Rethink Some Healthy Foods
Your doctor may recommend more dietary changes for you based on stone type and the results of a 24-hour urine test to determine your urine composition basically, what your urine is made of.
If you have high oxalate content in your urine, for instance, your doctor may advise staying away from oxalate-rich foods like rhubarb and spinach. Or they may recommend eating those foods with dairy, as the calcium from milk products binds to oxalates and forces them into your feces rather than urine.
Oxalate is in a lot of really healthy foods like greens, vegetables, beans and nuts, says Dr. De. So we would only restrict them after examining a patients stone type and urine test results.
Lower Your Animal Protein Intake
Many sources of protein, such as red meat, pork, chicken, poultry, fish, and eggs, increase the amount of uric acid you produce. Eating large amounts of protein also reduces a chemical in urine called citrate. Citrates job is to prevent the formation of kidney stones. Alternatives to animal protein include quinoa, tofu , hummus, chia seeds, and Greek yogurt. Since protein is important for overall health, discuss how much you should eat daily with your doctor.
Not All Stones Are Created Equal
In addition to calcium oxalate stones, another common type of kidney stones is uric acid stones. Red meat, organ meats, and shellfish have high concentrations of a natural chemical compound known as purines. “High purine intake leads to a higher production of uric acid and produces a larger acid load for the kidneys to excrete,” said Dr. Jhagroo. Higher uric acid excretion leads to lower overall urine pH, which means the urine is more acidic. The high acid concentration of the urine makes it easier for uric acid stones to form.
To prevent uric acid stones, cut down on high-purine foods such as red meat, organ meats, and shellfish, and follow a healthy diet that contains mostly vegetables and fruits, whole grains, and low fat dairy products. Limit sugar-sweetened foods and drinks, especially those that contain high fructose corn syrup. Limit alcohol because it can increase uric acid levels in the blood and avoid crash diets for the same reason. Eating less animal-based protein and eating more fruits and vegetables will help decrease urine acidity and this will help reduce the chance for stone formation.
Also Check: Is Pomegranate Juice Good For Kidney Stones
Treatment And Prevention Of Kidney Stones: An Update
LYNDA FRASSETTO, MD, University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco, California
INGRID KOHLSTADT, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
Am Fam Physician. 2011 Dec 1 84:1234-1242.
Patient information: See related handout on preventing kidney stones, written by the authors of this article.
The prevalence of nephrolithiasis is increasing in women and with increasing age. The risk of developing kidney stones is 10 to 15 percent in the United States, although this number is trending higher.13 Table 1 includes rates of different types of kidney stones in children and adults.48 Contributing risk factors for kidney stones are obesity, insulin resistance, gastrointestinal pathology, living in warmer climates, and certain dietary patterns and medications.2,9
Easy Ways To Prevent Kidney Stones
Did you know that one in ten people will have a kidney stone over the course of a lifetime? Recent studies have shown that kidney stone rates are on the rise across the country. Those in the know believe that some major misconceptions may be the culprit.
The National Kidney Foundation has teamed up with Dr. Allan Jhagroo, a kidney stone specialist at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, to help you stay stone-free by debunking some of the major kidney stone myths and misconceptions.
Don’t Miss: Can Seltzer Water Cause Kidney Stones
Home Remedies That May Help With Kidney Stones
After discussing Does cranberry juice help kidney stones? lets discuss other home remedies for kidney stones.
1. Water
When you are passing a kidney stone, you should increase your intake of water as it helps in speeding up the process. Aim to drink 12 glasses of water daily. After the stone has passed, continue drinking 12 glasses every day. Dehydration is among the most important risk factors of kidney stones. You should keep a check on your urine color. It must be pale yellow or very light in color. Dark yellow colored urine shows dehydration.
2. Lemon Juice
You may add fresh lemon juice to the water you drink. Lemon juice is rich in citrate, a chemical, which prevents the formation of calcium stones. Citrate also helps in breaking off small stones and making their passage easy. There are other benefits of lemon juice. For instance, it inhibits the growth of bacteria.
3. Basil Juice
Basil has acetic acid that helps in breaking off kidney stones and reducing pain. It also reduces levels of uric acid thereby, lowering the risk of uric acid stones. Use dried or fresh leaves of basil to prepare basil tea and drink it several times a day. You can also make juice of basil leaves or add them to smoothie.
Basil juice should not be used for greater than 6 weeks at a stretch as it may result in:
- Low levels of blood sugar
- Increased bleeding
You must not take this mixture in case you are ingesting:
- Digoxin
5. Celery Juice
Get Rid Of Kidney Stones Naturally With Banana Stem
What all you need: Chopped banana stem 1 cup, Lemon juice 1 to 2 tbsp, Water 1 cup, and a pinch of salt
Directions:
How it works: Banana stem has potassium and vitamin B. This makes it valuable for treating kidney stones. When combined with lemon juice, it forms potassium citrate that dissolves the stones and expels calcium crystals from the body.
Read Also: Is Honey Good For The Kidneys
Is Gatorade Good For Kidney Stones
- Pin
It is common knowledge that fluid is good for kidney stones. But what kind of fluid is best? Is Gatorade good for kidney stones? What about other drinks?
Read on to learn everything you need to know about kidney stones, Gatorade and fluid!
*Please note that this post contains clearly identified affiliate links. As an Amazon affiliate, I may earn a small commission on qualifying purchases .
What You Can Do To Prevent Kidney Stones
If youâve already had a kidney stone, your doctor may recommend medication to keep it from happening again. What kind will depend on what caused the stone.
Also, take charge of your diet:
- Drink lots of water. Stay hydrated, especially when you exercise.
- Check food labels. Read the ingredients. Avoid or cut back on foods with high amounts of ingredients like sodium chloride, monosodium glutamate , and sodium nitrate.
- Choose foods wisely. Usually itâs good to get more spinach and nuts in your diet. But if you have calcium oxalate stones, which are the most common type, your doctor may tell you to avoid or limit foods high in oxalates:
- Nuts, including almonds, cashews, pistachios, and peanuts
- Soy products, including soy burgers, soy milk, and soy cheese
Recommended Reading: Red Wine And Kidney Stones
How Can I Prevent Kidney Stones
There are several ways to decrease your risk of kidney stones, including:
- Drink water. Drink at least six to eight 8-ounce glasses every day . Staying hydrated helps you urinate more often, which helps flush away the buildup of the substances that cause kidney stones. If you sweat a lot, be sure to drink even more.
- Limit salt. Eat less sodium. You may want to connect with a dietician for help with planning what foods you eat.
- Lose weight. If youre overweight, try to lose some pounds. Talk to your healthcare provider about an ideal weight.
- Take prescriptions. Your healthcare provider may prescribe some medications that help prevent kidney stones. The type of medication may depend on the type of stones you get.
Don’t Underestimate Your Sweat
Saunas, hot yoga and heavy exercise may be good for your health, but they also may lead to kidney stones. Why? Loss of water through sweating – whether due to these activities or just the heat of summerleads to less urine production. The more you sweat, the less you urinate, which allows for stone-causing minerals to settle and bond in the kidneys and urinary tract.
One of the best measures you can take to avoid kidney stones is to drink plenty of water, leading you to urinate a lot. So, be sure to keep well hydrated, especially when engaging in exercise or activities that cause a lot of sweating.
Don’t Miss: Is Club Soda Good For Kidney Stones
Foods To Avoid In Kidney Stones
Foods To Avoid In Kidney Stones Are you suffering from kidney stones? Want some advised on what foods to avoid in kidney stones? Unhealthy eating and living style makes our health deteriorate. The unhealthy eating habits and less detoxification takes place which builds up into small stones in the kidney can persist. They are painful and cause problems thereafter.
Health conditions like kidney stones have a nature to persist again and again once it happens which has the chances of 70% to 80%. Healthy eating habit and hydration is the key to avoiding inconvenience thereafter in the future.
A diet is essential in ones life. What you eat, you always show up directly or indirectly! Thus keep a track of what you eat and it is best to avoid rather suffer and regret. Kidney stones are one such health condition which requires care especially when it comes to diet. If you are suffering from such a condition then you should know the list of food to avoid in kidney stones.
Whats The Best Juices For Kidney Stones
The balance of salts, minerals, and fluids in our body is regulated in the kidney. However, there are many instances when the masses of salts and minerals become concentrated. It then starts to form a crystal-like stone known as the kidney stones that could be as small as speck but can quickly become quite large. It is accompanied by pain in urination and onset pain on lower back and abdomen.
The real discomfort comes when stones start to clog the urinary tract it could lead to complications and infection in urinary. At this point, one may experience blood in the urine, fever, chills, vomiting, and nausea. In some cases, surgery is required especially if the stones become large.
Genetic predisposition and certain medical conditions can trigger kidney stones. A diet high in protein, sodium, and sugar also imposed a risk on the amount of calcium your kidneys can filter that could progress in the development of calcium stones in the kidney. However, the biggest factor that contributes to the development of kidney stones is dehydration. Lack of fluid in the body allows minerals to crystallize and stick, forming a kidney stone. Check out more info on best drink for dehydration besides water here
- Bragg Organic Apple Cinnamon Apple Cider Vinegar All-Natural Drink
- Our rating
- Raw Generation Heal & Hydrate Juice Cucumber Pineapple Aloe Vera
- Our rating
- V.J. Herbals Banana Plant Stem Juice
- Our rating
- Volcano Bursts Organic Italian Lemon Juice
- Our rating
Also Check: Is Pomegranate Juice Good For Your Kidneys
Most Green Juices Or Smoothies
Juices made with spinach and other green veggies can be incredibly high in potassium. Why? It comes down to portion size. Think about how much spinach must be juiced to get a single glass of juice. This is likely a whole lot more spinach than you would eat at one time. Similarly, the amount of vegetable in green smoothies can be quite a bit too.
Even though not everyone with kidney disease needs to limit potassium, green juices and smoothies can have such high amounts of potassium, I recommend everyone with kidney disease avoid them.
Oxalate in Green Juice or Smoothies
In addition, many green juices are made with ingredients that are very high in oxalate such as spinach, beets and almonds. Oxalate is a molecule that is most known for its role in kidney stones. In addition to kidney stones, high levels of oxalate in your urine can damage kidneys.
Oxalate management is very tricky because not all bodies handle oxalate the same. There are big differences in how much oxalate people absorb from food and how much oxalate is made in the liver.
In normal amounts from food, oxalate is not a problem for the vast majority of people. Spinach is a healthy food! But, large amounts of spinach and other very high oxalate ingredients in green juices or smoothies can be problematic and hurt your kidneys.
Treatment For Kidney Stones
Most kidney stones can be treated without surgery. Ninety per cent of stones pass by themselves within three to six weeks. In this situation, the only treatment required is pain relief. However, pain can be so severe that hospital admission and very strong pain-relieving medication may be needed. Always seek immediate medical attention if you are suffering strong pain.
Small stones in the kidney do not usually cause problems, so there is often no need to remove them. A doctor specialising in the treatment of kidney stones is the best person to advise you on treatment.
If a stone doesnt pass and blocks urine flow or causes bleeding or an infection, then it may need to be removed. New surgical techniques have reduced hospital stay time to as little as 48 hours. Treatments include:
Also Check: Is Grape Juice Good For Kidney Stones
Medication For Kidney Stones
For most people with recurrent calcium stones, a combination of drinking enough fluids, avoiding urinary infections, and specific treatment with medications will significantly reduce or stop new stone formation.
Certain medications such as thiazide diuretics or indapamide reduce calcium excretion and decrease the chance of another calcium stone. Potassium citrate or citric juices are used to supplement thiazide treatment and are used by themselves for some conditions where the urine is too acidic.
For people who have a high level of uric acid in their urine, or who make uric acid stones, the medication allopurinol will usually stop the formation of new stones.
How Long Does It Take To Pass A Kidney Stone
The amount of time it can take for you to pass a kidney stone is different from anothers. A stone thats smaller than 4 mm may pass within one to two weeks. A stone thats larger than 4 mm could take about two to three weeks to completely pass.
Once the stone reaches the bladder, it typically passes within a few days, but may take longer, especially in an older man with a large prostate. However, pain may subside even if the stone is still in the ureter, so its important to follow up with your healthcare provider if you dont pass the stone within four to six weeks.
Recommended Reading: What Laxative Is Safe For Kidneys
How Much Fluid Do You Need
Most people with kidney stones should drink enough fluid to make 2 liters of urine each day.
We lose some fluid from breathing, sweat, feces and even during digesting food. For most people, drinking 3 liters of fluid will be enough to meet the goal of 2 liters of urine.
But, your fluid goals may be different. They could be higher if you live in a very hot climate or exercise a lot. They could be less if you have a small body size or have heart, liver or kidney failure.
Ask your doctor how much fluid is right for you.
How Do Health Care Professionals Treat Kidney Stones
Health care professionals usually treat kidney stones based on their size, location, and what type they are.
Small kidney stones may pass through your urinary tract without treatment. If youre able to pass a kidney stone, a health care professional may ask you to catch the kidney stone in a special container. A health care professional will send the kidney stone to a lab to find out what type it is. A health care professional may advise you to drink plenty of liquids if you are able to help move a kidney stone along. The health care professional also may prescribe pain medicine.
Larger kidney stones or kidney stones that block your urinary tract or cause great pain may need urgent treatment. If you are vomiting and dehydrated, you may need to go to the hospital and get fluids through an IV.
Read Also: Grapes Kidney Stones
Symptoms Of Kidney Stones
Many people with kidney stones have no symptoms. However, some people do get symptoms, which may include:
- a gripping pain in the back usually just below the ribs on one side, radiating around to the front and sometimes towards the groin. The pain may be severe enough to cause nausea and vomiting
- blood in the urine
- cloudy or bad smelling urine
- shivers, sweating and fever if the urine becomes infected
- small stones, like gravel, passing out in the urine, often caused by uric acid stones
- an urgent feeling of needing to urinate, due to a stone at the bladder outlet.
Risk Factors For Kidney Stones
“Kidney stones” is a term that covers different types of small, solid crystals. They can have different causes and different food culprits. Some are related to kidney infections. Others form because you have too much of certain minerals in your system.
Genes can play a role, too. Forty percent of the people who get kidney stones have relatives who have them, too. Their bodies may get rid of too much calcium or too little citrate in their pee, for instance.
Other conditions that make kidney stones more likely include:
- Obesity. When youâre overweight, you tend to get them more often. The same is true if you have diabetes.
- Gout. This painful condition happens when uric acid builds up in your blood. That makes crystals form in your joints or kidneys.
- Intestinal surgery. If youâve had certain types of gastric bypass surgery or other intestinal surgery, your risk may go up.
- Hyperthyroidism. It can raise calcium levels in your blood and trigger kidney stones.
- Certain kidney diseases. One example is polycystic kidney disease, in which clusters of cysts grow in your kidneys. Another is medullary sponge kidney, a birth defect that causes cysts to form in the organâs tubes.
Middle-aged men are most likely to get kidney stones, though it can happen to people of any age or sex.
Read Also: Does Red Wine Cause Kidney Stones