Posted on 05/17/2025 7:41:26 AM PDT by ChicagoConservative27
A common energy drink ingredient has been linked to the progression of the blood cancer leukemia, prompting researchers to voice concerns about the consumption of those beverages.
Taurine — an amino acid that occurs naturally in proteins like meat and fish — is a common ingredient in energy drinks like Red Bull. As the Mayo Clinic explains it can help balance fluids, salts and minerals.
But according to research published in Nature, taurine may promote leukaemogenesis — the development of leukemia cells — and “identifies taurine as a key regulator of myeloid malignancies,” which, like leukemia, are cancers that begin in the blood.
(Excerpt) Read more at people.com ...
“As I age, my muscle strength has decreased making it harder & harder to get around.”
No kidding! 85 next month and I never thought just getting up would be a project!
I think the majority of those energy drinks are loaded with caffeine. I've tried a couple and they made me feel like I had just drunk a pot of coffee. I don't drink any of them anymore.
Oh well I tried, but you are obviously way ahead of me. 🤣
I've spent many years reading and studying about kidney function. In fact, it was from that research that I found my way to get off dialysis with the help of my kidney doc. And it worked.
From what I've learned, you may be lucky you can't take the contrast dye. It can take a big toll on anyone's kidney function.
There are ways to improve or to stop the decline in kidney health for those who need it, but it requires some lifestyle changes. These techniques worked well enough for me to get off dialysis and keep me off for almost 10 years. I'm also keenly aware they may not work for everyone, but if they work, then hooray :-).
Well I kinda n,eed the contrast as they are keeping an eye out for cancer return. But I have learned to dr8nk copious amounts of water before and after the contrast. I hav3nt looked up herbs to protect kidneys though, except just basic info, and usually those say “take —unless— there is a problem with the kidneys”)- i’ll have to look specifically for any that help once damage is done. I’m kinda fighting an uphill battle- still have stones in kidney, have back pain right now from one- but it won’t pass. No5 sure what its doing if anything to kidneys as I have been stable at my current gfr for awhile now.
Well, we may have more in common. I'm also a cancer patient. There are alternative ways of detecting cancer. While they may not be better than CT with contrast, I can tell you I would never take contrast. I know it's the go-to for most onc docs, but I go to MD Anderson, which is the top cancer center in the country, and they use other tests to determine whether mine has returned. After three years on dialysis, I can tell you I'll take my chances with cancer over going back on dialysis.
I hav3nt looked up herbs to protect kidneys though...
I honestly don't believe any herbs or supplements can improve or even help preserve kidney function. Yes. Some will modify the results of a test and perhaps impact the symptoms, like drinking tons of water to increase your GFR temporarily, but herbs or supplements will not change the underlying function.
What I did was significantly change my food intake or diet with a few small changes suggested by my nephrologist and I improved my exercise routine, which made the most difference in getting me off dialysis and staying off.
[[I can tell you I’ll take my chances with cancer over going back on dialysis.]]
I don’t blame ya- dialysis is awful-
[[ I honestly don’t believe any herbs or supplements can improve or even help preserve kidney function.]]
I’m in your camp on this- I’ve tried so much already- for other things- and never got any real help- maybe 15% at most I’d guess-
I wish you the best of luck!
TY- it’s been a long haul- 30 years now- (the exhaustion i mean- the cancer in the last 10 years)- been an interesting ride-
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