Brewing Clarity: Exploring Caffeine's Kick and Kidney Connection
Caffeine is a drug most of us are addicted to, as 85% of the adult US population drinks some form of caffeine daily. Caffeine is a stimulant, which means it speeds up messages between the brain and the body. It is found naturally in many plants and seeds, like coffee beans and tea leaves; however, it can also be made synthetically. The recommended maximum is about 400 milligrams a day or about 4 cups of coffee.
With so many people hooked on this drug, what do we really know about its effects on the body? The short-term effects of caffeine seem positive and energizing. These include increased alertness, blood pressure, breathing rate, and urination. Yet in the long term, the effects of caffeine could include fatigue, nervousness, insomnia, dehydration, and stomach issues.''
An important part of the body that interacts with caffeine is the kidney. The kidneys are two small organs right below your ribcage that filter fluid to sort out waste and create urine, helping regulate your body’s balance and electrolytes. When caffeine passes through the kidneys, the absorption of the stimulant can be tracked by its plasma levels. Plasma is the liquid portion of the blood that carries the other red and white blood cells as well as platelets. Since plasma is located throughout our whole cardiac system, tracking plasma levels gives us a good idea of how drugs are processed in the body.
With so many people hooked on this drug, what do we really know about its effects on the body? The short-term effects of caffeine seem positive and energizing. These include increased alertness, blood pressure, breathing rate, and urination. Yet in the long term, the effects of caffeine could include fatigue, nervousness, insomnia, dehydration, and stomach issues.''
An important part of the body that interacts with caffeine is the kidney. The kidneys are two small organs right below your ribcage that filter fluid to sort out waste and create urine, helping regulate your body’s balance and electrolytes. When caffeine passes through the kidneys, the absorption of the stimulant can be tracked by its plasma levels. Plasma is the liquid portion of the blood that carries the other red and white blood cells as well as platelets. Since plasma is located throughout our whole cardiac system, tracking plasma levels gives us a good idea of how drugs are processed in the body.
Your kidneys play an important role in protecting your body by filtering out the harmful impacts of caffeine.
Image Source: Robina Weermeijer
Genetics differentiates how we process caffeine and how it affects kidney function. In a recent study from 2024, researchers from across Europe tracked individuals who metabolized caffeine differently to determine the impacts of caffeine intake on the body. The study found that increased plasma caffeine levels due to drinking caffeine can impair kidney function. This can cause the development of chronic kidney disease which results in issues with urination, fatigue, nausea, high blood pressure, loss of appetite, and swelling. However, individuals with a genetic ability to metabolize higher amounts of caffeine do not experience these negative effects on kidney function when consuming caffeinated beverages. In fact, these people have a lower risk of kidney disease. This study shows how caffeine can be harmful to some, and neutral to others. The interplay between the processing of caffeine and the kidneys highlights the need for personalized genetic approaches to clearly understand our health.
In summary, caffeine has both short-term and long-term effects on health. Importantly, the interaction between caffeine and kidney function is influenced by genetic variability in caffeine metabolism. In the future, there should be more integration of genetic factors in studies to discover how we can be our healthiest selves. More research in this area will help us better understand how much caffeine is best for our health and overall well-being.
In summary, caffeine has both short-term and long-term effects on health. Importantly, the interaction between caffeine and kidney function is influenced by genetic variability in caffeine metabolism. In the future, there should be more integration of genetic factors in studies to discover how we can be our healthiest selves. More research in this area will help us better understand how much caffeine is best for our health and overall well-being.
Featured Image Source: Chevanon Photography
RELATED ARTICLES
|
Vertical Divider
|
Vertical Divider
|
Vertical Divider
|
