Ditch the soda drinks! Protect your kidneys and overall health

[WhollyAligned]

Hi All. My post this week as both a nutritionist and someone who has experienced kidney issues is about soda pop. Any kind of soda pop and that absolutely includes diet soda which arguably are worse as aspartame not only impacts blood sugars but also is considered to be harmful to the nervous system. Important to consider for kidney patients, drinking these sodas in all cases, strips calcium from the bones as the body strives to neutralise the acid from these drinks. Over time this weakens the bones and bone health is an important one to keep in mind as kidneys are a key regulator of healthy bone mineralisation through communication with the para-thyroid gland. Bear in mind a typical soda like cola or fizzy lemonade will have circa 9 teaspoons of sugar per can! High sugar intake is linked with poor mood, poor blood sugars and visceral adiposity (fat around the middle) which puts pressure on your vital organs. These drinks are also high in phosphoric acid so another reason to given them a big swerve. From an environmental perspective, soda pop typically takes twice the amount of water to make.

Good quality filtered water is the way to go!

[twolittlebeans]

Is sparkling water okay?

[WhollyAligned in reply to twolittlebeans]

Hi there. The subject of water is such an interesting one and indeed so important for kidneys of course. My view is that if your preference is sparkling water and that is what keeps you well hydrated, this is fine. Water varies hugely depending on its source in terms of mineral content. Some waters are naturally sparkling due to volcanic activity nearby that increases carbonic acid, some have the carbon dioxide added. There is some noise around carbonated water possibly being connected to kidney stones formation but again this will be contextual. So if you are overall eating plenty of fibre, veggies and managing your stress well, it's ok. Have a look at the water you are drinking and review the mineral content and if it feels right for you.