Kidney stones are one of the most painful and common urologic conditions, sending more than 3.5 million Americans to medical facilities annually. Most stones are passed through urine. Although drinking plenty of water can help ensure that this happens, no foods are known to help eliminate kidney stones. Depending on the type of stone you're prone to, dietary changes might help prevent or reduce the intensity of future symptoms.
Legumes
Legumes, such as beans, lentils and split peas, are top plant-based protein sources. Animal proteins, including fish, eggs and meat, stimulate uric acid production, increasing your risk for uric acid stones. For this reason, the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse, or NKUDIC, recommends eating no more than 6 oz. of meat per day. Meat, fish and eggs might contribute to calcium stones by increasing the amount of calcium excreted into your urine and reducing citrate excretion in your urine. Choosing plant protein instead of animal protein most often provides a useful way of lowering your risk for uric acid and calcium oxalate kidney stones. As fiber-rich foods, legumes might provide protection from all types of kidney stones. Nutritious legume-based dishes include split-pea or lentil soup, steamed soybeans, chilled bean salads and hummus.
Whole Grains
Whole grains, such as barley, brown rice, wild rice and oats, contain all nutritious parts of the grain. As a result, they provide more nutrients and fiber than refined grains, such as enriched flour and instant rice. The bran portion of whole grain rice and wheat contains compounds called phytates, which might prevent uric acid, phosphate and calcium from crystallizing and forming stones. To increase your fiber and phytate intake, replace refined foods in your diet with whole grains. When purchasing breads, cereals and pasta, examine nutrition labels to ensure that whole grains are one of the first few ingredients listed.
Fluids
In addition to drinking plenty of water, other fluids promote hydration, which allows for excess uric acid and other salts linked with kidney stones to be flushed from your body through urine. Drinking a half cup of pure lemon juice daily raises the citrate content of urine and might help prevent calcium stones. Regular or decaffeinated coffee, or tea consumption might also guard against kidney stones. Moderate alcohol intake might provide benefits, unless you're prone to rare types of uric acid stones. Binge-drinking, on the other hand, increases your kidney stone risk. Avoid cranberry, apple and grapefruit juices, which might increase your risk for calcium oxalate and uric acid stones.
Calcium-Rich Foods
Calcium supplements increase your risk for calcium oxalate stones. Calcium from food sources, however, do not. The NKUDIC recommends aiming for 800 mg of calcium from dietary sources daily for kidney stone prevention and to maintain bone density. One cup of low-fat milk provides 300 mg of calcium. Additional calcium-rich options include low-fat yogurt, canned salmon and tuna, mozzarella cheese, tofu, leafy greens, almonds, and fortified orange juice, soy milk and breakfast cereals.
