatient encounters, 333,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 320,000 surgeries and procedures throughout Cleveland Clinic’s health system. Patients came for treatment from every state and 112 countries. Visit us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at x.com/CleClinicNews. News and resources are available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org.
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