Your kidneys are responsible for filtering minerals like potassium, phosphorus and calcium in your body. The excess amounts are released through your urine, unless they start to build up in your kidneys. Over time, these and other mineral crystals can develop into small, hardened masses known as kidney stones. Kidney stones can be painful and troublesome, and if you have had them once, you are likely to experience them again. One preventive method that might surprise you is a tall glass of lemonade.
Citrate and Kidney Stones
Kidney stones can have different components, btut he most common stones are made up of calcium oxalate or calcium phosphate. If your physician identifies you as having these stone types, he might recommend taking a potassium citrate supplement. Citrate, a form of citric acid, helps to reduce the likelihood kidney stones will form by creating an acidic environment in the kidneys, which makes stones less likely to form. However, lemon juice contains significant amounts of natural citrate, making it a good alternative to potassium citrate supplements.
Dehydration Prevention
In addition to the citrate provided in lemon juice, increasing your intake has another benefit: Drinking plenty of fluids reduces your risk for experiencing kidney stones. Dehydration is considered the biggest risk factor for kidney stones, according to PubMed Health. By increasing the amount of fluid you drink on a daily basis, your urine becomes less concentrated with crystals that can form into kidney stones. Your goal should be to drink enough to have diluted urine that appears clear to slightly yellow-tinged each time you use the restroom.
Dosage
To reap the benefits lemonade can provide in kidney stone prevention, mix 4 oz. of reconstituted lemon juice in 2 liters of water. Refrain from adding sugar, if possible, because this adds calories to your daily diet. Drinking this amount per day has been shown to reduce kidney stone formation from an average of one stone per patient to 0.13 stones, according to UC San Diego Health System.
Considerations
While "lemonade therapy" can help to reduce the likelihood you will experience kidney stones, it should not be used as your sole prevention method. Reducing the amount of salt and high-protein foods high in saturated fats also can help. If your diet involves eating excess levels of calcium, your physician might recommend cutting back here as well. However, refrain from doing this until you obtain your physician's permission, as calcium is needed for a number of daily body functions.
References
- UC San Diego Health System; Five Ways to Prevent Kidney Stones: From Lemonade to Surgery; April 2010
- University of Wisconsin Hospital, Madison; Lemonade Versus Kidney Stones; June 2007
- National Kidney & Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse; Kidney Stones in Adults; October 2007
- PubMed Health; Kidney Stones; January 2009
