Kidney stones are extremely painful, causing pain in the groin and back, fever, nausea, vomiting and chills. They form when crystals collect in the kidneys. When your body tries to pass them, the pain starts. What you put in your body can have a direct effect on whether or not you develop kidney stones. Coffee may actually prevent their formation.
Positive Effects of Coffee
Coffee may play a positive role in preventing kidney stone development. According to a study that was published in the "American Journal of Epidemiology" in 1996, out of 21 different drinks that were tested on 45,000 men, coffee reduced the risk of developing kidney stones by 10 percent.
Positive Effects of Caffeine
In the same study published in the "American Journal of Epidemiology," the researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health determined that there was virtually no difference between caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee and the risk of kidney stone formation. It remained at 10 percent for both types, meaning more testing still needs to be done to determine if caffeine, not the coffee, is the reason for such positive results for preventing kidney stones.
Potential Negative Effects
Even though coffee has shown to be beneficial in the prevention of kidney stones, it can cause dehydration if you're not careful, which is a well-known cause of kidney stones. Coffee is a diuretic, increasing the frequency with which you urinate and potentially dehydrating you. Drink at least eight glasses of water a day to prevent dehydration from coffee and to limit your risk of kidney stone development.
Recommendations
Coffee is safe for most people to drink on a regular basis. However, you shouldn't have more than about three cups a day. Otherwise, you may experience negative side effects like irritability, insomnia, increased heart rate and anxiousness. If you experience these symptoms on less coffee, you may simply be sensitive to it.
