CACAO For PKD'rs cacao is bad news. Cacao is made into chocolate, into cocoa, into caffeine laden drinks. Caffeine inhibits the breakdown of cyclic AMP. An ↑ in cAMP results in more circulating cAMP, triggering cyst growth creating more cysts—increasing symptoms & PKD kidney size, diminishing kidney functioning. Some have experienced ill effects after drinking dark chocolate potions: migraine headaches, rise in blood pressure, kidney pain, kidney stones, ↑ cystic organ size.