The Kidneys

Your kidneys are two small organs shaped like beans. They sit in your lower back, one on each side. Kidneys work like filters for your body. They take waste out of your blood and turn it into urine. Healthy kidneys help keep your whole body feeling good.

What Kidneys Do

Kidneys clean your blood every day. They take out extra water and waste your body does not need. The waste leaves your body when you go to the bathroom. Kidneys also help keep the right amount of salt and water in your body. They even help control your blood pressure.

Keeping Kidneys Healthy

You can help your kidneys by drinking plenty of water. Eating fruits and vegetables is good for them too. Try not to eat too much salty food. Getting exercise keeps your whole body, including your kidneys, strong. Doctors can check your kidneys with simple tests.

Fun Facts

• Your kidneys clean about 50 gallons of blood each day.
• Most people are born with two kidneys, but you can live with just one.
• Each kidney has around one million tiny filters inside.

Did You Know?

Kidneys are only about the size of your fist, but they do a huge job for your body every single minute.