Parade Magazine:
by Dr. Ranit Mishor

In the last decade, cases of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the U.S. have increased by 30%. An estimated 26 million Americans are affected, according to the National Kidney Foundation.

The kidneys—two bean-shaped structures found just below the ribs in your back —filter blood and excrete harmful chemicals. Kidney damage reduces the body’s ability to get rid of waste and affects blood pressure, bone strength, and blood production. Even low levels of kidney disease contribute to heart failure, arterial disease, and strokes.

The leading risk factors for CKD are diabetes and high blood pressure, followed by weight gain and smoking. Now a study suggests a link between soda consumption and kidney disease. Researchers at Loyola University in Chicago found that women of normal weight who drink two or more cans of soda a day are nearly twice as likely to show early signs of CKD. The same effect was not found in men or in people who drink diet soda.

The authors looked at data from more than 9000 adults. They suggest that the culprit may be the high-fructose corn syrup in many sodas. Others believe the phosphorus found in some sodas could be the problem.

Share This