From lowering the risk of stroke and fatal heart disease, to lowering the risk of overall death, the list of potential health benefits of habitual coffee consumption is getting progressively longer. Now, to add to that growing list, researchers say that drinking at least one cup of coffee a day may reduce the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI), with two to three cups per day being the most beneficial.
AKI happens when the kidneys suddenly lose all or part of their function. According to the National Kidney Foundation, it is a "sudden episode of kidney failure or kidney damage that happens within a few hours or a few days". This causes waste products to build up in the blood, making it hard for kidneys to maintain the correct balance of fluids in the body, a news release on the study explains.
Symptoms can range from swelling in the legs and ankles, to fatigue, shortness of breath, confusion, nausea, chest pain, and in severe cases, seizures or coma. It most commonly occurs in hospitalised patients whose kidneys are affected by medical and surgical stress and complications.
