Summer Drink Raises Risk of Kidney Stones: This Week on AOL Health

The summertime heat has many folks quenching their thirsts with glasses of iced tea, but the popular drink could be dangerous to certain people. Iced tea contains high levels of oxalate, a chemical that plays a role in the development of kidney stones.

Dr. John Milner, assistant professor in the Department of Urology at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, says that for those prone to kidney stones (men are at a higher overall risk than women), iced tea is one of the worst things they can drink.

Kidney stones affect about 10 percent of Americans, and according to the Tea Association of the USA, Americans consume more than 2 billion gallons of iced tea each year.

To learn more about the effects of iced tea, visit AOL Health.

And check out some tasty and low-calorie alternatives to satisfy your craving for a summertime cocktail.