You may have seen ads for energy drinks that claim to give you an extra boost of energy. But what you may not know is that these drinks can be harmful to your kidneys.
Energy drinks are a phenomenon mostly popular among young people. Unfortunately, many of these drinks contain high levels of sugar and caffeine, which can be harmful to your kidneys.
In fact, people who consume energy drinks are at a higher risk of developing kidney problems. So, if you’re wondering if energy drinks can hurt your kidneys, the answer is yes!
If you’re concerned about your kidney health, we recommend that you limit your intake of energy drinks and other sugary beverages.
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What are the 3 early warning signs of kidney disease?
If you have kidney disease, you may not have any symptoms in the early stages. That’s why regular check-ups are often recommended. But there are three early warning signs of kidney disease that you should be aware of:
- Fatigue
- High levels of protein in your urine
- Swelling in your ankles, feet, or legs
If you notice any of these symptoms, make sure to visit your doctor before jumping to any conclusions. Kidney disease is a serious condition, but it can be treated if it’s caught early.
Caffeine
We all love caffeinated drinks, don’t we? It’s understandable as there are several benefits of caffeine. If you’re a regular consumer of energy drinks then you might know that almost every energy drink contains caffeine as a major ingredient.
Caffeine doesn’t only enhance cognition such as memory, focus, and concentration but it also helps to improve physical health – if you’re fatigued, caffeine will make that fatigue go away within a span of a short time.
However, with all these benefits, there are some side effects of caffeine as well. Caffeine can increase the overall stress on the body.
Being a stimulant, it has the power to increase the levels of adrenaline and cortisol in the body which can make increase your blood pressure and can also affect your heart, kidneys, brain, and other important organs of the body.
Not only this, but caffeine can also cause some other side effects such as:
- Restlessness and shakiness
- Insomnia
- Jitters
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Fast heart rate
- Dehydration
- Anxiety
- Dependency
Is caffeine bad for the kidney?
Everyone is aware that caffeine is an effective psychoactive drug. It’s a stimulant that can help us get through the day by keeping us alert. However, did you realize that consuming too much coffee might be harmful to your health?
As a diuretic, caffeine aids in the promotion of urine production. Dehydration and, in severe situations, renal issues may result from this. Your kidneys may experience side effects from caffeine as the blood flow, blood pressure, and renal pressure increase. In some extreme cases, kidney stones can be a side effect too.
But don’t worry, this isn’t always the case. It happens only when you consume caffeine in an excessive manner. To avoid these side effects, aim to keep your daily caffeine intake to no more than 400 mg.
Sugar
Sugar is a simple carbohydrate that is found in many foods we consume on the daily basis. It’s also added to many processed foods. Although sugar is a natural substance, it can have many negative effects if consumed in large quantities.
Sugar can cause a significant spike in blood sugar levels, which can lead to increased hunger and cravings. It can also cause high blood pressure and has been linked to weight gain. Additionally, sugar can have adverse effects on dental health.
If you are concerned about your sugar intake, there are a few simple ways to cut back. Pick foods with little to no sugar in them. However, if you’re a fan of energy drinks then opt for energy drinks with low sugar content.
Is sugar bad for your kidneys?
Eating too much sugar can lead to weight gain and diabetes and put extra stress on the kidneys.
In fact, a high-sugar diet is one of the leading causes of kidney disease. When you’re overweight, your kidney has to work harder than the normal conditions, this can highly stress your kidneys.
While there’s no need to completely eliminate sugar from your diet, it’s important to be mindful of how much sugar you are consuming. Try to limit your sugar intake to no more than 25 to 36 grams a day. You should also make sure to drink plenty of water and exercise regularly to help keep your kidneys healthy.
The following are some energy drinks that are high in sugar content and are totally unsafe to drink:
| Energy drinks | Sugar content |
| Rockstar (16 oz) | 63 mg of Sugar Per Can |
| Red Bull (16 oz): | 51 mg of Sugar Per Can |
| Monster (16 oz) | 54 mg of Sugar Per Can |
| NOS Energy (16 oz) | 51 mg of Sugar Per Can |
Can energy drinks cause urinary problems?
If you’re a fan of energy drinks, you may want to think twice before you chug your next can. A study has found that energy drinks can cause urinary problems, especially in young men.
The study, which was published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health, surveyed young adults to analyze the safety of caffeine ingestion and its overview. The participants were asked about their consumption of caffeine and whether they had experienced any urinary problems.
The results showed that caffeinated energy drink consumption was linked to an increased risk of urinary problems. People who consumed caffeine in an excessive manner experienced more problems. However, people with overactive bladder faced frequent urination even by ingesting a moderate amount of caffeine.
Do energy drinks hurt kidneys?
Energy drinks can actually hurt your kidneys, especially if drank in excessive amounts. Although this might not happen with everyone, some people are more affected by energy drinks than others.
Some energy drinks are highly concentrated with sugar and caffeine – these ingredients in high quantity aren’t friendly to your kidneys. Many studies show that caffeine and sugar can put stress on your kidneys in different ways.
Sugar can cause weight gain and diabetes, which are the most dangerous situations for your kidneys. Your body has to work harder in such situations and also frequent urination in diabetes can hurt your kidneys.
Other than that, caffeine can also put stress on your kidneys and a high intake of caffeine can even lead to a build of kidney stones.
Try to avoid energy drinks that contain these ingredients in high quantities as not all energy drinks do this to your kidneys. Also, if you consume one or two energy drinks occasionally, then this isn’t likely to happen. However, if you regularly consume energy drinks, especially in excess, then you’re likely to experience these side effects along with a few others.
Can Red Bull make your kidneys hurt?
Red Bull energy drink contains sugar and caffeine. Both these ingredients are linked with kidney diseases.
A high-sugar diet and caffeine diet can put stress on your kidneys. Both of these ingredients are stimulants and both of these ingredients in high quantities are linked with dehydration.
Dehydration is bad for your kidneys because it can lead to kidney stones and other problems. If you’re dehydrated, your kidneys have to work harder to filter your blood, and this can eventually damage them. So it’s important to drink plenty of fluids, especially water, to keep your kidneys healthy.
Luckily, Red Bull has a sugar-free version. If you want to drink Red Bull but without the unhealthy side effects of sugar, you can try their sugar-free version.
Still, be careful with how much you consume as Red Bull Sugar-Free does still have sugar and other ingredients that may be bad for you if consumed in high amounts.
Are sugar-free energy drinks bad for your kidneys?
Sugar-free energy drinks are less likely to be bad for your kidneys than energy drinks with sugar. But if it contains high caffeine then it may be bad.
Caffeine is a diuretic, which means it makes you urinate more. When you urinate, you also lose essential nutrients, such as potassium and sodium, which can lead to dehydration. If you drink too much caffeine, it may even lead to kidney stones.
Sugar is also a danger to your kidneys, especially in large amounts. Sugar can cause an increase in your blood sugar levels which can lead to kidney disease. This is why I suggest energy drinks with moderate amounts of caffeine and little to no sugar in them.
To understand how high blood sugar levels affect your kidneys, have a look at this video:
Final Verdict
- Kidney issues are a serious health concern that can have a major impact on your life. There are a variety of causes of kidney issues, and it can be due to your lifestyle and diet.
- Many issues such as stress, diabetes, dehydration, and weight gain can impact your kidneys negatively.
- Most energy drinks are high in caffeine and sugar content, and these ingredients can put stress on your kidneys, and in some extreme cases, they can also lead to kidney stones. So make sure to limit your energy drink intake.