A kidney stone is a solidified piece of material that forms within the kidney from substances that are found in the urine. Kidney stones may move from the kidney through the urinary tract; if they are too large they may get stuck and cause a lot of pain, but if they are small they may pass through the body. Diet can prevent some cases of kidney stones from forming.
Beverages
Drink plenty of water each day. If you have previously suffered kidney stones you should pass at least 2.5 l a day. It is recommended you drink at least 12 glasses of water a day, which may include ginger ale, lemon-lime soda and fruit juice. It is best to avoid tea, coffee, cola or any caffeinated beverages, since these beverages may work to dehydrate you.
Eat Less Sodium
Choose foods that are low in salt and sodium, this will not only decrease your chances for developing kidney stones, but it will also lower the risk of you developing high blood pressure or heart disease. One diet that focuses in on these points is the DASH diet. DASH stands for "Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension." This diet restricts sodium in diets to 2,300 mg in a 2,100-calorie eating plan. Avoid sodium-rich foods such as processed meat, processed frozen food, lunch meats and fast food. Also avoid additives such as monosodium glutamate, baking soda, baking powder and sodium nitrate.
Avoid Animal Protein
There are three different types of kidney stones; struvite, uric acid and cystine. Animal protein contains purines, which become uric acid in the urine. If you have had uric acid kidney stones previously the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse suggests eating no more than 6 oz. of meat per day.
Avoid Oxalate
Calcium oxalate stones are formed by eating foods that are high in oxalate. The body makes oxalate naturally, but eating foods high in oxalate makes the amount of oxalate rise in the urine, which, combined with calcium, can make calcium oxalate. Foods that contain high levels of oxalate are spinach, rhubarb, nuts and wheat bran.
Considerations
If you suspect that you have a kidney stone, do not treat it yourself. Kidney stones can cause symptoms such as extreme back pain, blood in urine, fever and chills, vomiting, bad smelling or cloudy urine and a burning sensation during urinating. If you experience any of these symptoms see a physician immediately.
References
- National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse: What I Need to Know About Kidney Stones
- National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Diet for Kidney Stone Prevention
- MayoClinic.com: Kidney Stone Prevention
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: Your Guide to Lowering High Blood Pressure
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: DASH Eating Plan
