Know your kidneys

Your kidneys are located near the middle of your back, on either side of your backbone (spine). They are protected from physical injury by a large layer of fat, along with your lower ribs and back muscles.

They are bean-shaped and each one is the size of an adult fist (about 150 grams). Most people are born with two kidneys, but around one in every 750 people are born with just one. The good news is that you can still lead a healthy life with just one. One kidney alone can provide up to 75 per cent of normal kidney function.

The entire organ is not one big filter. Each kidney is made up of about one million tiny filters called nephrons. Blood enters your kidneys through the renal artery and goes back into your body by the renal vein.

Your kidneys have four incredible powers. They:

1. Clean your blood and circulate a fresh supply around your body 12 times every hour. This works out to a total of around 200 litres of blood per day.
2. Process excess fluid and unwanted chemicals and waste in your blood. The result is about one to two litres of urine that you pass each day, detoxifying your body.
3. Keep your blood pressure regular by telling the blood vessels in your body when to expand and contract
4. Manage your body’s production of Vitamin D, which is crucial for maintaining strong bones and producing red blood cells that carry oxygen around your body.

Read on to find out how to keep your kidneys healthy.

If you’d like to know whether you’re at risk of kidney failure in the future, you can also take our Kidney Risk Test.