Kidney stones are hard deposits that accumulate in the kidneys. The kidneys filter the blood and excrete waste products via the urine. During this filtering process, the concentration of some substances, such as calcium and oxalate, increases, sometimes to the point where things can no longer stay dissolved. One of the most common types of kidney stones, formed by the combination of calcium and oxalate, is often treated with potassium citrate, which helps dissolve the stones. Citrate can also be found in the form of citric acid, which is present in lemon juice. Thus, lemon juice can be used to treat kidney stones.
Step 1
Drink lemonade made with lemon juice. The citric acid found in concentrated lemon juice can help increase the amount of citrate in your urine. Concentrated lemon juice can be difficult to drink on its own, so CBSNews.com recommends diluting one cup of concentrated lemon juice with seven cups of water. Not only will this add citric acid to your diet, it will also increase your urine output, which will also help you eliminate any kidney stones.
Step 2
Make lemon juice ice cubes. Another way to add lemon juice to your diet is to make ice cubes using a small amount of lemon juice that has been diluted with water. These cubes can then be added to any cold beverage to add citric acid to your diet without requiring you to change what beverages you consume.
Step 3
Add lemon juice to your foods. The University of Wisconsin notes that concentrated lemon juice can be used as part of marinades for fish and other meats. Lemon juice can also be added to fruit, lettuce and spinach salads to add extra flavor while simultaneously supplementing your citric acid intake.
