Is Matcha Tea Good For The Kidneys
Matcha is the tea made out of the finely powdered green tea leaves and has plenty of health benefits. It is said that green tea concoctions are beneficial for the kidneys.
As per a study carried out on diabetes patients, it has been found that upon consuming matcha tea kidney damage can be prevented. That sounds like one good reason to add the tea to your diet!
In conclusion, it can be easily said that green tea is healthy and is good for the kidneys. You need to consume it in moderation as a part of a healthy lifestyle to enjoy all its benefits.
Top 5 Healthy Drinks For People With Kidney Disease
TopicsKidney KitchenHealthy livingNutritionHealthy eating
Many of us love reaching for a refreshing, ice cold drink on a hot summer day, or cozying up with a warm beverage during the dead of winter. But, did you know that the drinks you choose to quench your thirst can have a tremendous impact on your kidney health?
As a nephrologist and Kidney Kitchen® contributor, drink-related questions are some of the most common questions I get. Whether you need to watch out for certain nutrients or have fluid restrictions that you need to stick to, there are ways to enjoy healthy drinks for your kidneys. Remember each person with kidney disease should stick to the food and fluid plan you discussed with your doctor and dietitian, as it addresses your specific kidney function, fluid needs and electrolyte imbalances . Here are five of my favorite drinks that are generally healthy for people with kidney disease:
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Studies On Coffee And Kidney Disease
Population-based epidemiological studies have tended to show an association between consumption of coffee and possibly a protective effect on kidney function.
A Korean study of more than 2,600 women showed that consumption of coffee was associated with a decreased risk of kidney disease, including in diabetic women. As we know in medicine though, population-based surveys are not enough to draw hard conclusions.
Therefore, given the pertinent and possibly controversial nature of the topic, a meta-analysis published in 2016 attempted to answer this very question. This meta-analysis showed no association between coffee consumption and increased risk of kidney disease in male patients.
Interestingly, it actually noted the possibility of a reduced risk of kidney disease in women who drink coffee. The conclusion regarding coffee, at least based on these data could be: harmless on male kidneys, and possibly beneficial to women’s.
The results of the above meta-analysis are similar to another study from another part of the world, specifically the Pacific Coast of Nicaragua where the lower prevalence of chronic kidney disease in coffee growing villages has been noted.
The exact mechanism for why coffee might play this protective role is still a subject of active study, but speculation ranges from the role of antioxidants present in coffee to coffee’s purported antidiabetic effect.
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Is There Any Point To Drinking Decaf Coffee
Those who do not care for the bitter taste and strong, pungent smell of regular coffee will find this a great alternative. Caffeine is not a good substitute for coffee when it is not consumed. Decaffeinated coffee is also a good option for people who suffer from acidity regularly, as caffeine tends to increase acid levels.
The Pros And Cons Of Drinking Decaf Tea
Tea leaves contain naturally occurring caffeine. So what do you do when you want to enjoy a cup of tea before bed or if you have sensitivity to caffeine? That’s where decaf tea comes in. Most people know that decaf tea means the tea doesn’t contain any caffeine. What most people don’t know is how tea becomes decaffeinated and what that means when it comes to health benefits. Here, we’ll tell you how decaf tea is made and what it means for you.
Made from flowers, leaves and roots of a variety of plants, decaf tea allows you to drink your favorite beverage without worrying about feeling wired or full of energy. Relax with floral blends or invigorating mints any time of day thanks to decaf teas.
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Reduced Symptoms Of Heartburn And Reduced Risk Of Rectal Cancer
One common side effect of drinking coffee is heartburn or acid reflux.
Many people experience this condition, and drinking decaf coffee may relieve this uncomfortable side effect. Decaf coffee has been shown to cause significantly less acid reflux than regular coffee (
Summary:
Coffee is probably best known for its stimulant effects.
It increases alertness and reduces feelings of tiredness.
These effects are directly linked to the stimulant caffeine, which is found naturally in coffee.
Some of the beneficial effects of regular coffee are directly attributed to the caffeine, so decaf should not have these effects.
Here are some benefits that probably only apply to regular coffee, not decaf:
- improved mood, reaction time, memory, and mental function (
- 47 ).
However, its worth mentioning again that the research on regular coffee is way more extensive than whats available for decaf.
Summary:
Regular coffee provides many health benefits that do not apply to decaf. These include improved mental health, increased metabolic rate, enhanced athletic performance, and a lower risk of liver damage.
Not Sweet: Too Much Iced Tea Causes Kidney Failure
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Drinking tea is good for your health. It may lower the risk of cancer, it can encourage weight loss, and recent studies have shown tea can help lower blood pressure.
But one Arkansas man discovered there can be too much of a good thing.
In May 2014, a 56-year-old man arrived at Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, complaining of weakness, fatigue and body aches. Doctors discovered that his kidneys were failing. He was placed on dialysis. After questioning the patient, they learned that he drank 16 8-ounce glasses of iced tea daily, which is about 1 gallon.
Iced tea is full of oxalic acid, which, when taken in excess, deposits in your kidneys and mucks up the work of removing waste from the blood, says Scott Youngquist, MD, an emergency physician at University of Utah Health. This patient was drinking 16 8-ounce glasses of iced tea per day for an unknown period of time. This created a load of oxalic acid that his kidneys couldn’t handle, leading to renal failure.
Black tea is rich in oxalate, a compound found naturally in many foods. Too much of it can also lead to kidney stones. The man likely consumed 1,500 milligrams of the compound daily. As a comparison, the average person ingests between 150 and 500 milligrams of oxalate each day.
This kind of kidney failure has also been reported due to excessive consumption of star fruit, cucumber fruit, rhubarb and peanuts, Youngquist says.
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Teas That Are Good For You
1. Azul Tea
Azul tea is one of the best teas to drink, especially if you are prone to kidney stones. Its a great alternative to your typical herbal teas. And, its a natural diuretic so it increases the production of urine.
Increasing your bodys urination may help flush out your kidneys and keep them healthy.
Also, Azul tea may help prevent calcium oxalate stones from forming. This is due to the isoflavones found in the Palo Azul plant. It is another preventive perk, even if you dont have kidney stones.
Additionally, Azul tea naturally modulates urine acid levels. So, it may help with urinary tract sediments and other kidney stone issues. This could make the oxalate acid dissolve into the urine and pass from the body, instead of forming painful deposits.
In contrast, Azul tea has other health benefits as well, like strengthening and maintaining joint health. It may also help detox your body prior to a drug test. Its natural body bolstering and cleansing properties make Azul Tea a highly recommended tea to keep in your kitchen.
2. Green Tea
Green tea is generally a good choice for tea lovers. Aside from its low oxalate content, it may also help your body prevent kidney stones from forming, too.
Calcium oxalate containing stones are one of the most common types of kidney stones. And, its the biggest culprit when you consume too many calcium-rich foods. But, there is an extract in green tea that may help with that.
3. Goldenrod Tea
4. Citrus Tea
5. Dandelion Tea
Risk Of Kidney Cancer
The evidence regarding this is quite mixed. Studies have typically indicated a reduced risk of renal cell carcinoma with coffee consumption. However, for some reason, this association seems to be true for caffeinated coffee only.
Decaffeinated coffee consumption seemingly increases the risk of clear cell renal cell carcinoma subtype, a particular kind of kidney cancer, but more studies need to be done to better understand this potential link.
Also Check: Can Kidney Infection Cause Diarrhea
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How To Make Parsley Juice For Kidney Cleanse
Firstly, wash parsley and coriander leaves 2 to 3 times to get rid of mud particles. Then put all the ingredients in a blender jar like, handful of parsley, coriander leaves and lemon with enough water. Juicing parsley to a fine texture and add honey or any natural sweetener. Once done drink it sip by sip and enjoy a healthy detox juice to get all the benefits. For best result, drink this juice on empty stomach.
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Final Verdict Is Green Tea Good Or Bad For Your Kidneys
As already discussed, scientific research has established that green tea helps in preventing kidney stones from forming a larger shape. This allows them to easily pass through the urinary tract.
Apart from that, EGCG in green tea helps prevent chronic kidney disease. This implies that green tea is definitely good for the kidneys.
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New Study Suggests Coffee Helps Protect Telomere Length But Not The Caffeine
Some very interesting research about coffees contribution and health benefits to telomere lengths coming out of the United States
First of all, what are telomeres and why do they matter?
A telomere is a region of repetitive DNA at the end of a chromosome, which protects the end of the chromosome from deterioration.
The telomere shortening mechanism normally limits cells to a fixed number of divisions, and animal studies suggest that this is responsible for aging on the cellular level and sets a limit on lifespans.
Telomeres protect a cell’s chromosomes from fusing with each other or rearrangingabnormalities which can lead to cancerand so cells are normally destroyed when their telomeres are consumed. Most cancers are the result of “immortal” cells which have ways of evading this programmed destruction.
In short, the longer the relative length of the telomeres in your DNA, it indicates the longer you may still have to live.
According to Larry Tucker, of Brigham Young University in the US, who published this study recently in Nutrition & Metabolism, coffee can help protect telomere length, but caffeine is not the answer and can be detrimental to telomere length. For more information on the detailed study, please visit:
Yet, coffee itself had an opposite effect on telomere length. The more coffee the participants drank, the longer their telomeres were.
The Study notes:
Final thoughts
High Caffeine And Kidneys: Lets Explore Some Popular Drinks
Unfortunately, the effect of caffeine on the kidneys isnt great. Caffeine consumption is a risk factor for kidney disease, and can cause scarring of the glomeruli that is, the vessels in the kidneys that filter blood .
Caffeine may also lead to kidney stones, and it increases strain on the kidneys . However, some caffeinated beverages, like coffee, may be safe in small amounts due to certain plant constituents .
One review found that the data is inconclusive regarding caffeine and kidney stone risk however, the researchers pointed out that coffee and decaffeinated coffee,but not other caffeinated beverages, actually had a protective effect on the kidneys .
The bottom line, though, is that you probably shouldnt overdo it when it comes to caffeine. Lets look at some classically high caffeine drinks: black tea and coffee:
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‘the Coffee Lover’s Diet’ Book Rates Decaffeinated Coffee’s Health Benefits
Dr Bob Arnot, an MD Doctor well known for his appearances on US television, including The Today Show, NBC and CBS, has recently published his latest book entitled The Coffee Lover’s Diet, in which he analyses the huge body of scientific research and discussion on the health benefits and dangers of coffee, as well as conducting 44 of his own scientific research on coffee in terms of which beans, brands and brews are best for the human body.
So, what does he have to say about decaffeinated coffee?
There are amazing decafs that still have high levels of polyphenols, Dr. Arnot states.
Whats most important is the level of polyphenols, Dr. Arnot says, explaining that these are powerful anti-inflammatory, antioxidant-rich micro-nutrients.
Most of Swiss Water Decaf coffees health benefits are derived from from the antioxidants effect of the polyphenols contained within the coffee, regardless of whether there is caffeine in it or not.
Coffee is rich in a type of polyphenol called chlorogenic acid, which has similar health and cognition benefits to bioflavonoids, as well as other nutrients including niacin, vitamin E, potassium and magnesium.
Indeed, decaffeinate coffee has more antioxidants than green tea, and even has more antioxidants per serving than blueberries?
Given this information, it starts to make sense that scientists are now suggesting that coffee drinkers live longer.
Is Decaffeinated Coffee For You
We still dont know whether its the caffeine, or one of the thousands of other biologically active compounds and antioxidants , that may be responsible for coffees many health perks.
Whats really clear, however, is that for people who experience insomnia, irritability, headaches, nausea, anxiety, jitters, and increased blood pressure after drinking too much caffeine, switching to decaf may be a healthy option, says Edward Giovannucci, M.D., Ph.D., a researcher and professor of nutrition and epidemiology at Harvards T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
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Aging And Neurodegenerative Diseases
24 ).
Human cell studies also show that decaf coffee may protect neurons in the brain. This could help prevent the development of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimers and Parkinsons (
28 ).
Many studies show that people who drink regular coffee have a lower risk of Alzheimers and Parkinsons, but more studies are needed on decaf specifically.
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Choosing Tea For Kidney Health
So, is there a best tea for kidney disease? Some herbal teas can help target or prevent specific kidney-related problems, but it’s important to ask your doctor before drinking them regularly, especially if you have serious kidney issues. Many of the studies related to potential “kidney cleanses” have not been undertaken in large-sample, human trials.
A September 2016 study published in the Asian Journal of Urology found that Blumea balsamifera, or sambong, decreased the size of laboratory-grown calcium crystals, which are formed from urine minerals. The study used a commercially-available tea. Sambong may also prevent the formation of these crystals. If too many larger crystals stick together, they can form painful stones. Sanbong’s crystal-decreasing action potentially lowers the risk of kidney stones. Sambong is derived from a tropical shrub.
One type of hydrangea shrub, Hydrangea paniculata, features cone-shaped flowers. It also boasts medicinal properties. Research published in the December 2017 issue of Frontiers of Pharmacology focused on the high presence of the beneficial compounds in hydrangea that are known as coumarins. Coumarins have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. According to animal studies, ingesting hydrangea can have protective qualities, at least in the case of kidney injury. Hydrangea paniculata is available in “kidney cleanse” blends. Whether it’s the best tea for kidney disease is, of course, a question your doctor can help you solve.
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Is Decaf Coffee Keto Diet Friendly
Weve recently had several customers writing in to enquire if our decaf coffee was keto friendly. To be absolutely honest, wed never heard of this new trend thats very popular in North America and seemingly coming over to our shores.
So, what is the Keto Diet?
Standing for Ketogenic Diet, the Keto Diet is a very low-carb, high-fat diet that shares many similarities with the Atkins and low-carb diets. It involves drastically reducing carbohydrate intake and replacing it with fat.
This reduction in carbs puts your body into a metabolic state called ketosis. When this happens, your body becomes incredibly efficient at burning fat for energy. It also turns fat into ketones in the liver, which can supply energy for the brain.
Ketogenic diets can cause massive reductions in blood sugar and insulin levels. This, along with the increased ketones, has numerous health benefits.
Fortunately, Keto drinks aren’t limited to water tea and coffee are allowed.
So, is decaffeinated coffee Keto Diet friendly?
The answer is, yes, you can consume both caffeinated and decaf coffee on the Keto Diet.
And what kinds of decaffeinated coffees can you drink on the Keto Diet?
Keto-friendly decaf coffee comes in a range of options:
A Note From The Herbalist
Unless youre planning to drink a gallon of oxalate-heavy black tea every day, your regular tea consumption will likely not cause any issues with your kidneys. However, its always good to enjoy everything in moderation, and to check with your doctor about any health concerns.
Interested in learning more about caffeine? Check out our article Caffeine in Coffee and Tea
If youre interested in exploring some teas that will be kind to your kidneys, check out my selections below! All of Matcha Alternatives teas are ethically sourced, top quality, and super delicious.
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