GUZZLING fizzy drinks, biscuits and cakes raises the risk of kidney stones, a study shows.
Processed foods which are loaded with added sugar were consistently shown to be linked to developing the painful condition.
GettyGuzzling fizzy drinks and processed foods increases the risk of kidney stones, a study warns[/caption]
Those whose intake of added sugars was among the 25 per cent highest had a 39 per cent greater chance of getting kidney stones.
And those who derived more than a quarter of their energy from sugars were found to be at nearly double the risk.
Kidney stones are hard lumps of minerals and salt that lodge in the urinary system — and are said to affect more than one in ten people.
They are wildly painful and, in the worst cases, can lead to life-threatening kidney problems.
The link to sugary food was established for the first time by Chinese researchers who analysed health data and the diets of 28,000 Americans.
But they said further study was needed to figure out why sugars caused the stones and how much sugar was a safe level.
Known risk factors include obesity, dehydration, and diabetes.
The researchers say sugar intake should be added to the danger list.