7 Foods That Are Actually Damaging Your Kidneys

3. Caffeine

If you are someone who can’t function until they’ve had their morning cuppa, this can be rough to hear. Coffee, energy drinks, soda, and other caffeine-heavy beverages are especially dangerous if you have history with kidney issues. Research has found that long-term caffeine consumption can worsen kidney disease and increase your risk of kidney stones.

Furthermore, caffeine is mild diuretic, which means it can affect your kidneys’ ability to absorb water. While moderate consumption of caffeine shouldn’t cause any problems, excess consumption is definitely a no-no. Caffeine also stimulates blood flow, increasing blood pressure. This is, again, only a problem if you have issues with blood pressure already.