JAKARTA - The kidneys play an important role in maintaining the balance of body fluids and electrolytes. This organ works to filter waste while regulating water levels to keep it stable.
Therefore, meeting the daily fluid needs is an important part of maintaining kidney health. However, the assumption that the more you drink water, the better, is not entirely correct.
The report quoted from Hindustan Times said that excessive water consumption can actually pose a risk to the body. Consultant nephrologist at ISIC Multispeciality Hospital, Dr. Udit Gupta, explained that the recommendation "drink more water" is actually not as simple as imagined.
According to him, everyone's fluid needs are different. Factors such as body weight, physical activity, weather conditions, and health status greatly affect the amount of water the body needs. A child who is actively exercising outdoors in hot weather certainly needs more fluid intake than office workers who are active in air-conditioned rooms.
In addition, diet also plays a role. A person who consumes a lot of fruits and vegetables with high water content may not need as much extra water as people who rarely eat these foods.
"For kidney health, the most important thing is consistent hydration so that it supports normal urine production, usually around 1.5 to 2 liters per day in adults, adjusted for children based on size and age," said Dr. Gupta.
He emphasized that the main focus is not just counting the number of glasses of water drunk, but ensuring that the body is able to produce urine in a reasonable amount to help the process of removing toxins.
Dr. Gupta also reminded of the risk of overhydration or excess fluid. This condition can dilute the sodium levels in the blood and trigger hyponatremia, which can potentially harm health. "For most healthy people, drinking more than thirst will not 'improve' kidney function in an extraordinary way. The kidneys work efficiently within a fairly wide range of fluid intake," he said.
Urine color is often used as a reference to assess fluid adequacy. However, urine that is completely clear does not always mean it is ideal, because it can be a sign of excess fluid in the body. Pale yellow color generally indicates adequate hydration, while dark yellow indicates that the body needs additional fluids.
Thirst itself often arises when the body has experienced mild dehydration. In certain groups such as children and the elderly, the thirst signal is sometimes not felt clearly so that they need to pay more attention to fluid intake. Athletes, people who are feverish, vomiting, diarrhea, or living in a hot climate are also advised to actively maintain hydration.
In general, adults need about 2-3 liters of total fluid per day, including that from food. However, for individuals with kidney disease, heart disorders, or certain medical conditions, fluid needs can be different and even require restrictions according to doctor's advice.
"Your kidneys are designed to work efficiently; all they need is enough fluid, not excessive," concluded Dr. Gupta.
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