In a video that has become viral on Instagram, the Brazilian urologist Dr. Thales Andrade recently revealed the spectacular consequences of excessive consumption of sugary drinks. The bladder of one of her patients was thus filled with calculations.
35 pebbles harvested in the bladder
More precisely, the doctor had to remove 35 calculations of good sizes, from the bladder of his patient, addicted to Coca-Cola. Man consumed on average three liters per day.
“”Excessive consumption of soft drinks can cause kidney stones “explains the doctor, showing a tray filled with large yellowish stones withdrawn after intervention. A fresh harvest, the patient, anesthetized, still resting on the operating table.
These urinary calculations, formed from calcium deposits in urinary tract, can cause acute pain, vomiting, blood in the urine, and even, in serious cases, renal failure or sepsis.
Phosphoric acid, sugar … and chain consequences
The link between sodas and calculations is not new, but this case illustrates the extreme effects. Coca-Cola indeed contains a high concentration of phosphoric acid, an additive which acidifies urine and promotes the formation of crystals. Added to this is the sugar content, dramatic in this specific case, explains our nutritionist dietician, Julie Boët.
“Drinking three liters of soda per day amounts to ingesting almost a kilo of sugar per week”, she alerts. “”It is more than thirty times the ideal recommendation of the WHO, which recommends less than 25 to 30 grams of sugar per day. “
And the consequences do not stop at the kidneys. “Excess sugar alters metabolism, increases the risks of diabetes, obesity, chronic inflammation and kidney dysfunctions. As for phosphoric acid, it can also promote bone demineralization, irritate the stomach and unbalance the intestinal flora.”
Solutions to get soda
If this case may seem extreme, it is not isolated. Renal calculations affect more than one in ten people, mainly between 30 and 60 years, and their frequency increases with the consumption of sugary drinks, lack of hydration and fiber, and an excess of animal protein.
Do you want to keep a “pleasure” drink without inconvenience? For Julie Boët, it is essential to accompany people to sustainable alternatives:
“Sugar -free sparkling waters can replace sodas. There are also gourds that diffuse aromas by smell, giving the feeling of drinking cola … without sugar or additives.”
Other options: flavor your water yourself with lemon, mint, ginger or red fruits, to keep pleasure without danger. And if weaning is difficult, the nutritionist recommends a progressive approach rather than a brutal stop.
“”Kidney health begins in glass“”
Dr. Andrade concludes his video with a clear message:
“Maintaining good hydration and avoiding excessive sodas consumption are simple but essential measures. Kidney health begins with our daily choices of drinks.”
A welcome recall at a time when sugary drinks remain the first source of sugars added in global food.