A common dry cleaning chemical called tetrachloroethylene, or PCE, has been linked to a threefold higher risk of significant liver fibrosis. 7% of Americans already have measurable levels of this chemical in their blood. And PCE doesn't stop at the liver. It also damages your kidneys directly by attacking the proximal tubules, the part of the kidney responsible for reabsorbing nutrients and fluids.

In this episode, Dr. Sean Hashmi breaks down the 2025 Liver International study that analyzed over 1,600 US adults, explains the two separate pathways through which PCE damages your liver and kidneys, and walks through a five-step protection protocol you can start this week. Topics covered include how to find PCE-free dry cleaning, why you should air out dry cleaned clothes before wearing them, which household products to check, when to consider water testing, and what lab work to ask your doctor about if you have occupational exposure.

Dr. Sean Hashmi is a board-certified nephrologist and obesity medicine specialist dedicated to evidence-based health education. This episode is part of the Hidden Environmental Kidney Threats series on The SELF Principle Podcast.

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Should you quit coffee? In this final episode of the Coffee Science Series, Dr. Sean Hashmi breaks down who should be careful with coffee and who can keep drinking it without worry.

Your genes play a bigger role than you think. A liver enzyme called CYP1A2 determines whether you're a fast or slow caffeine metabolizer, and that distinction changes everything about how coffee affects your heart, blood pressure, and sleep.

This episode covers caffeine metabolism and genetics, coffee during pregnancy and breastfeeding, the connection between caffeine, anxiety, and insomnia, medical interactions including transplant medications and blood pressure, a hidden nutrient interaction that reduces iron absorption by nearly 40 percent, bone health considerations, how to taper off caffeine safely, and the evidence-based middle ground for healthy adults.

For most people, two to four cups a day is associated with lower risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and cognitive decline. But if coffee steals your sleep, spikes your anxiety, or raises your blood pressure, cutting back makes sense.

Dr. Sean Hashmi is a board-certified nephrologist and obesity medicine specialist. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

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This episode is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your health routine.

Coffee is one of the healthiest beverages on the planet. But what you add to it can quietly undo every benefit.

In this episode, Dr. Sean Hashmi breaks down the real science behind decaf safety, explains why popular creamers contain hidden phosphate additives that accelerate kidney damage, and separates long-standing coffee myths from medical facts. You'll learn which additives to watch for on labels, why a flavored latte can deliver 30-50 grams of sugar, and how to keep your coffee working for your health instead of against it.

Topics covered: decaf processing methods, coffee and digestion, phosphate additives in creamers and plant-based milks, the bone health myth, hydration, and practical swaps to protect your kidneys.

Dr. Sean Hashmi is a board-certified nephrologist and obesity medicine specialist. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

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