Some people are concerned about the negative impact of coffee on the kidneys. The main reason stems from the caffeine content in coffee. Caffeine is a diuretic, increasing water excretion from the body. As a result, it can cause the kidneys to work harder. However, this is not true, according to the health website Healthline (USA).
People at risk of kidney disease should drink coffee in moderation.
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There is currently no evidence to suggest that moderate coffee consumption directly causes kidney damage in healthy individuals. In fact, the opposite is true. A study published in the Journal of Renal Nutrition showed that coffee drinkers have a lower risk of chronic kidney disease.
Control factors that increase the risk of kidney damage.
People at risk of kidney disease don't necessarily need to give up coffee entirely. It's more important to manage factors that can increase the risk of kidney damage, especially high blood pressure, diabetes, and being overweight.
In particular, controlling blood pressure and blood sugar is crucial. Prolonged high blood pressure can damage the small blood vessels in the kidneys, while long-term high blood sugar damages the kidney's filtering system.
Therefore, if someone drinks one cup of coffee a day but their blood pressure and blood sugar are well controlled, there is no reason to stop drinking coffee.
Pay attention to the amount you drink and the ingredients added to your cup of coffee.
However, the story would be different if the person had already been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. As kidney function declines, the body struggles to maintain a balance of substances like potassium and phosphorus.
The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) in the US states that many people with kidney disease can still drink coffee, but they need to consider the amount they consume and any added ingredients, such as milk or cream. This is because these ingredients can increase the amount of potassium and phosphorus in the beverage.
For those at risk of kidney disease, there is no fixed amount of caffeine that can be consumed daily. For healthy adults, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that total daily caffeine intake should be limited to approximately 400 mg.
Instead of setting a limit of 400 mg of caffeine per day, people at risk of kidney disease should be more cautious, for example, drinking about 1-2 cups of coffee per day. Each cup contains about 70-130 mg of caffeine. They should prioritize low-sugar and low-additive varieties. If they already have chronic kidney disease, they should consult their doctor as the amount they drink needs to be appropriate for their condition, according to Healthline .