Their kidneys They perform many important functions in the body, including the removal of waste products from the blood, fluid balance and blood pressure, and the removal of medications from the body. Kidney disease can be a life-altering diagnosis, so it’s important to live a lifestyle that supports the health of this essential organ.
While some may be genetically predisposed to kidney disease, lifestyle factors such as exercise, diet, smoking, blood pressure levels, and diabetes can also increase the risk of developing kidney disease. chronic kidney disease (CKD). Even the drinks you enjoy can have a significant impact on the health of your kidneys.
Bearing this in mind, it is important to know that Sodas, both diet and regular, are one of the worst drinks for your kidneys.. Read on to learn more, then for more kidney-related health tips, check out The 5 worst foods for your kidneys.
Soda tops the list of the worst drinks for your kidney health. While you probably know that soda isn’t the most nutritious beverage, you may not have thought about how it affects your kidneys in particular.
For starters, the sugar content of a regular soft drink is one of the issues. according to a 2015 study, drinking more than 4 sugary carbonated beverages per week was associated with a higher prevalence of chronic kidney disease. High blood sugar can damage blood vessels in the kidneys, leading to high blood sugar and diabetes. risk factor’s to develop CKD.
The concentrated sugar content in a can of soda makes blood sugar management more challenging, and should be limited for people with diabetes or existing kidney disease, and even people with a family history of kidney disease should closely monitor their sugar intake and blood sugar levels.
Another ingredient found in regular and diet soft drinks, and especially colas, is phosphoric acid. Research indicates that cola drinks containing this ingredient have been associated with urinary changes that promote kidney stones, which increase the risk of developing chronic kidney disease.
Current recommendations state that people with kidney stones or kidney disease should avoid colas. Even in those without kidney stones or disease, drinking two or more colas a day was associated with a increased risk of chronic kidney disease.
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While phosphoric acid can be found in regular and diet colas, the artificial sweeteners found in diet sodas also appear to increase the risk of kidney disease. according to a 2011 studyDrinking more than two servings of artificially sweetened soft drinks per day was associated with a two-fold increase in the odds of kidney function decline in women.
Although aspartame and saccharin were the main artificial sweeteners used in diet soft drinks during the years in which these participants were evaluated, the researchers did not determine if a specific type of artificial sweetener was associated with the kidney impairment observed in the study . Because of this, it’s best to err on the side of caution and limit all diet sodas, regardless of the artificial sweetener, to protect your kidney health.
