Iced tea provokes the formation of kidney stones

Scientists from Loyola University in Chicago have found that iced tea provokes the formation of kidney stones.

Iced tea or simply cold tea is the most popular summer drink among the population watching their health and weight. Indeed, it does not contain as much sugar and calories as sodas and juices, it contains antioxidants, all signs that iced tea is good for health. However, the author of the new study, urologist John Milner, hastens to warn: iced tea is the most dangerous drink for people with a tendency to form kidney stones.

Although it is recommended to drink more fluids in summer, tea increases the content of oxalates (esters of oxalic acid and salt), which are mineralized in the ureters, and if they are large enough, they can get stuck in them and cause discomfort and pain.

Men over 40 years of age are in a special risk group; doctors strongly recommend that they replace tea with water with lemon, which contains a lot of citrates, which prevent the formation of kidney stones.

In addition to tea, seemingly safe foods such as chocolate, spinach, rhubarb, and nuts can increase the risk of stone formation. Calcium-rich foods reduce the release of oxalates. If desired, tea can be replaced with chilled milk. Considering that in summer the risk of stones increases on its own due to dehydration, then it is better to avoid iced tea as an additional risk factor.