Are Soft Drinks Kidney Killers?

Maybe — at least in the summer, according to a study published in the American Journal of 

Physiology — Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology. Study volunteers 

completed an hourlong workout that included cardio and strength training, and then they 

consumed either water or a high-fructose caff einated drink — an exercise/drink cycle that 

they repeated three to four times. The soft-drink participants not only were dehydrated, but 

researchers also found high levels of markers for kidney injury in that group

of participants versus the water-only group. Do your kidneys a solid:

Sideline the soda and stick to straight-up water, or water enhanced with pure electrolytes or 

a squeeze of citrus for fl avor.