Effects of green tea on polycystic kidney disease Patients

Green tea is made from the unfermented leaves of plants. These are pale in color and bitter in taste. Nature’s creativity has sent us the healthiest beverage ever anyone could think of. It is helpful in curing diseases like polycystic kidney diseases, chronic kidney diseases, losing weight, increasing metabolism, etc. It has beneficial effects on polycystic kidney diseases if taken in a moderate amount. Green tea is the healthiest beverage on the planet earth. It is rich with anti-oxidants and has the healing powers to heal severe diseases. It helps in improving mental health (which is the common symptom of polycystic kidney disease), and fat loss and reduces the risks of cancer.

But what is PKD?

PKD or polycystic kidney disease is a disease that is inherited by the parent/s. PKD is a genetic disorder in which the renal tubules become structurally abnormal, resulting in the development and growth of multiple cysts within the kidney.

How common is PKD?

In India, 2 in a group of 8 people are affected by polycystic kidney disease. In USA 4 in a group of 8 are affected by PKD. It is a common disease found both in men and women.

Does PKD affect other organs of the body?

Yes! Polycystic kidney disease affects the adjacent organs like the liver, pancreas, spleen, and ovaries. It can also affect the brain and heart; as it will obstruct the functioning of kidneys in filtering the blood and transferring it.

How will you know that you have Polycystic Kidney Disease?

There are a few symptoms that can be observed:

• Side OR Back pain: You will feel pain like someone has stabbed you. The pain can be felt at the sides of your back.
• High blood pressure: High blood pressure is a common symptom of PKD. Your blood pressure will always be high if you have polycystic kidney disease. The obstruction caused by cysts will pump up the blood pressure and will put a lot of force to pass on.
• Increased size of the abdomen: As the cysts grow in size; they start making space for themselves which makes the abdomen appear in increased size.
• Fluttering in the chest: This is a common sign that most people ignore; it feels like a heavy tapping inside the body. Sudden pain can be felt with an increased rate of heartbeat.

How it can be diagnosed?

Though it is a genetic disorder and can be understood if it is inherited certain tests can be useful. Following is the list of tests that can help in diagnosing polycystic kidney diseases:

• CT scan
• MRI scan
• Genetic tests

Does PKD will lead to kidney failure only?

No, not everyone with polycystic kidney disease leads to kidney failure only. There are medical treatments available to cure PKD. If left untreated at the initial stages then it may lead you to kidney failure.

There are two types of PKD:

• Autosomal Dominant PKD (ADPKD): This is diagnosed in adulthood.
• Autosomal Recessive PKD (ARPKD): This can be diagnosed in the womb or right after the baby is born.

How PKD is treated?

A lot of allopathic researchers have said that there is no cure for PKD. It can only be reduced but cannot be removed or finished. However Ayurvedic treatment for PKD has been efficient in removing and shrinking the cysts. All it does: is a few dietary & lifestyle changes with herbs and herbal syrups.

Green tea effective Ayurvedic remedy

Green tea is one such effective Ayurvedic remedy to cure polycystic kidney disease. It is a boon for the PKD patient. Green teas are made from the camellia Sinensis plants. The dried leaf buds and leaves of this plant are the key ingredients behind the production of different types of teas. Green tea is prepared by steaming, and pan-frying the leaves of Camellia sinensis and letting them dry for some time. The formation of other teas like black and oolong made by fermented leaves.

Green tea can prevent the following health issues

• Improve mental alertness and thinking
• Depression
• Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
• Inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease)
• Weight loss
• Stomach disorders
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Headaches
• Bone loss (osteoporosis)
• Parkinson’s disease
• Low blood pressure
• Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)
• Dental cavities (caries)
• Kidney stone

Green Tea can also prevent other major diseases like

• Breast cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Colon cancer
• Gastric cancer
• Lung cancer
• Liver cancer
• Tumor Cancers
• Leukemia
• Skin cancer

The potassium content is about 60 mg which is not high for a beverage. The caffeine in green tea may increase blood pressure. It might also affect blood sugar control, according to the National Institutes of Health website and many people with kidney disease also have high blood pressure or diabetes. This is the tea made from the Camellia sinensis leaves, which undergo a process of withering and oxidation. There are numerous varieties of green tea, and they differ based on the growing conditions, the process of production, and the time of harvest.

There are varieties available in the market:

• Jasmine green tea
• Moroccan mint green tea
• Genmaicha green tea
• Dragonwell green tea
• Houjicha green tea
• Kukicha green tea
• Sencha green tea
• Gyokuro green tea
• Matcha green tea
• Bi Luo Chun green tea

Beneficial Effects of green tea on polycystic kidney disease Patients:

• Green tea is a great source of anti-oxidants: It helps in filtering the toxins from the body
• Green tea is also a great source of anti-inflammatory properties. It helps the kidneys from inflammation.
• Green tea regulates blood pressure
• Green tea reduces the risk of type2 diabetes
• Green tea promotes brain health

Other than the above stated green tea comes with other benefits such as:

• It helps in losing weight
• It prevents tooth decay
• It is anti-depressing tea
• It helps in curing a hangover
• It helps in curing the puffy eyes
• It helps in curing the dark circles
• It improves digestion
• It boosts immunity
• It helps in relieving arthritis
• It cuts the risk of cancer

Green tea extracts exert a host of so-called “epigenetic” effects, which means that they promote the expression of beneficial genes and suppress many of those with deleterious effects. Highly purified, EGCG-rich green tea extracts produce rapid increases in plasma antioxidant activity in humans. That may offer an advantage over simply drinking green tea because the extract of EGCG is much more readily absorbed in dry powder form than it is from green tea beverages.

Why consuming a moderate amount of green tea is recommended for PKD patients?

High doses of green tea can increase the amount of caffeine in our body which can cause side effects mild to severe, like headache, nervousness, sleep problems, and nausea. Diarrhea, irritability, irregular heartbeat, tremor, heartburn, dizziness, and confusion. It is vital to consume green tea, but after consulting your doctor or dietician.

• Green tea can make anemia worse.
• The amount of caffeine in green tea can increase the problem of anxiety.
• People with a bleeding disorder should not consume green tea because the amount of caffeine in them can increase the disease.
• During pregnancy and breastfeeding the consumption of small 2 cups of green tea is possibly safe. But more than 1 cup of green tea can increase the chances of miscarriage and other noxious effects due to the amount of caffeine.

On the off chance, that you or anyone in your known is suffering from any of the problems caused by green tea especially related to the kidneys, then communicate with a doctor for ayurvedic treatment for pkd and live a disease-free life.