Energy drinks on their own do not cause harm to the kidneys if they are taken in moderation.
However, certain circumstances, such as overconsumption of energy drinks, can harm your overall health, not just your kidneys.
The factors that cause energy drinks to have adverse effects on the kidneys have been discussed below in detail.
Energy drinks
An energy drink is a beverage that works as a stimulant and is intended to have a refreshing effect on a person’s body and mind while numbing the effects of fatigue.
They contain various ingredients, are blended to create different flavors, and are primarily non-alcoholic beverages considered one of the mainstream drinks worldwide.
What is the Link Between Energy Drinks and Kidney Diseases?
Other than the case of overconsumption, energy drinks don’t have any severe effect on the health of healthy individuals. However, if mixed with alcohol, these drinks can be increasingly harmful to the health of any individual.
The dangerous mixture of energy drinks and alcohol has been linked to kidney damage and imbalance in kidney tissue. It can also lead to the kidneys being affected by oxidative stress.
Oxidative stress can, in turn, cause damage to cells, DNA, and proteins, contributing to the development of diseases like diabetes, cancer, etc.
How to Keep Your Kidneys Healthy?
Kidneys are one of the essential organs of the body, and that is because they are responsible for the functioning of various regulatory reactions in the body, a few of which have been listed below:
- Proper regulation of body fluids
- Thorough filtration of water and toxins
- Quick-release of insulin, which regulates blood sugar levels
- Activation of vitamin D
- Release of erythropoietin, the hormone responsible for the production of red blood cells.
- Regulation of balanced mineral retention
Problems caused by kidney diseases:
- Heart attack
- Fluctuation of blood pressure
- Weakening of bones
- Nerve damage (neuropathy)
- Kidney failure (end-stage kidney disease, or ESRD)
- Anemia
Risk Factors:
- Diabetes (can be genetic)
- High blood pressure (can be hereditary)
- Heart diseases (can be hereditary)
- Family history of problems like kidney failure, diabetes, or high blood pressure
- Obesity
- Age factor
- Low birth weight
- Autoimmune disorders
- Chronic urinary tract infections
- Chronic kidney disease
- Kidney stones
Possible symptoms of Kidney Diseases
Most people with early kidney disease have no symptoms, which is why early detection is frequently challenging. By the time the symptoms begin showing, the condition might worsen, and some signs might also be misleading.
In such cases, you should pay attention to the following problems:
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Painful urination
- Foamy urine
- Dark urine (blood in urine)
- Increased thirst
- Increased need to urinate (especially at night)
- Puffy eyes
- Swollen face, hands, abdomen, ankles, feet
How To Maintain Health A Healthy And Fit Body?
Here are some healthy measures that can keep you safe from Kidney issues:
- Keep blood pressure in check
- Maintain stable blood sugar levels
- Cut down salt intake
- Practice moderation in protein consumption
- Get flu shots annually
- Get frequent check-ups
- Have regularity in exercising
- Control weight
- Maintain a balanced diet
- Refrain from smoking
- Cut down on alcohol consumption
- Drink a plenty amount of water
- Monitor cholesterol levels
- Be aware of your family medical history
Pros & Cons of Energy Drink Consumption
Here is a table that clearly describes the pros and cons of drinking energy drinks:
| Benefits of Drinking Energy Drinks | Possible side-effects of consuming Energy Drinks |
| The most well-known and influential advantage of energy drinks is their ability to energize and refresh a person in a short time. | Overuse of energy drinks is known to cause an increase in heart rate. |
| They can also boost physical and mental performance, increasing productivity. | High blood pressure is also one of the most commonly occurring side effects of overconsumption. |
| They offer an extensive range of flavors which is better if you don’t like coffee. | Exceeding the regulated amount of energy drink intake may also lead to heart palpitations. |
| They can be found in diet-friendly, zero-calorie options. | Their overuse might lead to a more substantial effect, which in this case would be insomnia. |
| You can easily find gluten-free, sugar-free, and even caffeine-free options. | Dehydration is another side effect of energy drink overuse. |
| Energy drinks can improve your mood too. | It might also induce restlessness. |
General Composition Of Energy Drinks
Energy drinks provide a wide range of great nutrients to your body making you energetic, active and focused.
Here are a few ingredients present in most every energy drink:
- Glucuronolactone
- Taurine
- Caffeine
- B vitamins
- Guarana
- Ginseng
- Ginkgo Biloba
- L-carnitine
- Sugars
- Antioxidants
- Trace minerals.
How Do The Ingredients Present In Energy Drinks Affect the Kidneys?
Caffeine, a compound known as a cognitive stimulant, is perhaps the most active ingredient in energy drinks and is known for multiple downsides caused by overconsumption.
It has also been linked to kidney stones. But mostly in case of overconsumption, and it is also to be noted that most well-known energy drinks contain an FDA-regulated amount of caffeine.
Energy drinks aren’t necessarily the only source of caffeine, considering most people tend to rely on coffee for their regular dose of caffeine much more than energy drinks.
Taurine
Taurine is an organic compound known for contributing to nerve growth. Although in some rare cases, it can have a damaging effect on the health of people suffering from chronic kidney diseases, it has not been confirmed yet whether it has the same impact on the health of ordinary, healthy people.
Sugar
Sugar is a sweet-tasting additive added to foods for flavoring. Although not directly affecting the kidney, a high sugar intake can lead to diabetes, leading to the blood vessels in your kidneys being clogged.
Vitamin B
Vitamin B Complex is a group of vitamins added to energy drinks to amplify their nutritional value. These vitamins benefit kidney health as they protect the kidney against the development of kidney diseases, especially in people with diabetes.
Guarana
Guarana is a plant that contains caffeine and can have similar effects on the body. Still, the most detrimental side effect of its overconsumption is that it can lead to all of the calcium in your body being flushed out through the kidneys.
Ginseng
It is a plant known for its multiple health advantages in traditional and western medicine. It can help treat kidney damage in people with diabetes.
Gingko Biloba
Gingko Biloba is a herbaceous plant with many benefits but can harm those already suffering from chronic kidney disease.
L-Carnitine
L carnitine is a chemical that helps the body turn fats into energy and helps the functioning of the brain and heart. Still, it also helps treat CKD (chronic kidney disease) by significantly decreasing the rate of kidney tissue deterioration.
Conclusion
As you can ascertain from the information given in the article, it can be deduced that although energy drinks don’t cause harm to the kidney on their own, nor do they contain any harmful ingredients capable of damaging your body.
It is still essential to be aware of your health and be mindful of what you put in your body especially if you have any pre-existing health condition. In general, energy drinks do not harm the body or hinder any bodily function. Still, you have to be mindful of how much you consume energy drinks daily.
So, to save your kidneys from the grave danger of energy drinks then it is recommended to consume them in moderation.