Do you often consume energy drinks to get a quick energy boost? Well, they may not be good for your health. It is natural to opt for energy drinks if you are low on sleep and have a tiring day ahead. While consuming them occasionally may not have any lasting effect on your health, excess consumption is linked to various health concerns, including the formation of kidney stones.
Kidney stones are deposits of minerals and salts that form in your kidneys. If the stones are small in size, they may pass through your urine. Sometimes, these deposits can get bigger, making it harder for them to pass through your urinary tract.
You may experience kidney pain, pain while peeing, fever, foul mouth odor, and nausea. While kidney stones may not always cause kidney health problems, they can increase your risk of kidney disease. Kidney stones can form due to an underlying disease, but various factors can lead to kidney stone formation.
In this article, we will discuss that do energy drinks cause kidney stones and whether you should drink energy drinks or not.
Table of Contents
The Link Between Energy Drinks And Kidney Stones
Considering the variety of ingredients in energy drinks, you must be wondering whether energy drinks cause kidney stones. Drinking energy drinks in excess can lead to dehydration, which can impair kidney function and result in kidney stones. Some of the ingredients mentioned above are a cause of concern for kidney stones. On the other hand, some ingredients are known to have positive or no effect on renal function.
Further research on the use of stimulants like sugar, caffeine guarana, and taurine is required but some findings suggest that excessive consumption of energy drinks may increase the risk of kidney stones, due to the alarmingly high sugar content in these drinks. Although they may provide you with instant energy, you should still consider their negative impact on your health.
Energy Drink Ingredients That May Contribute To Kidney Stones
Following is a list of ingredients in energy drinks that can lead to kidney stone formation.
1. Sugar
Energy drinks are notoriously high in sugar content. According to Medical News Today, recent research suggests that consuming added sugar can increase the risk of kidney stones as it decreases your urine volume and increases calcium in your urine. The sugar in energy drinks is higher than the daily recommended value you should consume, hence making it unhealthy for your kidneys and overall health.
There are sugar-free options available, but they usually contain artificial sweeteners that may also harm your health. Additionally, sugary energy drinks can also cause other health problems, such as diabetes and obesity, which can harm your health.
2. Caffeine
A quick and famous energy booster, caffeine is found in coffee, black tea, sodas, and energy drinks. The caffeine in energy drinks is what fuels your body and makes you feel energized. Using caffeine long-term or in high doses can have many negative effects on your body, such as nervousness, restlessness, and rapid heartbeat.
Moreover, it also increases the risk of kidney stones by excreting more calcium in your urine, which may form stones. The energy boost from caffeine may not last very long and your body may feel even more tired once it wears off.
3. Sodium
Another ingredient that can accumulate and cause kidney stones is sodium, usually found in salt. Energy drinks usually contain almost 400mg of Sodium contains oxalates that can cause oxalate excretion and increase calcium in your kidneys, leading to kidney stone formation. Excessive sodium can also increase your blood pressure and impact your cardiovascular health. Sodium is found in many other foods and excessive consumption of salt can also increase your sodium levels, contributing to kidney issues.
Other Side Effects Of Energy Drinks
If kidney stones are the only issue, you think energy drinks have, you are wrong. They have some cons that can impact your everyday life and overall health in the long term. Side effects of energy drinks include:
1. High Blood Sugar And Blood Pressure
As energy drinks are extremely potent in sugar, they can spike your blood sugar level. It can put you at an increased risk of diabetes. Furthermore, the sodium in energy drinks can also lead to high blood pressure, which can lead to increased heartbeat and restlessness.
2. Obesity
Energy drinks contain lots of empty calories as they contain tall amounts of sugar. Sugar can put you at risk for obesity.
3. Heart Disease
If you take too much sugar or caffeine, you may be at a greater risk of heart disease. While short-term or moderate use may not be as harmful to you, taking them in large quantities can damage your blood vessels and arteries, increasing your heart disease risk.
4. Insomnia
Drinking too much caffeine can lead to sleeplessness and make you feel more tired than usual. It can also contribute to insomnia and keep you awake for an extended time than usual. It can also cause sleep disturbances and disrupt your sleep patterns, making you feel more tired.
5. Addiction
Like all other sugary drinks, energy drinks can be addictive, especially for teens and children.
Conclusion
Energy drinks have gained popularity in recent years for providing a sudden energy jolt. You may drink them in the morning or before a workout to power through. However, there are negatives of energy drinks that can be a reason for concern, especially their role in kidney stone formation. Some ingredients in energy drinks can elevate your risk of kidney stones, such as sugar and caffeine.
These high-calorie drinks are loaded with sugar and sodium, which are the main reason for kidney stones. Furthermore, they are also high in caffeine, which may also increase the risk of kidney stones. On the other hand, energy drinks also contain other ingredients, some of which have a role in preventing kidney stones. It may not be a big issue if you drink energy drinks sometimes, . However, long-term and frequent use of energy drinks puts you at a higher risk of kidney stones.
Energy drinks can also result in some other health issues. They can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, insomnia, restlessness, and anxiety. Drinks that are high in sugar can be highly addictive, especially for kids. If you use energy drinks sometimes, you may be fine. However, long-term and excessive drinking of energy drinks can have a negative impact on your health, which you should keep in mind if you drink them every day.
For the treatment of kidney stones and other kidney health concern, it is recommended to visit a nephrologist for early diagnosis and treatment.
