Kidney stones are caused by certain minerals and compounds, such as calcium or uric acid, accumulating in the kidneys to the point where they form hard stones. Lemon juice, which contains citric acid, can be used to increase the amount of citrate in your urine, which can help dissolve kidney stones, the New York Times explains. Kidney stones can be extremely painful and can damage the kidneys, so make sure you talk with your doctor before trying to treat them with lemon juice, as using lemon juice for the treatment of kidney stones may not be as effective as other, more conventional treatments.
Step 1
Drink concentrated lemon juice. Drinking one half of a cup of lemon juice each day can help increase the levels of citrate in your blood and urine, which can help dissolve kidney stones or reduce your risk of developing them.
Step 2
Make lemonade with lemon juice. Diluting one cup of concentrated lemon juice in seven cups of water can make it easier for you to add lemon juice to your diet without having to face the concentrated sourness of pure lemon juice, CBSNews.com reports. If you want to make your lemonade sweeter, use an artificial sweetener to improve the taste without adding calories. Another advantage of drinking lemonade is that it will increase your fluid intake, which will dilute your urine and make it easier for the kidney stones to dissolve and pass.
Step 3
Make lemon juice ice cubes. Take an ice cube tray and fill it almost full with water. Then, add some lemon juice, either from concentrate or from half of a lemon to the tray. Put the tray in the freezer until you have lemon ice cubes, which can be added to water, soda, or any other beverage, the University of Wisconsin Hospital recommends. This will allow you to easily add lemon juice to your daily diet.
Step 4
Add lemon juice to your food. Lemon juice can be added to fruit salad, vegetables or to marinades for fish and other meats.
Things You'll Need
- Lemon juice
- Artificial sweetners
- Ice cube tray
- Water
