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Things that stress kidneys include:

High blood pressure and abnormally low blood pressure, as the kidneys aren't designed to work outside a normal range of blood pressures and will break.
Dehydration as the kidneys will sacrifice themselves to save the body if it is threatened by lack of blood volume.
High protein diet as it gives the kidneys a heavy work load and impaired kidneys will not cope.
Obesity as it increases the work for the kidneys, and puts physical pressure on them and the fat/cholesterol clogs up the kidney's blood vessels.
Urine tract infections as the bacteria and inflammation will chew up the kidney tissues.
Anti-inflammatory medications (eg: Ibuprofen) because they switch off the kidney's internal defense mechanisms against low or high blood pressure.
Diabetes because it degrades all the blood vessels, including those to the kidneys.
Autoimmune disease because it may attack the kidneys, and the immune proteins which deposit in the kidneys signal to the body that the kidneys might be a threat, and the white cells attack them.
And certain antibiotics, which directly harm the kidneys. Most are not available as tablets but given in hospitals.

Avoid all those, basically. A way to make sure you are drinking enough is that your urine is fairly clear in color and not dark. Especially drink enough when eating high protein meals, on hot days, or when doing a lot of exercise. Diabetes (type 2) can be treated in its early/intermediate stages without medicines with regular strenuous exercise, weight loss and changes in diet, but medicines may be needed for a time. Less proven is fasting (calorie restriction) twice a week (why not Wednesdays and Fridays). Blood pressure can be reduced by less salt intake, losing weight, reducing stress and if necessary with medications.

The problem with kidney disease is that some of the causes need medication, as nothing else works.

I'd say though that kidneys are so important to your health and longevity that whatever you do should be backed either by evidence (scientific trials) or at least there should be a good explanation on why something actually works before you adopt it.