Kidneys, essential organs in the human body, perform vital functions such as filtering waste from the blood and producing urine. They also play a crucial role in regulating various substances in the blood and controlling blood pressure.
When the kidneys cannot perform these essential functions, it leads to serious health problems. Thus, kidney failure or kidney disease occurs when the kidneys do not function properly.
However, there are many preventative measures that can help avoid kidney failure. One important step is to avoid certain beverages, such as:
1. Soda and carbonated drinks
Cutting down on sugary sodas and carbonated drinks is important for kidney health. A 2016 study published in the journal Nephrology found that people who drank more than four sugary sodas per week had a doubled risk of developing kidney disease compared to those who drank less than half a serving. The American Kidney Fund also stated that drinking two or more sodas a day may increase the risk of chronic kidney disease, as soda and energy drinks are linked to kidney stone formation.
2. Processed Fruit Juice
Processed fruit juice is high in sugar and calories that are not good for the kidneys. In a study from the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study, researchers found that people who drank sugary drinks had higher rates of chronic kidney disease compared to those who rarely drank sugary drinks. When it comes to fruit juice consumption, moderation is key.
3. Diet Soda
Research has shown that diet drinks are linked to the development of kidney disease, although this is a correlation and not a direct cause and effect relationship. A 2011 study published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology found that people who drank two or more artificially sweetened diet sodas per day were twice as likely to experience kidney function decline compared to those who avoided these drinks. However, moderate consumption of diet soda is still preferable to regular soda.
4. Alcohol
Regular consumption of any type of alcoholic beverage can negatively impact kidney health. A study published in the journal Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation found that heavy drinkers in a group of 6,259 adults who self-reported their drinking habits had significantly higher rates of albuminuria, a sign of kidney disease.
5. Caffeine and Energy Drinks
Caffeine found in coffee, tea, and energy drinks can put a strain on the kidneys by increasing blood flow, blood pressure, and stress on the kidneys. While some studies have linked coffee consumption to kidney damage, other studies have found no link between caffeine consumption and the development of chronic kidney disease. A recent 2024 study published in the Jama Network by academics from the Universities of Toronto, Canada, and Padua, Italy, may explain why there are differences. It found that for some people, coffee can be harmful to their kidneys, while for others, it is not. According to the new study, having a certain genetic mutation increases the likelihood that coffee will cause kidney failure by three times.
In addition to beverages, many lifestyle choices, such as lack of exercise, smoking, excessive salt intake in meals, use of painkillers and drugs such as cocaine, and even genetics, can negatively impact kidney health. By taking care of your kidney health and adopting healthy lifestyle habits, it is possible to prevent many kidney diseases and maintain a good quality of life.