Your kidneys are two bean-shaped organs in your body, each about the size of your fist, located on either side of your spine just below your ribcage. They work constantly to filter your blood and remove waste products, which become urine.

Think of your kidneys as your body's cleaning crew. Every day, all your blood passes through them many times. They process about 200 quarts of blood daily, filtering out toxins, excess water, and waste while keeping the good stuff your body needs. Without kidneys, harmful waste would build up in your bloodstream and make you sick.

Your kidneys also balance the amount of water and minerals in your body. When you drink lots of water, your kidneys make more urine. When you're dehydrated, they conserve water by making less. They even help control your blood pressure and produce hormones that help your body make red blood cells.

People can live with just one kidney if necessary. Some people are born with one kidney, and others donate a kidney to help someone whose kidneys have failed. When both kidneys stop working, a person needs regular dialysis treatments (a machine that filters their blood) or a kidney transplant to survive.