Summer travel to Hainan Island, with coconut breeze, blue sea, and sandy beaches, accompanied by a meal of fresh seafood and ice-cold beer, is the "top-tier island experience" in the hearts of countless tourists. From night markets to food stalls, from beer carnivals to beach parties, "seafood + beer" has long become a signature experience of island travel.
However, few tourists are aware that this irresistible "summer-limited happiness" is quietly laying down irreversible health risks for the kidneys
Chen Wen, director of the Nephrology Department at Hainan Chengmei Hospital, stated that "seafood + beer" is a high-risk dietary combination. Long-term or excessive consumption can directly increase the burden on the kidneys, and may even induce acute kidney injury, gouty nephropathy, and in severe cases, may progress to uremia, which requires vigilance.
Warning: Beer + seafood can severely damage your kidneys
Director Chen Wen emphasized that summer is a high-risk season for such diet-related kidney injuries. The nephrology department receives multiple cases of patients with kidney problems caused by long-term or excessive consumption of seafood paired with beer every year, and a significant proportion of these patients are young.
"Many people have cognitive misconceptions, thinking that occasionally eating seafood with beer is insignificant, but they overlook the limited tolerance of the kidneys," Director Chen Wen reminded. "The early symptoms of kidney damage are very subtle. By the time obvious discomfort appears, a certain degree of functional damage has often been caused. Therefore, we must be wary of this high-risk dietary combination.".
Answer: Why does eating both of them together harm the kidneys?
Many people are puzzled: seafood and beer are common ingredients, and there is no obvious harm when consumed individually. So why would combining them harm the kidneys? Director Chen Wen explained that the combination of the two can produce a kidney-damaging effect where "1+1>2", due to the disturbance of purine metabolism.
Seafood is a high-protein and high-purine food, containing a large amount of purine and nucleotides; while vitamin B1 contained in beer acts as a "catalyst" for the catabolism of purine and nucleotides, accelerating the production of uric acid in the body. At the same time, the alcohol in beer produces lactic acid, which competes with uric acid for the kidney's excretion channels, leading to the obstruction of uric acid excretion.
"The kidney is the 'detoxification filter' of the human body, responsible for excreting metabolic waste such as uric acid from the body," explained Director Chen Wen. When there is an excess of uric acid, it forms crystals in the form of sodium salts, which deposit in the renal tubules of the kidneys, blocking the excretion channels and subsequently causing acute kidney injury. Prolonged hyperuricemia can also induce gouty nephropathy, gradually damaging renal function and ultimately leading to chronic kidney failure.
Advice: Eat seafood properly to protect your kidneys and avoid pitfalls
Seafood is delicious and nutritious, and it is not inedible. The key lies in mastering the correct way of consuming it and avoiding pairing it with beer. Based on clinical experience, Director Chen Wen offers three practical suggestions to help everyone enjoy the deliciousness of seafood while safeguarding kidney health:
❶ Strictly avoid consuming seafood and beer together: When eating seafood, you can choose to pair it with plain water, light tea, or soda water. Soda water can alkalize urine, helping to promote the excretion of uric acid and reduce the formation of crystals.
❷ Control the consumption amount: Even for fresh seafood, it is not advisable to consume excessive amounts, especially for seafood with high purine content such as shellfish and sardine. It is recommended to consume them 1-2 times per week, with each intake not exceeding 100 grams.
❸ Focus on high-risk groups: People who suffer from hyperuricemia, gout, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and hypertension should try to eat less or no seafood; the elderly and those with a family history of kidney disease also need to be particularly cautious. In addition, if symptoms such as back pain, decreased urine output, and joint pain occur after consuming seafood, seek medical attention immediately to avoid delaying treatment.
Director Chen Wen reminds us that kidney damage often occurs silently, with early symptoms being subtle. Many people wait until they experience significant discomfort, by which time their kidney function has already been irreversibly damaged. To effectively prevent kidney damage and safeguard kidney health, it is important to develop healthy eating habits, avoid the high-risk combination of "seafood + beer," and undergo regular kidney function tests.
Expert Introduction
Chen Wen, Director of Nephrology Department
Chief Physician, Professor, Master's Supervisor
Outstanding Experts with Outstanding Contributions in Hainan Province
Leading talents in Hainan Province
Key experts directly connected with the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government of Hainan Province
Medical expertise
Specializes in primary glomerular disease, IGA nephropathy, lupus nephritis, hypertensive nephropathy, uric acid nephropathy, and diabetic nephropathy; especially proficient in the diagnosis and treatment of critical and complex diseases in nephrology, as well as clinical pathological diagnosis and treatment; proficient in the diagnosis and treatment of indications and complications of hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis; proficient in the establishment of temporary and long-term vascular dialysis access, peritoneal dialysis access, and the management of complications.