Have you ever paused and thought about two bean-shaped organs in your body called the kidneys? They are important organs and help in removing the waste from the body in the form of urine.
The kidneys filter blood and send it back to the heart along with helping in maintaining the body’s fluid balance.
Not just that, they also regulate minerals and filter them away from the blood and get rid of toxins. Other important roles played by the kidneys include the assistance in the production of red blood cells, the regulation of BP along with the promotion of bone health.
Such important organs obviously deserve to be taken care of. And, if it can be easily done by adding green tea to your diet, wouldn’t you be happy?
Does green tea affect kidney health?
It is a known fact that green tea is loaded with antioxidants. These antioxidants fight the tissue damage caused by free radicals along with hampering the growth of pathogens such as certain bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
Studies reveal that the presence of EGCG (Epigallocatechin-3-gallate) in green tea is helpful in preventing chronic kidney disease and is probably even effective in treating it.
Green tea is an astringent and diuretic, i.e. a substance that increases urine production. Both these properties make it useful in fighting infections of the urinary tract, bladder, and kidney.
Green tea has always shown positive effects when it comes to the prevention of different types of cancers. Research claims that green tea is capable enough of preventing kidney cancer.
As per the research carried out, green tea is also helpful in preventing bladder cancer in males as well as females. Making green tea a part of a healthy lifestyle can help you can enjoy its health benefits and prevent cancer.
Does green tea cause kidney stones?
Before heading on to kidney stones, you need to know that the kidneys perform a really important role in filtering your blood and removing waste in the form of urine.
However, you can suffer from many kidney-related issues and one of them is kidney stones.
Kidney stones are basically deposits of salts and minerals that get formed inside the kidneys.
Most often the kidney stones are made up of calcium oxalate. The stones vary in size.
A smaller one can travel down the urinary tract and out of the body. But a larger one gets stuck thereby causing pain.
There have been concerns over the consumption of green tea and the chances of developing kidney stones. However, the truth is that green tea does not cause kidney stones.
It instead prevents their formation.
By drinking just one cup daily, you can see an 8% decrease in the risk of developing kidney stones in females and a 14% decrease in males.
Green tea prevents the formation of kidney stones by not letting calcium oxalate to clump together. The crystals are flatter and tend to break easily.
Therefore, they can easily leave the body through the urinary tract without causing any trouble. In a nutshell, green tea affects the way the crystals get formed making them easy to exit the body.
P.S. – The research is still being carried out and in case you have kidney issues, it is better to consult a doctor and then think about including the tea in your diet.
Which type of tea causes Kidney stones?
Now, after knowing that green tea prevents the formation of kidney stones, you might be thinking that the effect is the same with other tea varieties as well. Aren’t you?
However, this is not true!
There are teas that cause kidney stones. Those who already suffer from kidney stones are not supposed to drink tea. This is because tea contains a high amount of oxalate that leads to the formation of kidney stones.
If you consume too much tea you can end up with kidney stones.
Now, as already discussed, green tea has a preventive effect with regard to kidney stones and this shows that not every tea causes them. It all depends on the oxalate level of tea.
When compared to green tea, black tea has a higher amount of oxalate present in it and therefore should be avoided.
P.S. – It is still not very clear whether by bringing down your consumption of oxalate-rich foods you can prevent kidney stones or not. So, those with a history of kidney stones need to limit their consumption of food and drink that has more amount of oxalate.
You can always drink green tea as the amount of oxalate in it is quite less when compared to that of black tea.
Which tea is good for kidney disease?
In order to cleanse your kidneys and keep them working fine, all you need to do is to drink a lot of water. Staying well-hydrated is usually enough to help them function right.
While drinking green tea is beneficial for the health of your kidneys, those with existing kidney disease should avoid it.
Annique Health and Beauty mention that “Most teas, like green or black, contain a compound called oxalic acid. It’s also found in chocolate, certain fruits, vegetables, and raw leafy greens.
Normally, oxalic acid is naturally eliminated through your urine. But when you don’t drink enough water, consume too much sugar, and have a diet high in oxalic acid, oxalate crystals can form.
This is one of the most common causes of kidney stones.
But Rooibos Tea doesn’t contain oxalates. That’s why it’s a great alternative to green or black tea for those who are prone to kidney stones.”
However, as said earlier, it is always better to consult with the kidney specialist and follow his or her advice.
Is matcha tea good for the kidneys?
Matcha is the tea made out of the finely powdered green tea leaves and has plenty of health benefits. It is said that green tea concoctions are beneficial for the kidneys.
As per a study carried out on diabetes patients, it has been found that upon consuming matcha tea kidney (renal) damage can be prevented. That sounds like one good reason to add the tea to your diet!
In conclusion, it can be easily said that green tea is healthy and is good for the kidneys. You need to consume it in moderation as a part of a healthy lifestyle to enjoy all its benefits.
Final Verdict – Is green tea good or bad for your kidneys?
As already discussed, scientific research has established that green tea helps in preventing kidney stones from forming a larger shape. This allows them to easily pass through the urinary tract.
Apart from that, EGCG in green tea helps prevent chronic kidney disease. This implies that green tea is definitely good for the kidneys.