When 20-year-old Xiao Yu arrived at Chi Mei Hospital in Taiwan complaining of back pain and fever, no one expected what doctors were about to discover. After tests and scans, surgeons found her right kidney was packed with more than 300 stones, ranging in size from tiny grains to pieces nearly two centimeters wide.

Doctors said they were “shocked” by the number of stones, comparing them to trays of “little steamed buns.” What surprised them even more was the cause. Xiao Yu had no genetic disease or rare condition. Instead, her daily habit of replacing water with alcohol, sugary fruit juice, and bubble tea had left her chronically dehydrated.

Without enough water, minerals such as calcium and oxalate in urine begin to crystallize. Over time, these crystals grow into stones that can block the kidney’s waste-filtering system, leading to pain, infection, and fever. Surgeons performed a delicate percutaneous nephrolithotomy, removing every stone over two hours. Xiao Yu recovered quickly and was discharged days later.

Doctors used her case to highlight a growing global concern: over-consumption of sugary drinks. Replacing plain water with sweetened beverages not only increases the risk of kidney stones but also diabetes and other metabolic diseases.

Health experts recommend drinking at least two liters of water daily, eating a balanced diet, and cutting back on bubble tea, sodas, and fruit juices. Adding lemon or cucumber slices can make water more appealing. As one physician noted, “Simple water remains the body’s best medicine.”