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What’s Good For Kidney Stones

What Are Kidney Stones

How To Dissolve Kidney Stones Explained By Dr.Berg

Kidney stones are hard collections of salt and minerals often made up of calcium or uric acid. They form inside the kidney and can travel to other parts of the urinary tract.

Stones vary in size. Some are as small as the period at the end of this sentence a fraction of an inch. Others can grow to a few inches across. Some kidney stones can become so large they take up the entire kidney.

A kidney stone forms when too much of certain minerals in your body accumulate in your urine. When you arent well hydrated, your urine becomes more concentrated with higher levels of certain minerals. When mineral levels are higher, its more likely that a kidney stone will form.

About 1 out of every 11 people in the United States will get a kidney stone. Stones are more common in men, people who are obese, and those who have diabetes .

Smaller kidney stones that remain in the kidney often dont cause any symptoms. You might not notice anything is amiss until the stone moves into your ureter the tube that urine travels through to get from your kidney to your bladder.

Kidney stones are typically very painful. Most stones will pass on their own without treatment. However, you may need a procedure to break up or remove stones that dont pass.

Here are eight signs and symptoms that you may have kidney stones.

2 ). Some people whove experienced kidney stones compare the pain to childbirth or getting stabbed with a knife.

4 ). Your doctor might call this dysuria.

Can Kidney Stones Go Away On Their Own

Kidney stones develop in about one out of 11 Americans. They tend to be more prevalent among men, diabetics, and obese people.

Small kidney stones dont typically cause problems, and you might not feel any pain or any symptoms. Larger ones can cause severe pain, but most stones pass on their own.

When a stone doesnt pass naturally, you may need a medical procedure to break it up so it can pass or be removed altogether.

At Stone Relief Center, board-certified urologic surgeon William Cooper Buschemeyer III, MD, and our professional team have home remedy tips you can use to help them pass.

What Is The Most Important Factor To Prevent Kidney Stone Formation

One of the best things you can do to avoid kidney stones is to drink plenty of water every day. This will help make sure that you urinate frequently to avoid any build up of calcium or uric acid.

Don’t underestimate your sweat! Saunas, hot yoga and heavy exercise may sound 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 summer may lead to less urine production. The more you sweat, the less you will urinate, which allows stone-causing minerals to settle and deposit in the kidneys and urinary tract.

Hydrate with water. Be sure to keep well hydrated, especially when doing exercise or activities that cause a lot of sweating. You should drink 2-3 quarts of liquid or 8-12 cups per day to produce a good amount of urine. Speak with a healthcare professional about the right amount of water that’s best for you. Try to avoid sodas , sweetened iced tea and grapefruit juice.

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Foods To Avoid With Kidney Stones

Kidney stones form when the excess minerals of the body crystallize in the inner lining of the kidney. The kidney stones are sharp-edged structures that cause much discomfort and pain to the person. Usually, small kidney stones pass out of the body along with urine. It is a matter of trouble when a kidney stone gets stuck in the urinary tract. The person faces immense pain in case of a kidney stone obstructing the urinary tract.

Your diet plays a significant role in kidney stones. There are certain foods that you should avoid if you have kidney stones. The most common types of kidney stones are those made of calcium and uric acid. Therefore, you should either avoid or limit the consumption of foods and supplements that are rich in oxalate and uric acid.

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Its Not Just The Oxalate

What Foods Are Good For Kidney?

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 contain high levels of oxalate include: peanuts, rhubarb, spinach, beets, chocolate and sweet potatoes. Moderating intake of these foods may be beneficial for people who form calcium oxalate stones, the leading type of kidney stones.

A common misconception is that cutting the oxalate-rich foods in your diet alone will reduce the likelihood of forming calcium oxalate kidney stones. While in theory this might be true, this approach isnât smart from an overall health perspective. Most kidney stones are formed when oxalate binds to calcium while urine is produced by the kidneys.

It is important to eat and drink calcium and oxalate-rich foods together during a meal. In doing so, oxalate and calcium are more likely to bind to one another in the stomach and intestines before the kidneys begin processing, making it less likely that kidney stones will form.

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Foods That Make Alkaline

Unlike alkaline water, fruits and vegetables will actually impact body pH and health. Essentially, all fruits and vegetables make alkaline during metabolism. The alkali made during this process can help neutralize acid in your body, and reduce the amount of acid your kidneys have to get rid of in your urine.

The difference between the pH of a food and the metabolism of that food is an important distinction. For example, tomatoes are acidic themselves. However, the metabolism of tomatoes makes alkali. So, tomatoes actually have an alkaline effect on your body, even though they are acidic themselves.

Essentially, the more fruits and veggies you eat, the more alkaline your urine will be! In many cases, especially for uric acid kidney stones, more alkaline urine is a good thing!

On the flip side, protein foods, especially animal flesh such as meat, poultry, fish and seafood, produce acid. Diets that are high in protein tend to increase urine acid levels.

This concept plays out in research. We know that people who eat more fruits and vegetables tend to have a much lower risk of kidney stones. This is likely at least partially due to the beneficial impact of fruits and vegetables on urine acid.

Does Alkaline Water Make Alkali?

How does alkaline water fit into this? Chances are, even though alkaline water is alkaline itself, the metabolism of it will not produce alkali. Therefore, it will have no benefits for kidney stones, above the benefit of drinking regular water.

For Urinary Tract Infections

Since three of the most common causes of kidney discomfort occur in the urinary tract, here are some remedies to relieve pain in the kidneys related to the urinary tract:

1. Stay Hydrated

Hydration is key to relieving pain in the kidneys since water will help flush bacteria out of the body. Plus, staying hydrated will help clear out the urinary tract as a whole and work to eliminate any possible infections.

Many specialists recommend the 8×8 rule, meaning you should drink eight 8 oz. glasses of water a day. However, water intake is highly dependant on you and your health, so take this article into consideration when determining your daily amount of water intake.

2. Drink Cranberry Juice

While not scientifically proven, cranberry juice is known to be a remedy for urinary tract infections. If you choose to alternate between cranberry juice and water, be sure to choose a cranberry juice that isnt packed full of additional sweeteners. A cranberry supplement or pure cranberry juice is always the best way to go!

3. Take Probiotics

Its no secret that probiotics are beneficial for you, especially when it comes to fighting bacteria and kidney pain. Studies show that probiotics can improve kidney function and assist in processing waste too.

4. Drink Parsley Juice

You can also mix parsley into a smoothie to make drinking it more bearable. Check out these recipes for inspiration!

5. Take a Warm Epsom Salt Bath

6. Apply Heat

7. Use Non-Aspirin Pain Killers

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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.

When Surgery Is Necessary

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If you think you might have a kidney stone, you should see your doctor as soon as possible. If youre found to have one, your doctor can help you determine whether to try to pass the stone naturally, take medication, or get the stone surgically removed.

In some circumstances, your doctor might recommend immediate surgical removal without a waiting period. This will usually be because the stone is too big to pass naturally or is blocking urine flow. If the stone is blocking the flow of urine, it can lead to an infection or renal damage.

In other circumstances, your doctor might recommend waiting to see if you can pass the stone on your own. You should check in with your doctor often during this time to see if anything is changing, especially if you have new symptoms.

During the waiting period, your doctor might recommend surgery if the stone continues to grow, youre having unmanageable pain, or you develop signs of infection, such as a fever. Infection, fever, kidney damage, intractable pain, or intractable vomiting are all indications for immediate surgery.

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Kidney Stones Are Mostly Removed By Surgery But There Are Many Who Do Not Want To Come Under The Knife There Are Some Natural Ways And Effective Ways To Remove These Painful Stones From Your System

Written by Kristina Das | Updated : December 20, 2018 7:12 PM IST

Blood in urine, severe abdominal pain that radiates to the lower back, frequent urination are some of the symptoms of kidney stones. They can lead to severe urination problems accompanied by nausea, weight loss, fever, and acute pain in the lower abdominal region.

What are the causes of kidney stones?

Lack of water in our body can lead to the formation of kidney stones. These stones can either be as huge as a golf ball or pea-sized. They have a crystalline structure and are usually made of calcium oxalate and some other compounds. The stones in the kidneys are mostly removed by surgery. But there are some natural and effective remedies to remove the kidney stones from your body.

How Successful Are These Treatments

In short dubious at best. There have been many reports of people using these natural methods, but the efficacy is unsubstantiated. Some people report success, but none of these treatments are based in scientific fact. For every anecdotal success story posted online, there are hundreds more stories of failures . So, what natural remedies DO work?

4. Lab Grade Chanca Piedra

Lab grade chanca piedra has shown high rates of success in kidney stone treatment. This herbal remedy breaks down and prevents the development of new kidney stones. The clinical benefits of all-natural Chanca Piedra are related to ureteral relaxation and to a putative reduction of the excretion of urinary crystallization promoters such as calcium. It first grabbed the attention of the scientific community in a 2002 study on rodents which demonstrated it slowed or halted kidney stone growth. Further studies indicated lab grade Chanca Piedra actually interferes with the process that would normally cause stones to form.

Professor Dr. Nestor Schor speaking about his research on lab grade Chanca Piedra:

Treatment with Phyllanthus niruri strongly inhibited the growth of the stones and reduced the number of stones

These results show that Phyllanthus niruri has an inhibitory effect on crystal growth

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Is Green Tea Good For Kidney Stones

To solve this problem, various scientific research has been carried out to discover new solutions to the problem.

In this way, it is that Chinese researchers have discovered that green tea extract has the ability to disintegrate calcium oxalate.

It also makes the crystals decrease in size and acquire a different shape, which makes it easier for them to group less, not being able to form stones in the kidneys.

The research was conducted by Sichuan University in Chengdu, China. Dr. Li and his colleagues discussed the effects of green tea extract on calcium oxalate crystallization.

Researchers artificially cultivated calcium oxalate crystals under different conditions.

They found that calcium oxalate is dehydrated when faced with large amounts of green tea.

On the other hand, it was also observed that the more green tea extract applied, the oxalate crystals changed shape, becoming flatter and longer.

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Potatoes And Sweet Potatoes

1000+ images about High oxalate foods to avoid on ...

Potatoes and sweet potatoes vegetables are very rich in potassium. For instance, one baked potato about 150 grams contains about 610 mg of potassium. Also, a baked sweet potato about 115g contains approximately 540mg of potassium.

While there are numerous ways to reduce the high potassium levels in these vegetables, eating them in great quantities can pose a kidney stone problem. High potassium levels in the body is also a common factor that encourages the development of kidney stones. There if you have a kidney problem condition, or at a higher risk of developing a kidney stone, it’s crucial to reduce the intake of potatoes and sweet potatoes.

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What Is A Kidney Stone

A kidney stone is a solid piece of material that forms in a kidney. A stone can get stuck as it leaves the kidney. It can lodge in one of your two ureters , the bladder, or the urethra .

Kidney stones may be the size of sand or gravel, as large as a pearl, or even larger. A stone can block the flow of your urine and cause great pain. A stone may also break loose and travel through your urinary tract all the way out of your body without causing too much pain.

There are four major types of kidney stones.

  • Calcium is the most common type of stone. Calcium can combine with other substances, such as oxalate , to form the stone.
  • A uric acid stone may form when your urine contains too much acid.
  • A struvite stone may form after an infection in your urinary system.
  • Cystine stones are rare. The disease that causes cystine stones runs in families.

How To Alkalize Your Urine

When it comes to alkalizing your urine, we need to think about what pH the metabolism of a food makes, rather than what the pH is of the food itself is. Your stomach acid neutralizes the pH of anything you eat or drink. This is the crux of why alkaline water likely doesnt actually alkalize your urine.

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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
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  • Raw Generation Heal & Hydrate Juice Cucumber Pineapple Aloe Vera
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  • V.J. Herbals Banana Plant Stem Juice
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  • Volcano Bursts Organic Italian Lemon Juice
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How Long Does It Take To Pass A Kidney Stone

Oxalates in Plants and Kidney Stones- Relax!

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.

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