What are kidney stones?
Kidney stones are solid masses of crystals that develop inside the kidneys and along the urinary tract. They are formed when certain minerals in your urine are not flushed out, leading to the formation of crystals. These tiny crystals continue collecting other waste types until a stone develops. They can be painful and cause nausea, fever, and painful urination [1, 2, 3, 4].
What causes kidney stones?
The causes of kidney stones are multifactorial. They can be attributed to hereditary, environmental, dietary, anatomical, metabolic, or infectious factors. A high intake of proteins, certain medications, bacterial factors, or contamination with greenhouse gases can contribute to their formation.
Certain health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and metabolic syndromes are also considered risk factors for stone formation[5, 6].
Dietary habits play a significant role in the formation of kidney stones. For instance, a diet high in animal proteins, salt, or sugars can increase the risk of kidney stones. Furthermore, low fluid intake or excessive consumption of certain foods rich in oxalate, such as potato chips, peanuts, chocolate, and spinach, can also form these stones [7, 8].
Can energy drinks cause kidney stones?
Current research suggests that energy drinks are unlikely to cause kidney stones directly and that caffeine intake from beverages like coffee and tea may decrease the risk of developing kidney stones [9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14].
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