Kidney stones are often a painful, yet curable, condition where clumps of excess minerals, such as calcium, form in the kidneys. The stones pass through the bladder and can get stuck, thus blocking the flow of urine, which can cause great discomfort. There are medical treatments that can help you pass the kidney stone. However, if you prefer natural or holistic methods, vegetables that contain insoluble fiber can be of great assistance. Insoluble fiber helps to reduce the level of calcium in your urine while also acting as a natural laxative and assisting all toxins to be excreted from the body in an easier manner.
Step 1
Include fiber rich vegetables in your breakfast. Most people do not think of eating vegetables for breakfast, however, along with helping to pass your kidney stone the fiber, vitamins and minerals can keep you satiated and provide you with energy. Steam fresh asparagus to eat with your eggs.
Step 2
Make a tossed salad with romaine lettuce, black beans, carrots and olives for lunch. The high fiber combination can help toxins to pass through the body more easily while also reducing the level of calcium in your kidneys, which is a major source of kidney stones. Additionally, the heart healthy unsaturated fat in the olives, along with the fiber in the black beans, can help to keep you full and your mind focused as you work your way through the afternoon.
Step 3
Pack raw broccoli and cauliflower florets with a side of low-fat ranch dressing to the office with you for an afternoon snack. The broccoli and cauliflower contain plenty of satiating fiber while keeping the dip low fat can help your overall health, as people with kidney stones can have a more difficult time digesting fat.
Step 4
Steam green beans and Brussels sprouts and eat with a small baked potato for dinner. The fiber and potassium in the vegetables and potato are beneficial for passing, as well as preventing, future kidney stones. Avoid piling butter or sour cream on top of your potato; both are high in fat.
Step 5
Minimize the amount of salt that you sprinkle on the vegetables. Sodium helps to regulate the fluid balance in your body, which is needed to help the stone pass. Too much salt can lead to an imbalance and may slow the process.
Step 6
Avoid vegetables that are high in oxalate, which is an acid found in vegetables and that can contribute to the formation of kidney stones. These vegetables include beets, spinach, kale, eggplant, leaks, parsley, peppers and summer squash.
Step 7
Drink at least 3 quarts of water daily; water helps to dilute the oxalate in your body while also helping you to digest the fiber from the vegetables, and flush the kidney stone out.
Things You'll Need
- Asparagus
- Romaine lettuce
- Black beans
- Carrots
- Olives
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Low-fat ranch dressing
- Green beans
- Brussels sprouts
- Baked potato
