Is Drinking Boiled Water Really Bad for Your Kidneys? The Truth About Tap Water, Bottled Water, and Kidney Health

Is Drinking Boiled Water Really Bad for Your Kidneys? The Truth About Tap Water, Bottled Water, and Kidney HealthMr. Zhang is a construction worker who often travels between different construction sites

Is Drinking Boiled Water Really Bad for Your Kidneys? The Truth About Tap Water, Bottled Water, and Kidney Health

Mr. Zhang is a construction worker who often travels between different construction sites. He lives a simple and frugal life and habitually boils tap water in an electric kettle to drink. Recently, he has started experiencing frequent urination, urgent urination, even affecting his work. His colleagues worry that it is caused by him drinking boiled water for a long time, believing that tap water will leave scale after boiling, and long-term consumption will damage the kidneys. Therefore, Mr. Zhang has started to buy bottled water, but he still doubts whether drinking boiled water will affect his health.

So, does drinking boiled tap water for a long time really affect your health? Does scale really damage your kidneys?

I. Does drinking boiled tap water for a long time really damage your kidneys?

Ruan Guangfeng, deputy director of the Food and Health Information Exchange Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, pointed out that there is indeed scale in boiled tap water, but the main components of the scale are magnesium hydroxide and calcium carbonate, which do not harm human health. There is no need to worry about getting kidney stones from drinking this boiled water.

The World Health Organization's Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality also clearly states that there is currently no clear evidence that hard water with high calcium and magnesium content will lead to kidney stones.

In fact, compared to bottled water and bottled mineral water, drinking boiled tap water for a long time is healthier. A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America showed that bottled or bottled water contains an average of 240,000 detectable plastic microparticles per liter. These plastic microparticles may enter the human bloodstream through the intestines and lung cells, and even enter the brain and heart, thus increasing health risks.

Wang Qian, a nutritionist at the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University, suggests: Develop the habit of drinking boiled water and try to drink less bottled water. Boiling water can reduce the intake of microplastics from drinking water.

II. Kidney disease is prevalent in China, and it is inseparable from five behaviors

The kidney is an important organ of the human body. It is responsible for regulating blood pressure, producing red blood cells, maintaining bone health, and so on. It can also excrete excess metabolic waste and water from the body.

According to research published in The Lancet, the prevalence of chronic kidney disease in adults in China is as high as 10.8%, meaning that one out of every ten adults suffers from chronic kidney disease.

Many people believe that sexual activity will affect kidney function. If they experience low back pain, fatigue, and other symptoms, they think it is kidney deficiency. However, Li Qing, director of the Nephrology Department of Tianjin University TEDA Hospital, pointed out: Sexual function is regulated by sex hormones secreted by the ovaries, testes, and adrenal glands, and the kidneys do not secrete sex hormones and do not participate in sex-related regulation. Therefore, sexual activity is not related to kidney disease.

Wu Zhigang, deputy chief physician of the Urology Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, reminds: The following behaviors are the ones that really damage the kidneys:

1. Staying up late frequently: Staying up late will affect the repair of the kidneys. In the long run, it will lead to kidney damage.

2. Insufficient water intake: Insufficient water intake will lead to slow metabolism of urine, increasing the risk of stones and infections. Therefore, you should drink more water.

3. Eating too well: Excessive intake of high-protein, high-salt foods in the diet will burden the kidneys and increase the risk of stones.

4. Holding urine frequently: Holding urine frequently will cause urine to stay in the bladder for a long time, making it easier to develop bacterial infections and stones. Therefore, you should avoid holding urine frequently.

5. Excessive fatigue: Excessive fatigue will make people feel stressed, which will also affect kidney function.

III. There are tricks to nourish the kidneys. Please keep this "kidney protection" list

As the kidneys are important organs of the human body, daily protection is very important. Tang Xun, chief physician of the Nephrology Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, suggests:

1. Scientific diet, quit smoking and alcohol: Dietary intake should be balanced and comprehensive, eat less high-salt, high-fat foods, and eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, etc. You should also quit smoking and alcohol as soon as possible.

2. Control blood sugar and blood pressure: Uncontrolled blood sugar or blood pressure will also affect kidney health. Therefore, pay attention to controlling blood sugar and blood pressure.

3. Avoid staying up late and exercise more: Staying up late often will disrupt the human biological clock, leading to a decline in immunity, which is harmful to human health. Regular exercise can improve immunity.

4. Drink plenty of water: Drinking plenty of water can promote urine excretion, reduce the concentration of harmful substances in the kidneys, and help prevent urinary stones and urinary tract infections.

5. Seek medical treatment in time when sick: Do not delay treatment because of concerns about drug side effects. Even seemingly minor illnesses should be seen by a doctor in time.

6. Avoid abusing drugs: Drugs need to be metabolized by the kidneys. Abusing drugs will increase the burden on the kidneys, which is not conducive to kidney health.

7. Have regular physical examinations: By observing the urine and performing urine tests, kidney disease can be detected early.

Boiled water is the healthiest drink. Drinking more water can ensure sufficient water intake for the human body, which is beneficial to kidney health. It is recommended to drink boiled tap water, drink less bottled water, and take good care of your kidneys daily to avoid some kidney-damaging behaviors.

References:

[1] "Did you get kidney disease, can you still have sex? The answer from a nephrologist". All people are serious - Tencent News. October 30, 2020

[2] "Overdrawn kidneys cannot be replenished! These 5 kidney-damaging behaviors, many people are doing it!" Science Popularization China. March 14, 2024

[3] "People who boil water themselves and those who buy bottled water frequently, who is healthier? The result is unexpected". Health Times. March 20, 2024

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