Coffee has continued to grow in popularity as a drink of choice in any situation. As it has become more common, many researchers and health professionals have studied the effects of coffee on the body. Kidneys are important to many health functions, and instant coffee is one of the most common drinks available. Some people have debated whether or not instant coffee has any impact on kidney health.
Instant coffee has greater positive effects on the kidneys than negative effects. Studies have found that coffee has had a productive effect on the kidneys in women. It is mainly a person’s pre-existing health conditions that will determine if instant coffee will cause problems.
Instant coffee is a quick and convenient way to have coffee in the morning, and you won’t have to worry about kidney issues. However, there are some health benefits and risks that everyone should be aware of so they can choose the healthiest option for their day-to-day life.
Affect on Kidney Disease
Kidney disease refers to an issue where the kidneys can not filter blood the way they are supposed to, and they become damaged. As the kidneys start to fail in their proper functions, they build up waste. These conditions can lead to anorexia, weight loss, loss of muscle mass, decrease protein stores, and increased energy expenditure.
In 2008, a Korean Study was conducted on 2,600 women ages 35 to 84 who drank coffee. This study was to examine the connection between decreasing kidney disease the consumption of coffee. The results showed that women who drank less than one cup of coffee a day had higher renal function impairment, and women who drank more than one cup of coffee a day had lower renal function impairment.
Reduced Risk in Other Diseases
Instant coffee has the potential to reduce the risks of diseases in the body: for example, neurodegenerative diseases and type 2 diabetes.
“Neurodegenerative diseases are a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by progressive degeneration of the structure and function of the central nervous system or peripheral nervous system.”
fda.gov
The two most common neurodegenerative diseases are Alzheimer’s disease and Parkison’s disease. These diseases can have a major impact on people’s lives, but coffee can actually reduce the severity of both diseases. Coffee can help due to the several neuroprotective properties it contains. This allows it to lower the risk of cognitive decline.
Type 2 Diabetes is an impairment that affects the way the body generates insulin. This disease is a chronic disorder where there is too much sugar in the bloodstream. There have been some studies that show you have a chance of reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes if you drink coffee. If you already have diabetes, then it will affect your insulin intake.
Kidney Disease Life Expectancy
Many people say that coffee can increase the life expectancy of someone who drinks it. For people with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), that statement can be proven as true. People with a greater caffeine intake are found to have a better result in slowing down the progression of CKD.
With kidney diseases, the average life expectancy after being diagnosed is 14 years for males and 16 years for females. This comes from the genetic makeup of what is done in each system. It is said that patients with a high level of caffeine intake have a chance of up to a 25 percent reduction rate in death. This comes from the release of substances like nitric oxide, which helps the vascular system.
Albuminuria
Albuminuria is a sign of kidney disease and it means that there is too much albumin in your system. Albumin is a protein produced by your liver that serves the purpose of keeping fluid inside the bloodstream so it doesn’t leak into the tissue. Low albumin levels can cause problems for both your liver and kidneys. A healthy kidney does not let any albumin pass from blood to urine.
As albuminuria is a sign of kidney disease, there have been studies showing that a cup of coffee can reduce the factors that cause albuminuria. It is shown that coffee can have a protective effect against albuminuria in your system and CKD.
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Risk of Kidney Cancer
There have been many different pieces of evidence that prove coffee can be both good and bad for your kidneys. The reason for this confusion is the difference between caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee. For example, renal cell carcinoma is a type of kidney cancer that is affected differently based on what type of coffee you are drinking.
Renal cell carcinoma is a kidney cancer that has malignant cancer cells located in the lining of the tubes in the kidneys. Drinking caffeinated coffee with renal cell carcinoma has similar effects compared to what coffee does for chronic kidney disease. Overall, caffeinated coffee reduces the risk of this type of kidney cancer.
The opposite is true for drinking decaffeinated coffee. Instead of causing a reduction in risk, it causes an increase of risk for clear cells in the renal cell carcinoma subtype. It is still unknown why this certain link is happening, but more studies and research are being done to find potential links and connections.
Risk of Kidney Stones
There are certain situations where caffeine and coffee intake will need to be moderated. One situation is for a person that forms kidney stones. Kidney stones (renal calculi) are hard deposits made up of minerals and salt into concentrated urine in the kidney. It is extremely painful for this built-up deposit to pass through the urinary tract.
There are five different types of kidney stones; Calcium Oxalate Stones, Calcium Phosphate Stones, Struvite Stones, Uric Acid Stones, and Cystine Stones (source). The most common is the Calcium Oxalate Stones because they are stones that coincide with our everyday diets. Many people receive a majority of their oxalate from coffee. Though it may not be an actual cause for someone’s kidney stones, it could be a factor.
Therefore, if a patient has had kidney stones before, they should be more cautious with the amount of coffee they intake each day. Coffee can still be considered a risk factor.
