How Drinking Excessive Iced Tea Destroyed Man's Kidneys For Good

Photo byPexels.com

In an age where health-conscious trends like herbal teas and detox drinks dominate the wellness scene, a case from 2015 is a stark reminder that even seemingly healthy habits can go awry when taken to extremes.

A 56-year-old Arkansas man experienced severe kidney failure after drinking a gallon of iced tea daily—a cautionary tale about the hidden risks of overconsuming black tea, which contains oxalate, a chemical known to cause kidney issues when consumed in excessive amounts.

The Unusual Cause Behind His Kidney Failure

The man, who remains unidentified, sought medical help after suffering from symptoms like nausea, fatigue, weakness, and body aches. These symptoms led doctors to investigate what could be wrong with his kidneys.

After ruling out other potential causes, they pinpointed his excessive iced tea consumption as the likely culprit. Drinking 16 cups (or a full gallon) of iced black tea every day exposed his kidneys to an abnormally high level of oxalate, a naturally occurring chemical that is known to cause kidney problems when consumed in excessive quantities.

“It was the only reasonable explanation,” explained Dr. Umbar Ghaffar from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Alongside two colleagues, Dr. Ghaffar published the case report in the New England Journal of Medicine, emphasizing the link between the man’s tea habit and his failing kidneys.

A snippet of the 2015 case report.Photo byNew England Journal of Medicine.

The Role of Oxalate in Kidney Health

Oxalate is a compound present in various foods and beverages, including black tea, spinach, rhubarb, nuts, wheat bran, and chocolate. Normally, oxalate is processed and eliminated by the kidneys, but when consumed in large amounts, it can accumulate and cause kidney stones or even kidney failure.

In the man’s case, his kidneys became clogged and inflamed due to the high oxalate levels, leading to permanent damage. According to Dr. Ghaffar, the man will need dialysis for the rest of his life.

What makes this case particularly unusual is that the man had no prior history of kidney disease, nor did he suffer from an intestinal issue that would make oxalate absorption more problematic. This suggests that his overconsumption of black tea alone was enough to overwhelm his kidneys.

At 16 cups per day, he was ingesting up to 10 times the average amount of oxalate compared to a typical American diet, which is far beyond what the kidneys can handle.

How Much Iced Tea is Too Much?

While the Arkansas man’s case is rare, it does raise important questions about how much black tea—and oxalate in general—is safe to consume. Federal studies show that most U.S. adults drink an average of 10 to 11 cups of various beverages, including water, coffee, and tea, each day. But when one of those beverages is consumed in extreme quantities, it can lead to unexpected health issues.

Dr. Randy Luciano, a kidney specialist from Yale School of Medicine, noted that while oxalate-induced kidney damage is not common, it’s something he has seen in his own patients.

However, he cautions against panicking about tea consumption. "I wouldn’t tell people to stop drinking tea," Luciano said, adding that the key difference in this case was the sheer volume the man consumed. “What the man drank is a lot of tea,” he emphasized, suggesting moderation as a safer approach.

Conclusion: Moderation is Key

This unusual case underscores the importance of understanding the risks of overconsuming certain foods and drinks that contain high levels of compounds like oxalate. While drinking tea in moderation is generally safe and even beneficial for many people, consuming it in excessive amounts can pose serious risks, particularly to kidney health.

For tea lovers, this serves as a reminder that even healthy habits can have harmful consequences when taken to extremes. The key takeaway? Enjoy your iced tea—but in moderation.