Behind the sweet taste and refreshing sensation, this drink hides a cocktail of harmful substances for the urinary tract
Behind the colored packaging and the surrounding soda marketing, there is a liquid that, if consumed in excess, compromises the correct functioning of the kidneys. The formation of urinary calculations, popularly known as “kidney stones”, grew between young adults and experts begin to trace direct connections with modern eating habits, including abusive soda consumption.
Also recently, a video became viral on social networks showing a patient who consumed two to three liters of soda a day and had to undergo surgery to remove 35 stones from the bladder. The scene does not only have the seriousness of the situation, but also the urgency of rethinking the consumption of these apparently harmless drinks.
For the urologist and professor at the University of San Paolo School of Medicine (USP) Dr. Alexandre Sallum Bull, the viralized case is a warning for all those who still believe that taking soda “only once and then” is not bad.
“Soda is one of the most aggressive drinks for the urinary system. Alter the urine pH, it stimulates the loss of minerals through the kidneys, promotes the crystallization of substances such as calcium, phosphate and bone – and this, over time, becomes stone. And the stone becomes pain, infection and, in the most serious cases, surgery”, he says.
Damage to the soda to the urinary tract
Behind the sweet taste and the refreshing sensation, the soda hides a cocktail of substances harmful to the urinary tract:
- Phosphoric acid: present above all in glue drinks, alters the acid-base balance of the urine and increases the excretion of football by the kidneys, one of the main components of the stones;
- Excessive sugar: High doses of glucose affect calcium metabolism and can increase the production of rich urine in crystallized minerals;
- Caffeine: present in many non -alcoholic drinks, it has a light diuretic effect, which can increase the dehydrationBy reducing the urinary volume and encourage the concentration of salts in the urine.
And not to mention zero or dietAlthough they do not contain sugar, they maintain phosphoric acid and artificial sweeteners, also suspected of influencing intestinal microbiota and renal metabolism.
The path to the formation of stones
In the kidneys, substances such as calcium, bone and uric acid are naturally excreted by the urine. When they are in balance and diluted, everything works well. But when concentration increases and urine is more acidic or less volume, these crystals group and renal calculations are born.
“Drinking excess soda is like pouring acid on a system that should be balanced. Over time, the kidneys react from the only way they know: form stones to try to contain toxins and excess salts”, explains dr. Alexandre Sallum.
Symptoms of kidney calculations
The formation of calculations can be silent at the beginning, but as the stones grow or move, the symptoms appear and are generally intense:
- Severe back pain, which can radiate to the groin;
- Urine with blood or cloudy;
- Urinary urgency and a full bladder sensation;
- Nausea and vomiting;
- Urinary infections recurrent.
In the case of the patient who became viral, the stones were not in the kidneys, but accumulated in the bladder, generating a rare but serious picture that required open surgery.
Consumption of soda and propensity to have stones
Studies show that the frequent consumption of soft drinks is associated with an increase of up to 33% in the risk of formation of urinary calculations. The risk is even greater in the people of:
- They have a family history of kidney stones;
- They drink little water;
- They have sodium rich diets, animal proteins and transformed foods;
- They are sedentary or overweight.
Prevent kidney stones
The good news is that forming kidney stones is not inevitable. With a simple and coherent cure, it is possible to prevent the problem, even in the people prepared.
1. Drink a lot of water
Staying hydrated is the most effective way to dilute urine and prevent crystals formation. At least from 2 to 2.5 liters of water per day, or even more if time is hot or practiced physical activities.
2. Avoid soda and sweetened drinks
Exchange soda with lemon water, natural tea (without sugar), coconut water, kombucha or natural juices.
3. Reduce salt and sausages
Diets with excessive red meat And the incorporated increase the excretion of uric acid, which also favors the emergence of calculations.
4. Include protective foods
The fruits of citrus fruits, such as lemon, orange and Acerola, increase urinary citrate, a compound that prevents crystals formation.
5. Consult a urologist
If you have had kidney stones or urinary tract infections, it is worth studying the type of calculation, food habits and, if necessary, test to customize prevention.
A consequence, not a bad luck
The case of the 35 stones removed from the bladder of a patient who abused soda is not a story of bad luck: it is a consequence of a toxic habit, maintained for years, without listening or indications. You don’t have to reach this point.
“When you delete the refrigerator From your routine, you are not just cutting a caloric drink. He is indicating respect for his body, with his kidneys and his long -term health “, concludes Dr. Alexandre Sallum Bull.
By Roneia Forte
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
