Kidneys are amazing for all they do, be sure to look after yours

By Christine Carson, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and Aron Chakera, University of Western Australia

Tucked away just below your ribcage near your spine are two bean-shaped organs known as the kidneys. And when they’re quietly getting on with their job, it’s easy to forget they’re there and how important they are. But their absence, or even less-than-optimal performance can have dire consequences.

Kidneys are a feature-packed, highly efficient filtration and waste elimination system as well as the source of some essential hormones and vitamins. When all is said and done, the “factory-fitted” system for all they do beats alternatives for efficiency and convenience. They’re compact, built-in, self-contained, portable and low maintenance.

About 1,500 litres of blood pass through the kidneys each day, through a series of highly-regulated pumps and channels. Essential nutrients and water are reabsorbed and the waste products created by our cells are removed in volumes ranging from as little as 500 millilitres to as much as ten litres, in the form of urine.

Together with the bladder, which acts as a mechanism to batch this output, kidneys are the ultimate personal waste disposal system, requiring little maintenance. In fact, you could say the greatest inconvenience they pose is the need to occasionally quickly locate “conveniences”.

When things go wrong

Although the list of conditions causing kidney disease is long, dietary and other lifestyle issu