Kidneys are a pair of bean-shaped organs located near the middle of the back. They play an important role in removing wastes from the blood and in maintaining its chemical balance.

The kidneys connect to the bladder with a small tube called a ureter. Some medical conditions, such as kidney stones, can cause an obstruction in the kidney or the ureter.

Foods that are often considered healthy, such as milk or yogurt, can sometimes present health risks in those who suffer from kidney malfunction or potential kidney disease.

Although your body needs only small amounts of iodine, its role in your body is anything but small. Iodine is critical for the production of your thyroid hormone, which has many important roles.

Your liver is located in the upper right-hand portion of your abdominal cavity, just beneath the diaphragm and on top of the stomach. It is a dark reddish-brown color and weighs approximately 3 lbs. At any given time, the liver has about 13 percent of the body's total blood supply in it.

An ecosystem is a living system that includes the sun as an energy source, soil, rocks, water, air, plant life and living beings. We humans are only one part of any ecosystem, but many people believe that we have a disproportionate effect. Our actions tend to affect not just our surroundings, but the world at large.

Laxatives in small and infrequent amounts may help regulate your bowel movements and should not damage your kidneys or other organs, according to MayoClinic.com. If you use laxatives to lose weight, take them frequently or in high doses, you could damage parts of your body and in extreme cases even die.

Many herbs can improve kidney function. Most herbs do so in preventing common kidney and urinary-tract infections or by acting as a diuretic to flush out excess fluid and kidney stones.

Enzymes are specialized proteins in your body that support life by vastly increasing the speed of a wide range of basic chemical reactions. Your liver contains three prominent enzymes that can appear in elevated amounts in your bloodstream when your liver cells are damaged.

Cinnamon has a long history of culinary and medicinal use. Its distinctive and exotic taste has made it a common ingredient in a wide array of both savory and sweet foods and beverages. From a medical perspective, it may also provide health benefits for kidney health in terms of your risk of developing kidney disease.

Elevated liver enzymes generally indicate some abnormality with the organ. Your liver enzymes rise when damage to liver cells releases them into the bloodstream. You often experience itching skin if you have severe jaundice, another indicator of liver disease.

Your kidneys filter your blood and remove wastes and excess water from your body, notes the National Disease Information Program. When kidney disorders prevent your kidneys from functioning properly, wastes from the foods and beverages you consume can build up and damage the body.