Kidney Detox

The bundle of fine, silky strands you find under the husk of a corn cob. Botanically they are the styles of the maize flower, the part that catches pollen. Each cob has one strand for every kernel. Read more

Take about 50 g of fresh silk, or 50 g dried. Boil it in enough water to cover it well for ten to twenty minutes, then strain and keep the liquid. Boil the same silk again in fresh water, strain, and combine the two. Repeat once or twice until the colour of the silk fades. Roughly four glasses are drunk across the day. Keep it refrigerated — it spoils quickly. Read more

There is no good human evidence that it dissolves or clears stones, and it should not be relied on for that. If you have stones, that is a matter for your doctor. Drinking enough water is the single most established measure for reducing stone recurrence. Read more

Your kidneys already clean your blood, so the natural approach is to reduce what strains them. Drink enough water, especially in hot weather, keep sodium under 2,300 mg a day, avoid taking painkillers like ibuprofen regularly without advice, stay active and keep your blood pressure and blood sugar under control. Regular tests matter if you have diabetes or high BP. Read more

There is no single number for everyone, because needs change with heat, activity and health. A practical guide is to drink enough through the day that your urine stays pale yellow, and to drink more in Indian summers or when sweating heavily. People with kidney or heart disease may need to limit fluids, so they should follow their doctor's advice. Read more

Not always. Juices made from large amounts of greens or beets are high in oxalate, which can be risky for people prone to kidney stones. A published case described acute oxalate nephropathy in a 65-year-old after a 10-day green smoothie cleanse. Unpasteurised juices can also carry bacteria, and fluid-only diets can upset electrolytes. Read more