A kidney stone is a hard piece of material in the shape of stone that develops in a kidney. The stone forms from material contained in the urine. Small kidney stones pass through a person's system with urination, causing little to no pain. Large kidney stones can cause extreme pain, bleeding and may not be able to pass without medical assistance. According to the Mayo Clinic, in 85 percent of cases, kidney stones pass during urination."Moreover, the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC) states that most kidney stones pass without the need for a doctor's intervention. By making a few dietary changes and increasing your fluid intake, you can help your body to flush out the kidney stones and help prevent the formation of new stones.
Step 1
Drink 2 to 3 qts. of water a day to help flush the kidney stones out of your system and help prevent the formation of new kidney stones. A scientific study published in the "Nephron Journal" concluded that a high water intake is the best preventative measure for reducing the formation of kidney stones. If your urine is dark, you need to drink more water. Increase your daily intake of water until your urine is clear or a very pale yellow in color.
Step 2
Eliminate foods from your diet that contain high amounts of oxalate. High oxalate levels increase the risk of calcium kidney stones. Some examples of foods that contain high amounts of oxalate are dark leafy greens, nuts, beets, rhubarb, bran and miso.
Step 3
Limit the amount of meat in your diet to 4 to 6 oz. a day. Meat breaks down into uric acid---high levels of uric acid in urine increases the risk of developing uric acid kidney stones.
Step 4
Reduce your daily intake of salt and caffeine. Caffeine increases the speed at which water leaves your system, reducing your body's ability to flush kidney stones from the kidneys, bladder, ureters or urethra. Salt increases the levels of calcium phosphate in urine, which increases the risk of calcium kidney stones.
Step 5
Avoid taking calcium supplements or using antacids that contain calcium.
Step 6
Urinate into a strainer to catch the kidney stone when it comes out. The NKUDIC recommends capturing your kidney stone and bringing it to your doctor for evaluation. Based on the type of kidney stone you had, your doctor will advise you on future dietary adjustments to prevent the formation of new kidney stones.
Tips and Warnings
- Transfer the kidney stone from the strainer into a clean sealable plastic baggie and bring it to your doctor.
- See a doctor if kidney stones are accompanied by symptoms of persistent pain, blood in the urine, a burning sensation during urination vomiting, cloudy urine, fever or chills. The suggested dietary changes in this article should only be used temporarily unless directed otherwise by your doctor. In addition, these dietary changes are provided as general information and are not meant to act as or replace in-person advice from a medical professional. People who have other illnesses or special dietary needs should consult with their doctor before making any changes to their diet.
Things You'll Need
- Strainer
- Sealable plastic bag
References
- Mayo Clinic: Kidney Stones
- National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse: What I Need to Know About Kidney Stones
- Urine Volume: Stone Risk Factor and Preventive Measure; Nephron Journal; Borghi L, Meschi T, Schianchi T, Briganti A, Guerra A, Allegri F, Novarini A; 81 (suppl 1) 31-37, 1999
