New research has shown that coffee reduces the risk of kidney diseases. It improves our health, particularly kidney health, through various mechanisms.

Coffee is prepared from coffee beans that grow on a flowering plant. The raw seeds are initially green in color and are unroasted. These seeds are then roasted and ground to form coffee particles. Coffee, therefore, has fantastic components and provides exceptional health benefits.

Coffee beans were invented in Ethiopia, then spread to different regions of the world. Coffee is a popular beverage drank to boost energy and accomplish work goals. Further, due to its exceptional taste, it is equally liked by eastern and western individuals. 

Why do people consume coffee?

Many people consume coffee to get relief from mental stress and physical tiredness. It is also known to prevent several diseases. It also enhances your mental activity by making you neurologically alert.

What are the positive effects of coffee on health?

  • Increases energy levels by producing a stimulant effect 
  • It helps to burn fat in the body
  • Lowers the risks of disease development such as type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease, cirrhosis, kidney stones, kidney injury, stroke, premature death, and cancer
  • It contains antioxidants, vitamins, manganese, and potassium 
  • Caffeine, chlorogenic acid, and phytochemicals are known to have health benefits

An essential component:

Although coffee contains several components, caffeine is it's most valuable. It has the physiological effect of stimulating the central nervous system. It also improves respiration and blood circulation. It can also be a pain reliever when combined with other therapeutic agents.

But you must wonder…

How is coffee helpful in reducing the risk of kidney injury when it was once considered hazardous for health?

Is coffee beneficial or harmful for heart health?

It was believed to affect the heart, causing hypertension and heart attack due to caffeine. Caffeine has anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, and antioxidant properties. 

In 2005, a study declared that coffee causes stiffness in the heart aorta. Stiffness in the aorta reduces flexibility and increases the chances of cardiovascular illness. But a recent study disproved this fact. The Queen Mary University of London found that people who drink coffee daily do not possess any higher risk of heart disease. 

That is why we should focus on the positive effects of coffee.

Coffee reduces kidney diseases:

As the population grows, the number of individuals at risk of chronic illnesses also increases. Lifestyle changes and changes in food intake can manage acute and chronic kidney diseases. It has been found through several authentic pieces of research that coffee reduces the chances of kidney injury, some of which I further expand upon below.

Quantity of coffee intake associated with reduced kidney injury:

About 37 million individuals have been reported to suffer from kidney diseases. Black Americans or African Americans have three times greater chances of developing kidney disease than White Americans. And Hispanics have 1.3 times greater chances of kidney failure than non-Hispanics. 

 In New York, 2021, a study was published in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases. The results showed that 1-1.5 cups of coffee per day could decrease the 40% chance of developing kidney stones. Moreover, the co-author of the study supports these conclusions on the basis that the evidence of the study “strongly suggests that regular coffee consumption reduces the risk of kidney stone formation."

The institute's chief officer suggested that coffee be a new prevention strategy for the increasing number of cases of kidney stones in the US.

The researchers performed the investigations on Artehrosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) on 14 thousand of individuals from 5 to 45 years old. Their coffee intake was monitored and assessed by a questionnaire. The number of cups of coffee per day varies among individuals, i.e., 27% (no coffee), 14% (< 1 coffee cup), 19% (1 coffee a day), (23% 2-3 coffee cups a day), and 17% (>3 cups of coffee a day). In the follow-up period of 24 years, approximately 1600 individuals suffered from acute kidney injury.

The results showed that persons who drank any quantity of coffee had an 11% reduced risk of acute kidney injury. To further clarify the effects of the amount of coffee, they found that consuming 2 to 3 cups of coffee a day is most relatable to reducing the risk of kidney disease. 

Effect of coffee intake on end-stage renal disease:

Similarly, end-stage kidney disease is the highest in the United States compared to any other country. Coffee intake is most significant in European countries. North America and Asia come after. Further, coffee consumption has also been increasing in Western countries since 1990. Several studies have supported using coffee to reduce the risk of several diseases, including cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. These comorbidities lead to end-stage renal disease, also known as chronic kidney disease. Reducing the risk factors of illnesses as mentioned earlier by consuming coffee reduces the risk of chronic kidney disease. Coffee, therefore, has an overall positive impact on various diseases and is beneficial for health.

Polyphenols, another critical component of coffee, have beneficial effects on anti-inflammation, anti-thrombosis, and vasodilation. These properties of polyphenols reduce cardiometabolic disorder and renal dysfunction. It improves the estimated glomerular filtration rate of the kidney, which indicates improved kidney function.

Another possible health-beneficial component of coffee is chlorogenic acid. It is a phenolic compound that has anti-oxidative properties. Another positive effect on health is the reduction of blood glucose concentration. The glucose absorption in the intestine decreases, and the secretion of liver glycogen is also reduced. Thus, the risk of nephropathy and microalbuminuria is also reduced. Some other active phytochemicals in coffee beverages are melanoidins, trigonelline, diterpenes, cafestol, and kahweol. These components show the properties of anti-oxidation and anti-hypertension. Further, it shows antiglycative and hypoglycemic effects. All these properties have protective effects on renal functions. 

 

All in all, we can say that regular coffee intake is not harmful to health if taken in a precise amount. The consumption of 2 to 3 cups of coffee daily can reduce kidney diseases by up to 11 %. So, why are you waiting? Grab a cup of coffee and enjoy!