{"id":636054,"date":"2026-05-05T09:30:31","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T13:30:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=636054"},"modified":"2026-04-30T16:19:47","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T20:19:47","slug":"is-coffee-good-for-your-kidneys","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/is-coffee-good-for-your-kidneys\/","title":{"rendered":"Is coffee good for your kidneys?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Coffee: Your favorite morning pick-me-up, <\/span>and<\/span><\/i> a secret to great kidney health? It turns out that your cup of bean juice in the morning offers more than just eye-opening <\/span>caffeine<\/span><\/a>. For many people, drinking coffee in moderation is associated with several benefits, specifically for the kidneys. It’s linked to lowering your risk of chronic kidney disease and may reduce the risk of acute kidney injury.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are some important caveats. Your current kidney health, as well as what you put in your cup of joe every morning, could determine whether or not your coffee is beneficial.<\/span><\/p>\n

Is coffee good for your kidneys?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Yes, moderate consumption of black coffee offers more benefits to your kidneys than it does adverse effects. Many people who drink coffee daily enjoy a lower risk of kidney disease and injury.<\/span><\/p>\n

On the flip side, there are some people who shouldn’t drink coffee for kidney health, and some coffees you should avoid if you want to improve your kidney health (like those with excess sugar and creamers).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

“Some studies have suggested that higher intake of caffeinated drinks like soda or coffee may be associated with worse kidney function in older adults,” says <\/span>Erika Gray, Pharm.D.<\/span><\/a>, founder and chief medical officer at ToolBox Genomics.com. “However, these findings are not consistent across all research.”<\/span><\/p>\n

What does the research say about coffee and kidney health?<\/span><\/h2>\n

There are thousands (yes, thousands) of studies on coffee. Fortunately, researchers have made an effort to evaluate just how coffee impacts the kidneys.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Mitigates the risk of chronic kidney disease\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

In a review of seven studies examining the relationship between <\/span>coffee and chronic kidney disease<\/span><\/a> (CKD), researchers found that black coffee significantly lowered the risk of developing the disease. What’s more, people who drank two or more cups a day had an even greater drop in risk of <\/span>CKD<\/span><\/a> than those who drank one or fewer cups a day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The studies also found that regular coffee drinkers have a lower risk of incident end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) and of albuminuria, a condition that indicates early kidney disease or damage.<\/span><\/p>\n

Reduces acute kidney injury<\/span><\/h3>\n

Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurs when there is a sudden drop in how well your kidneys work, also known as a sudden episode of kidney failure. This can happen over a few hours or a few days as your kidneys lose the ability to filter waste and regulate electrolytes.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to one observational study, daily coffee drinkers have a 15% <\/span>lower risk of AKI<\/span><\/a>. Those who drink two to three cups a day had even larger drops in risk of kidney damage, as much as 22% to 23% less.<\/span><\/p>\n

Increases urine production<\/span><\/h3>\n

Coffee is a natural mild <\/span>diuretic<\/span><\/a>, which means it prompts your kidneys to produce a little more urine. In moderation, this can help your body to flush out a bit more sodium and waste. Many people with chronic kidney disease are <\/span>prescribed diuretics<\/span><\/a> to help them manage sodium and fluid levels.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That is not to say that if you have CKD, you should start chugging coffee. However, in people with healthy kidneys, the diuretic effect of coffee may keep things functioning as they should.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Also, according to the Kidney and Hypertension Center, <\/span>coffee does not dehydrate you<\/span><\/a>. However, because coffee has diuretic effects, you should still make an effort to <\/span>stay hydrated<\/span><\/a> with water and other beverages throughout the day.<\/span><\/p>\n

Raises blood pressure<\/span><\/h3>\n

Coffee can temporarily raise blood pressure, and according to the <\/span>National Kidney Foundation<\/span><\/a> (NKF), high blood pressure is the second leading cause of kidney disease. Additionally, temporary spikes in blood pressure could potentially strain your kidneys’ filtration system.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There is good news for coffee lovers: Studies show that <\/span>habitual coffee drinkers<\/span><\/a> have no significant, long-term changes in blood pressure.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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