Kidney stones form when residue and chemicals from foods and waste material are deposited in the kidneys due to insufficient volume of urine or when urine is too acidic and concentrated to dissolve the material. Certain juices may be able to help increase the body's pH and alter the state of the urine enabling smaller kidney stones to dissolve and pass. Individuals who think they have kidney stones should contact their health practitioners before using any new treatments for dissolving stones.
Lemon Juice
Fresh lemon juice is high in potassium, which helps to raise the pH of the urine and protect against the formation of urate kidney stones, according to "The PH miracle." When the pH is slightly alkaline, uric acid is unable to crystalize and form deposits in joints known as gout or in the kidneys in the form of stones. Director of the University of California San Diego Comprehensive Kidney Stone Center, Dr. Roger L. Sur recommends mixing 4 oz. reconstituted or fresh lemon juice in 1 1/2 quarts of water and drinking the contents daily to take advantage of lemon's high citrate levels to dissolve existing kidney stones.
Cranberry Juice
Researchers reporting in the "British Journal of Urology" write that cranberries and cranberry juice may help prevent the formation of calcium oxalate kidney stones. Cranberries are a culinary herb sometimes used medicinally to support urinary tract health, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. The "British Journal of Urology" recommends mixing 1 cup unsweetened cranberry juice with 3 cups fresh water and drinking throughout the day to dissolve calcium oxalate kidney stones. They add that individuals with a history of kidney problems continue to drink the juice daily as a preventative and for ongoing kidney function.
Tart Cherry Juice
Sour or tart cherry juice is high in potassium, anthocyanins and antioxidants, according to "Alkalize or Die", and may be helpful in dissolving kidney stones and preventing the formation of new stones, especially those that formed from uric acid crystals. Tart cherries and their juice raise the pH of the urine, protecting the kidneys in a slightly alkaline environment. Consuming either 1/2 pound of tart cherries or 12 to 16 oz. tart cherry juice daily is the recommended dose. The juice can be diluted with water if it is too strong.
References
- "The PH Miracle"; Dr. Robert O. Young and Shelley Redford Young; 2003
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Kidney Stones
- British Journal of Urology, Vol. 52; Influence of cranberry juice on the
- "Alkalize or Die"; Dr. Theodore A. Baroody; 1991
