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Cold tea may contribute to the formation of kidney stones
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
Iced tea is the most popular drink in the summer. However, its consumption is not so safe for human health. Urologist at the Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago John Milner warns: tea can contribute to the formation of kidney stones due to the increased content of oxalates (salts and esters of oxalic acid).
Approximately 10% of the US population suffers from urolithiasis, the most common urological disease. "For people who are prone to kidney stones, iced tea is the most harmful drink," says D. Milner. According to him, active tea consumption, excessive sweating and dehydration in the summer increase the risk of developing urolithiasis.
"People are encouraged to drink more fluids in the summer. Most people choose iced tea because it has fewer calories and tastes better than water. But in terms of kidney stone risk, they're doing themselves a disservice," says Milner. Compared to women, men are four times more likely to develop kidney stones. Those at risk include people aged 40 and over, women with low estrogen levels, and those who are postmenopausal or have had their ovaries removed.
Kidney stones are small crystals of salt and minerals that usually collect in the ureters, the narrow tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder. Kidney stones are usually so small that they cause no harm. However, sometimes they grow large and become "stuck" in the ureters, causing pain and discomfort.
D. Milner recommends giving preference to water or homemade lemonade in the summer. "I recommend drinking water with lemon, which is rich in citrates - substances that prevent the formation of kidney stones," the doctor notes. According to him, people prone to the formation of kidney stones should reduce the consumption of certain products containing a large amount of oxalates, including spinach, chocolate, rhubarb, nuts, meat. He advises reducing salt intake, drinking several glasses of water a day and eating foods rich in calcium - they reduce the excretion of oxalate.
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