Kidney stones are hardened masses that build up in your kidneys, causing you to experience back pain, blood in your urine and discomfort. While some kidney stones can pass through your urinary system with minimal effects, others can be so large they require medical intervention. If you are prone to developing a certain type of kidney stone, beer can be harmful to your health.
Kidney Stone Types
Certain components in your diet like calcium and phosphorus can start to deposit in your kidneys. Over time, this can build up into kidney stone masses. Not all kidney stones are made of the same components. However, the most common kidney stones are made up of calcium combined with oxalate or phosphate, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. These minerals are commonly found in your diet. However, other types of kidney stones can form, including cystine and struvite stones.
Beer and Oxalate
Dark or "robust" beers are considered high-oxalate foods, meaning they have more than 10 g of oxalate per serving. Draft beers are considered moderate-oxalate foods, which means they have between 2 and 10 g of oxalate per serving. If your kidney stones are made up of oxalate, drinking beer can contribute to future kidney stones or potentially build up to larger kidney stones if you already have the beginnings of stones.
Diagnosis
If your physician suspects symptoms you are experiencing are the result of kidney stones, he may suggest collecting your urine or using a paper funnel each time you urinate to "catch" your kidney stones. Your physician can then send the kidney stones to a laboratory to determine their components. If oxalate is one of them, he may recommend a low-oxalate diet, including one that restricts your intake of beer products.
Low-Oxalate Diets
If your kidney stones are composed of oxalate, you are significantly more likely to experience other kidney stones. For this reason, a low-oxalate diet may be necessary. This involves consuming less than 50 g of oxalate-containing foods per day. Examples of foods that are high in oxalate include soy milk, blackberries, blueberries, carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach and nuts. If beer is to be a part of your low-oxalate diet, restrict yourself to light beers and limit your intake to one to two servings. This can ensure your oxalate levels do not exceed the daily recommendations.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Low-Phosphorus Diet: Best for Kidney Disease?; Dr. Erik Castle; August 2010
- Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology; Kidney Stone Diet; Dr. Frank Jackson; 2008
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center; Low Oxalate Diet; 2006
- National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Kidney Stones in Adults
