Cranberry Juice Flushes Kidney Stones
MYTH BUSTED: Cranberry juice is great if you have a urinary tract infection or to prevent one. It solidifies your urine which flushes an infection out and prevents them. If you have a kidney stone, however, it makes the problem exponentially worse. Cranberry contains high amounts of oxalate, which causes kidney stones. So the next time you get kidney stone symptoms, pass on the cranberry if you want to pass those stones.
Read Also: Is Wine Bad For Kidney Stones
Pain Originates In Your Lower Back Near Your Kidneys
MYTH BUSTED: When the pain hits, it will most often center a little below your abdomen after the stone journeys into the ureter. The ureter is funnel shaped but gets much narrower the closer you get to the bladder. A kidney stone is like getting a rock through a straw, thats why the pain is so intense. You have an organ that has so many nerve endings and when it is irritated the pain is excruciating. The stones begin to block the urine flow, causing urine to fill up in the kidney and descend. This then causes nausea and pain beyond your imagination.
Can The Excessive Consumption Of Mineral Water Lead To Kidney Stones Or Other Health Issues
I heard that drinking too much mineral water could lead to problems such as kidney stones because of the high amount of minerals in it. Is it true? If so, what is considered to be excessive?
It is unlikely that drinking too much mineral water will cause kidney stones. One of the chief causes of kidney stones is dehydration. I can’t imagine the calcium content of mineral water could be that high as to cause kidney stones unless you drink ridiculous amount by which stage you will probably start to have electrolyte abnormalities and perhaps seizures.
Consumption of excessive amount of water can cause various health issues . These include seizures, rhythm disturbances in the heart .
I’ve never come across drinking too much mineral water as a cause for kidney stones-most people who get kidney stones usually aren’t drinking enough water. The more water you take , the less the likelihood for stone formation in your kidneys.
Also Check: What Can Cause Kidney Issues
Is Mineral Water Bad For Your Kidneys And Liver
Water is a vital need for the human body to function properly. If your body doesnt consume the right amount of water, it leads to further problems such as kidney stones, urinatory tract issues, and liver ulcers.
So, the answer is really summed up that mineral water cant be the cause of kidney and liver issues. However, another question raises here is that what is the real cause of kidney stones.
Let us summarize that for you as well.
How Water Prevents Kidney Stones
According to Kidney.org, 1/10 people will have a kidney stone at some point in their life.
Youve probably been told about someones unfortunate experience with kidney stones, and heard how painful it can be. Maybe youve even had kidney stones yourself, or youre dealing with them now. Either way, these stones are not something we want if we can help it. Fortunately, theres one major thing you can do to keep kidney stones away . First, lets establish what kidney stones are and how they form in our bodies.
Kidney stones form when minerals in our urine build and solidify. Calcium usually binds with either oxalate or phosphorous . Then the compounds crystallize. These crystals get bigger over time, eventually becoming like stones. These stones move from our kidneys through our urinary tract, and are very difficult and painful to pass.
So how can you keep kidney stones from forming? The answer is easy: drink water. Not only is water the best way to avoid getting kidney stones, but it can also aid in healing if you ever do suffer from them.
Heres 3 main ways water can help prevent or remedy kidney stones.
1) Hydration
The number one cause of kidney stones is not drinking enough water. This is because your kidneys need lots of water to filter out the waste and excess minerals in your body. Without good hydration, the metabolic wastes mentioned abovecalcium, oxalate, phosphoruscant be eliminated or diluted properly. Thats when kidney stones form.
2) Reduced sodium
Recommended Reading: Does Barley Water Help Kidney Stones
Chanca Piedra: Benefits Dosage Side Effects And More
Chanca piedra is an herb that grows in tropical areas, like the rainforests of South America. Its scientific name is Phyllanthus niruri.
It also goes by a number of other names, such as:
- stone breaker
- shatter stone
- chance pierre
The plant has thin, leaf-covered branches and can grow up to about 2 feet tall. It gets the name seed-under-leaf because its seed pods, which bloom into small green flowers, grow beneath the leaves.
The entire plant including the leaves, stems, and flowers is used to make chanca piedra supplements.
As a supplement, chanca piedra is reported to help with a variety of conditions related to the digestive system, liver, and kidneys.
Supposedly, it contains phytochemicals or plant compounds that can increase urine flow, kill harmful bacteria and viruses, and relieve inflammation (
However, theres little evidence that its effective.
Chanca piedra is available in teas, liquid extracts, capsules, or tablets.
According to some claims, chanca piedra may have several beneficial effects on different body systems. However, theres little research to support these claims.
Hydrate To Help Prevent Kidney Stones
Half of people who have had a kidney stone will develop another one. A key way to reduce the risk of forming stones is to drink extra water. This dilutes the substances in urine that lead to stones. To prevent repeat stones, try to drink at least 3 quarts of liquid a day.
The amount of liquid you need to drink depends on the weather and your activity level. If you live, work, or exercise in hot weather, you may need more liquid to replace the fluid you lose through sweat.
Here are some tips to drink more water:
- Add color and flavor to your water without the calories by freezing grapes, or lemon, lime, or orange peels, and using them instead of ice cubes.
- In winter, drink hot water with lemon and honey.
- Though water is best, other liquids such as citrus drinks may also help prevent kidney stones. Some studies show that citrus drinks, such as lemonade and orange juice, protect against kidney stones because they contain citrate, which stops crystals from turning into stones.
- Choose sparkling or mineral water instead of soda.
- Use an app to track how much water you drink. Download one to your phone to set daily reminders and alarms.
If you have kidney stones, you may need to follow a special diet. First, your doctor will run tests to find out what type of stones you form. From these, the doctor can determine which diet changes may be right for you.
Recommended Reading: How Are The Activities Of The Kidneys Controlled
Does Carbonated Water Cause Kidney Stones
Ask U.S. doctors your own question and get educational, text answers â it’s anonymous and free!
Ask U.S. doctors your own question and get educational, text answers â it’s anonymous and free!
HealthTap doctors are based in the U.S., board certified, and available by text or video.
Keep Your Sparkling Water Simple
Sparkling water may contain sugar, artificial sweeteners, caffeine and other additives, Sullivan emphasizes, but the best kind is the simple, straightforward kind, just water and carbonation.
Sugar is associated with heart disease, diabetes, obesity and other chronic conditions artificial sweeteners can cause stomach issues. And although caffeine is typically safe for healthy adults in limited amounts, theres no safe level of caffeine intake for kids.
In other words, your sparkling water only qualifies as water if its not filled with other stuff. As long as you stick to the basics, feel free to drink your fill of the fizz.
Also Check: How Common Is Kidney Infection
Provides A Source Of Calcium
It is called mineral water for a reason. It typically includes mineral-nutrients like calcium.
The exact amount of calcium will vary from brand to brand. However, there are some mineral rich water brands that contain as much as 348 milligrams of calcium per liter.
That might not sound like a lot but it represents 44% of the recommended daily calcium intake based on a 2,000 calorie a day diet.
Buy Bottled Or Distilled Water
Distilling water removes all minerals, including calcium and sodium. Distilled water has zero calcium or sodium.
Instead of buying individual water bottles, a more environmentally friendly option is buying gallons of distilled water. Or, you can even purchase large jugs of distilled water and a water dispenser for your home.
Also Check: Is Miralax Safe For Kidney Patients
Read Also: What Happens If Kidney Stones Go Untreated
Alkaline Water & Kidney Stones
Since we dont know if alkaline water will actually reduce urine acid levels, I cannot recommend alkaline water above plain tap water.
There is also no research to show that alkaline water is good for kidney stones.
In addition, alkaline water can be very expensive. Id save your money and use it to buy fresh fruits and vegetables!
Summary: Best Water For Kidney Stones
I believe ionized alkaline water or any mineral-rich water is the best drinking water for anyone who is prone to kidney stones.
My second choice is filtered water that contains the natural occurring minerals in water. I recommend using a home drinking water filtration system rather than buying bottled mineral or spring water.
Some bottled waters are ok, except you never really know what you are getting because bottled water regulation is minimal.
An EPA study several years ago found that nearly 40% of all bottled water was reprocessed tap water, usually with just some type of disinfectant added such as chlorine. Nothing has really changed since that study was conducted.
I would also avoid drinking distilled water or reverse osmosis water for more than a week or two at a time. Since these waters are demineralized, I believe they can contribute to imbalances in the kidneys and urine.
Drinking enough filtered water on a daily basis is the best way to to prevent kidney stones.
Understanding how to maintain the balance of water and salt, as well as minerals in the body is also important. See Water and Salt – Balanced Intake Is Essential for Health and Hydration
References
Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?
You May Like: Does Ibuprofen Damage Kidneys Or Liver
Myths About Limescale In Tap Water And Kidney Stones
Does limescale in tap water cause kidney stones? Will hard water cause other health issues?
About 30% of the population in Spain and Italy are concerned about drinking hard calcium rich water. This is also the case for parts of North America. Are they right to be concerned or is it all just a nocebo?
We decided to find out and debunk the myths.
Diagnosis: Too Much Calcium In The Urine
Possible treatments:
Thiazide diuretics
These drugs help to decrease urine calcium excretion. They also help to keep calcium in the bones, reducing the risk for osteoporosis. The most common side effect of thiazide diuretics is potassium loss, so in many cases your doctor will prescribe a potassium supplement to go along with the thiazide diuretic.
Lower sodium intake
The human body carefully regulates its sodium levels. When excess sodium is excreted in the urine, calcium is also excreted proportionally. In other words, the more sodium you consume, the more calcium that will be in your urine. Your goal should be to reduce your sodium intake so that you consume less than 2 grams of sodium per day. Watch out for silent sources of salt, such as fast foods, packaged or canned foods, softened water and sports drinks.
Normal calcium diet
People who form stones sometimes think that because there is too much calcium in their urine, they should restrict their calcium intake. There is no research that supports this practice. Your body needs dietary calcium to support the skeleton. You should be encouraged to consume two servings of dairy or other calcium-rich foods to maintain bone stores of calcium.
Increase fluid intake
No matter what your diagnosis, you should drink enough water to produce at least 2 liters of urine per day.
Also Check: Is Ayurvedic Medicine Effective For Kidney Stones
Best Water For Kidney Stonesby Nancy Hearn Cnc
Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
QUESTION:
I have a history of kidney stones and would like to know what the best type of water for me is and why? Bunny
ANSWER:
Preventing and getting rid of kidney stones is a complex issue because there are different causes and types.
However, the short answer is that I believe the best drinking water for kidney stones is filtered mineral water or alkaline ionized water.
To explain why I say this, we need to have a basic understanding of the different causes and types of kidney stones.
Will It Help Or Hurt To Take A Vitamin Or Mineral Supplement
The B vitamins which include thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, B6 and B12 have not been shown to be harmful to people with kidney stones. In fact, some studies have shown that B6 may actually help people with high urine oxalate. However, it is best to check with your healthcare professional or dietitian for advice on the use of vitamin C, vitamin D, fish liver oils or other mineral supplements containing calcium since some supplements can increase the chances of stone formation in some individuals.
Don’t Miss: How Blood Pressure Is Regulated By Kidney
Types Of Kidney Stones
There are four main types of kidney stones.
The general dietary guideline for any type of stone formation is to increase water intake and to avoid excess salt and animal protein. However, you should consult with your doctor before making any dietary changes since there may be other factors to consider.
Can You Drink Too Much Mineral Water
Well the thing is you can drink to much water in general. I have written about this in my post: What Happens If You Drink Too Much Water?
Drinking too much water leads to something called hyponatremia or water intoxication. In extreme cases, it can lead to death. The easiest way to avoid this is to drink small amounts of water throughout the day rather than water-binge in one session.
Don’t Miss: Can A Ct Scan Without Contrast Detect Kidney Cancer
What Are The Ingredients In The Daily Detox Drink
Okay, so at this point Im sure youre wondering if Ive gotten off track. I may be the queen of rabbit trails and distractions but nope, I swear all of this ties together!
Now that Ive covered a bit of backstory, I can tell you this: this daily detox drink was the first thing I started doing on a regular basis when I began my deep dive on learning how to support my liver, kidneys, gall bladder, and beyond which I am doing in an effort to get heal my eczema .
Here are the starring ingredients in this daily detox drink:
Donât Miss: Does Aleve Hurt Your Kidneys
Preventing Uric Acid Stones
Uric acid stones are formed by a diet high in animal proteins, or from excessive uric acid production from within the body. Most of these stones can be prevented from making the urine less acidic which results in the uric acid being in a dissolved state.
This can be achieved in the majority of patients by alkalinizing the urine using oral bicarbonate preparations , and drinking plenty of oral fluids to keep the urine dilute.
In some circumstances an oral prescription medication called allopurinol maybe used to prevent excessive internal production of uric acid within the body.
Your doctor will advise you about your specific circumstances and tailor the treatment accordingly.
Don’t Miss: How To Heal Kidney Pain Naturally
Does Mineral Water Lead To Kidney Stones
Many people have the misconception that kidney stones are caused by, or are aggravated by, drinking too much mineral water. These renal calculi are made up of minerals, and mostly contain calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate. However, it is not true that they are caused due to mineral water. These nephroliths primarily contain calcium, which is found in relatively trace amounts in mineral water.
Furthermore, researchers at the University of Bonn in Germany investigated mineral water health benefits in terms of reducing the risk of formation of kidney stones in the body. The results of this small clinical trial were published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, revealed that the magnesium and calcium content in mineral water improved urinary pH output as well as oxalate excretion, two important factors that reduce the risk of developing calcium oxalate stones in the kidney. Another study that was conducted in South Africa found that mineral water containing calcium and magnesium deserves to be considered as a possible therapeutic or prophylactic agent in calcium oxalate kidney stone disease. Thus, drinking mineral water actually minimized the risk of formation or growth of renal calculi in these subjects.