Can Diet Alone Treat Kidney Stones
For some people, dietary changes may be enough to prevent kidney stones from occurring.
In other cases, additional treatment may be necessary, including medication to break the stones up or surgery to remove the stones.
If stones become extremely painful, it is best to seek consultation with a doctor or nephrologist so they can recommend the best course of action.
Cut Kidney Stone Risk By Watching What You Eat
Acidic foods and large meals play a role in raising kidney stone risk, as does an increase in obesity. Although once a condition attributed to adults, its not uncommon for teens to develop kidney stones today.
Its also what you eat, and not just how much, that raises your risk. If you have kidney stones, you may need to follow a special diet. Your health care provider will run tests to find out the type of stones you have, to help determine diet changes that may be right for you.
Depending on your type of kidney stone, you may be able to ward off future stones by limiting foods high in sodium, animal protein, calcium, or oxalate. Consider working with a dietitian who specializes in kidney stone prevention to help you plan meals to stop stones from forming.
Avoiding kidney stones doesnt have to be complicated. By drinking plenty of water and knowing what to eat, you can eliminate the conditions that lead to their formation.
Milk Causes Kidney Stones Because Of The Calcium
MYTH BUSTED: Milk Really does a body good. Calcium is your friend, so drink on. The fact is one-way kidney stones are actually caused is a LACK of calcium. You should have a glass of milk at least once a day or yogurt. Try to also consume more magnesium as this binds oxalate which will help in kidney stone prevention. And no kids, this isnt an excuse to have chocolate milk for dinner, but thanks for playing.
Recommended Reading: Is Orange Juice Good For Kidney Disease
You May Like: What Percentage Of Kidney Function Requires Dialysis
Diet Guidelines To Prevent Calcium Phosphate Stones
Limit animal protein:Consuming animal protein increase the risk of developing kidney stones. Its always recommended limiting animal protein such as milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, chicken, mutton, beef, pork, especially organ meats.
Replace animal protein with such plant-based foods that are low in oxalate and high in protein, such as:
- Sunflower seeds
- Legumes: peanuts, dried peas, beans, and lentils
- Soy-based foods: tofu, soy nut butter, and soy milk
- Nuts and nut products: cashews and cashew butter, walnuts, almonds and almond butter, cashews and cashew butter, and pistachio
Reduce sodium consumption:Consuming more sodium in the food will increase the chance of developing kidney stones. Sodium is a part of salt. Sodium is in many packaged, canned, condiments, seasonings, fast foods, and meat.
If you ever had calcium phosphate stones, its always recommended consulting dietitian who are specialized in renal / kidney stone diet plan to prevent the recurrence of stones.
Get right amount of calcium from foods:Right amount of calcium can block other substances in the digestive tract that may cause stones. It is best to get calcium from soy milk, lactose-free milk or goats milk plant-based foods such as legumes, cereals, calcium-fortified juices, nuts, seeds, breads, some types of beans, and some kinds of vegetables. Foods with high in vitamin D recommended in a daily diet also found in mushrooms, cheese and fatty fishes .
Take Steps To Bypass Kidney Stones
Even though kidney stones can be common and recur once youve had them, there are simple ways to help prevent them. Here are some strategies that can help:
1. Drink enough water. A 2015 meta-analysis from the National Kidney Foundation found that people who produced 2 to 2.5 liters of urine daily were 50% less likely to develop kidney stones than those who produced less. It takes about 8 to 10 8-ounce glasses of water daily to produce that amount.
2. Eat more calcium-rich plant foods.Good sources include yogurt, soy products, beans, lentils and seeds. Dietary calcium binds oxalate in the intestines, so less gets absorbed and lower concentrations end up in urine.
3. Enjoy some lemons. Citrate, a salt in citric acid, binds to calcium and helps block stone formation. “Studies have shown that drinking ½ cup of lemon juice concentrate diluted in water each day, or the juice of two lemons, can increase urine citrate and likely reduce kidney stone risk,” says Dr. Eisner.
4. Watch the sodium. A high-sodium diet can trigger kidney stones because it increases the amount of calcium in your urine. Federal guidelines suggest limiting total daily sodium intake to 2,300 milligrams .
5. Cut back on animal protein. Eating too much animal protein, such as meat, eggs, and seafood, boosts can increase the risk of forming stones. If youre prone to kidney stones, limit your daily meat intake to a quantity that is no bigger than a pack of playing cards.
Image: bhofack2/Getty Images
Don’t Miss: What Are The Risks Of Giving A Kidney
What Kind Of Diet Plan Is Recommended To Prevent Stones
There is no single diet plan for stone prevention. Most diet recommendations are based on stone types and individualized for each person.
1. Calcium Oxalate Stones: most common stones
Oxalate is naturally found in many foods, including fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, grains, legumes, and even chocolate and tea. Some examples of foods that have high levels of oxalate include peanuts, rhubarb, spinach, beets, Swiss chard, chocolate and sweet potatoes. Limiting intake of these foods may be beneficial for people who form calcium oxalate stones which is the leading type of kidney stone.
Eat and drink calcium foods such as milk, yogurt, and some cheese and oxalate-rich foods together during a meal. The oxalate and calcium from the foods are more likely to bind to one another in the stomach and intestines before entering the kidneys. This will make it less likely that kidney stones will form.
Calcium is not the enemy but it tends to get a bad rap! This is most likely due to its name and misunderstanding that calcium is the main cause in calcium-oxalate stones. A diet low in calcium actually increases your chances of developing kidney stones.
Don’t reduce the calcium in your diet. Work to cut back on the sodium in your diet and to pair calcium-rich foods with oxalate-rich foods. The recommended calcium intake to prevent calcium stones is 1000-1200 mg per day .
2. Uric acid stones: another common stone
Alternate Remedies For Kidney Stones
Increasingly, more people are interested in attempting at-home treatments for kidney stones to decrease the use of medicines, procedures and surgeries. A number of alternative remedies have been acknowledged for the treatment of kidney stones. We will present these below and discuss their likelihood of success.
1. Lemon Juice and Olive Oil
Sounds awful, doesnt it? Some people do claim success in mixing a concoction of lemon juice and olive oil to help dissolve kidney stones as a home remedy. Proponents of this method claim that at the first notice of symptoms, mix five ounces of olive oil with five ounces of lemon juice. Drink this combination straight and then drink a glass of water. Repeat the process again in the late afternoon. Be sure to drink plenty of water as well through the day as well as extra lemon juice, if possible. Continue this treatment regimen for several days until the stone passes. It is thought that the lemon juice could help break down the kidney stones and the olive oil would aid in lubrication to pass the stone more easily. Extra-virgin olive oil is thought to be the best olive oil ingredient to use because it is the thickest and healthiest.
Warning: Lemons are very acidic and can destroy tooth enamel and contribute to heartburn or ulcers.
Our patient surveying indicates some success in a very limited number of kidney stone patients. We give it 2 out of 5 stars.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar
We give this remedy 1 out of 5 stars.
You May Like: Can Kidney Stones Cause A Bladder Infection
Diet For People With Uric Acid Kidney Stones
Uric acid is a waste product that is made when your body breaks down purines. Purines are found in nearly all plants and meats but some foods have higher concentrations. These include red meats, organ meats, seafood and alcohol. Purines get broken down into uric acid and this uric acid ends up in the kidneys or other parts of the urinary tract in the process of elimination from the body. When there is too much uric acid in the urine, crystals can form leading to uric acid kidney stones. Here are some dietary recommendations for people with uric acid stones:
- Stay hydrated every day to ensure that your urine is diluted
- While you need protein in your diet, try to avoid high-purine foods like meats and seafood
- Increase the number of fruits and veggies in your diet
- Avoid sweetened beverages as well as alcoholic drinks and smoking
- Drink fruit juices that are high in citrate since citrate can tackle uric acid effectively
How Do Kidney Stones Form
Kidney stones are hard crystals of salt and other minerals formed from calcium or uric acid. They develop in the kidney and can travel to other parts of the urinary tract. Sometimes we pass them without knowing and without any pain. The painful passage of kidney stones results in one million visits to the ER each year.
Because the majority of kidney stones contain calcium, for many years patients were instructed to reduce the intake of calcium in their diet. This turned out to be incorrect, whereas the opposite is true. A diet high in calcium actually reduces the risk of kidney stones.
Read Also: How Much Is Kidney Surgery
Facts About Kidney Stones
Kidney Stone Pain: Firsthand Recollections Of The Experience
Ive never had a kidney stone. I dont know what its like. Thats why I spent hours reading personal experiences to understand kidney stone pain better. Wikipedia told me the basics, and ArsTechnica, StraightDope, and Reddit gave me the personal stories and recollections that created an overall picture of how unpleasant and dreadfully painful kidney stones can be .
Was bad enough that I left the party and went to myoffice and spent a large part of the night rolling backand forth on the floor in my cube debating calling my ex to come get me. Sheended up laughing, then took me to the hospital. I still owe her for helpingme.
It was what I can imagine a knife stuck in my back beingtwisted all around would feel like.
A female nurse told me its the worst pain a man canever feel, because a man cant go through labor. I had mine when I was 25 itlooked like a coffee grain. Before it passed, I literally thought I was goingto die. They gave me a morphine shot right in the vein, and it didnt do athing. They followed that with Vicodin and I passed out. I woke up a few hourslater feeling just ok.
Someone told me that the pain from a kidney stone isclose to what a woman feels while having a baby. If that is true, I dont blamethem at all for screaming.
Dont Miss: Is Wine Good For Kidney Stones
Don’t Miss: What Are The Signs Of Kidney Disease In Cats
How Old Is Denis Dang
The flatter crystals form less stable kidney stones that break up easily. — Drinking green tea can help prevent the formation of large kidney stones, report Chinese scientists in. Drink lots of water. The most important thing to do to prevent kidney stones is to drink plenty of water, which helps flush compounds out of the kidneys before they can start making trouble. Here are some tips on how to prevent kidney stones, as well as some treatment options often prescribed by doctors. 1. Drink More Water. As said before, dehydration is by far one of the most common causes of kidney stones. When we drink less water, the fluids in our kidneys move slower, so there is a bigger chance of salt and mineral compounds.
fnf baddies mod download gamejolt
How To Avoid Kidney Stones
Here are the five ways to help prevent kidney stones:
Drink plenty of water: Drinking extra water dilutes the substances in urine that lead to stones. Strive to drink enough fluids to pass 2 liters of urine a day, which is roughly eight standard 8-ounce cups. It may help to include some citrus beverages, like lemonade and orange juice. The citrate in these beverages helps block stone formation.
Eat calcium rich foods: Dietary calcium binds to oxalate in your intestines and thereby decreases the amount of oxalate that gets absorbed into the bloodstream and then excreted by the kidney. This lowers the concentration of oxalate in the urine, so there is less chance it can bind to urinary calcium. That leads to decreased risk of kidney stones.
Reduce sodium: A high-sodium diet can trigger kidney stones because it increases the amount of calcium in your urine. So, a low-sodium diet is recommended for the stone prone. Current guidelines suggest limiting total daily sodium intake to 2,300 mg. If sodium has contributed to kidney stones in the past, try to reduce your daily intake to 1,500 mg. This will also be good for your blood pressure and heart.
Avoid stone-forming foods: Beets, chocolate, spinach, rhubarb, tea, and most nuts are rich in oxalate, which can contribute to kidney stones. If you suffer from stones, your doctor may advise you to avoid these foods or to consume them in smaller amounts.
Recommended Reading: Where Do Kidney Stones Come Out
Tips For A Kidney Stone Diet
Having kidney stones increases your risk of getting them again unless you actively work to prevent them. This means taking medications prescribed to you for this purpose, and watching what you eat and drink.
If you currently have stones, your doctor will run diagnostic tests, to determine what type you have. They will then prescribe a specific diet plan for you, such as the DASH Diet. Tips that will help include:
- drink at least twelve glasses of water daily
- eat citrus fruits, such as orange
- eat a calcium-rich food at each meal, at least three times a day
- limit your intake of animal protein
- eat less salt, added sugar, and products containing high fructose corn syrup
- avoid foods and drinks high in oxalates and phosphates
- avoid eating or drinking anything which dehydrates you, such as alcohol.
Calcium Is Not The Enemy
But it tends to get a bad rap! Most likely due to its name and composition, many are under the impression that calcium is the main culprit in calcium-oxalate stones. “I still see patients who wonder why they are getting recurring stones despite cutting down on their calcium intake,” said Dr. Jhagroo. “I’ve even had patients say that their doctors told them to reduce their calcium intake.” A diet low in calcium actually increases one’s risk of developing kidney stones.
Don’t reduce the calcium. Work to cut back on the sodium in your diet and to pair calcium-rich foods with oxalate-rich foods.
You May Like: How To Reverse Polycystic Kidney Disease
Diet Guidelines To Prevent Calcium Oxalate Stone
Limit animal protein:Consuming animal protein increase the risk of developing kidney stones. Its always recommended limiting animal protein such as milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, chicken, mutton, beef, pork, especially organ meats.
Replace animal protein with plant-based foods to have enough proteins in your diet plan, foods such as dried peas, beans, and lentils that are low in oxalate and high in protein.
Reduce or eliminate oxalates from foods:Its always advisable to reduce or eliminate oxalates completely from your diet, as they may increase formation of calcium oxalates kidney stones. To prevent calcium oxalate stone, avoid or limit:
- Dark green vegetables
In case of consuming oxalates foods, make sure either eat or drink calcium foods with them. This will help for oxalate to bind with calcium during digestion in the stomach and intestines to avoid oxalates to reach kidneys directly.
Get right amount of calcium from foods:Right amount of calcium can block other substances in the digestive tract that may cause stones. It is best to get calcium from plant-based foods such as cereals, calcium-fortified juices, breads, some types of beans, and some kinds of vegetables.
Reduce sodium consumption:Consuming more sodium in the food will increase the chance of developing kidney stones. Sodium is a part of salt. Sodium is in many packaged, canned, condiments, seasoning, fast foods, and meat.
How To Prevent Kidney Stones
Drink lots of water. The most important thing to do to prevent kidney stones is to drink plenty of water, which helps flush compounds out of the kidneys before they can start making trouble.
Reduce salt. Excessive sodium intake can also concentrate the urine, making stone formation more likely.
Eat your veggies. A diet high in fruits and vegetables, which raises the pH of the urine, can help prevent kidney stones.
Keep protein intake moderate. High protein diets, which lower the pH of your urine, can make kidney stones more likely. If you are nervous about kidney stones, youll probably want to stick to a moderate protein diet and get at least some of your protein from plants.
Get enough calcium. A low calcium diet can also be a risk factor. This fact surprises a lot of people because kidney stones often contain a lot of calcium, which seems to suggest that too much calcium would be to blame. But its actually the opposite. When your diet is higher in calcium, less of it is absorbed in the digestive tract and less ends up in the urine. The best way to get calcium is by eating a variety of calcium-containing foods throughout the day. Taking your entire dietary allowance of calcium at one time in the form of a supplement, on the other hand, may slightly increase your risk of stones.
»Continue reading What to Eat to Prevent Kidney Stones on QuickAndDirtyTips.com
Recommended Reading: What To Do When You Think You Have Kidney Stones