Having a kidney stone can be an extremely painful situation. Kidney stones are hard deposits that can form inside of your kidneys; in order for the kidney stones to exit your body, they have to travel out of the kidney through the ureter and the bladder. Most stones -- which are made of excess minerals -- do not cause long-term damage; however, most people who have ever experienced a kidney stone would like to avoid having another one. Changing your diet may lessen your risk of kidney stones; specific changes may be beneficial and depend on what minerals your stones are made of.
Types of Kidney Stones
Kidney stones can contain a variety of mineral crystals. Excess uric acid and cystine in the urine can form kidney stones. These types of stones tend to occur in people who have specific health conditions and are less common in the general population. Infections in the urinary tract can also lead to a type of kidney stone called struvite stones, which can become very large. Calcium kidney stones are the most common type of kidney stones; these stones contain both calcium and oxalate -- a substance that can be found in fruits and vegetables. Dietary changes can lessen your risk of calcium kidney stones.
Amount of Calcium in the Diet
Calcium can be found in many foods like milk and other dairy products and is usually absorbed in the intestine during the digestive process. After the body accumulates the necessary amount of calcium to perform its normal functions, the excess calcium leaves the body through the kidneys. Too much calcium in the urine -- which is called hypercalciuria -- can lead to the formation of calcium stones. However, the amount of calcium in the diet rarely impacts the amount of calcium in the urine; the level of calcium in the urine is often influenced by fluid levels and other mineral concentrations in the body. Maintaining a calcium intake of approximately 800 mg each day may be needed to avoid bone problems, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse.
Fluid Intake
Your fluid intake plays a huge role in the development of calcium kidney stones. Drinking more fluids decreases the calcium concentration in the urine and makes it less likely kidney stones may form. Your health care provider may recommend 3 to 4 quarts of fluid each day, according to the National Kidney Foundation. Water may be the ideal type of fluid because it is inexpensive. Teas, coffee, orange juice, beer and wine may all be reasonable ways to dilute your urine as well. However, grapefruit juice and dark cola drinks should be avoided by people who tend to form calcium oxalate stones because these beverages increase your risk of stone formation.
Sodium Intake
Eating too many foods with high salt content can also increase your risk of calcium kidney stones. Sodium -- a part of salt -- causes more calcium to be concentrated in the urine, which increases the risk of calcium kidney stones. Limiting your sodium intake to the daily recommended allowance of 2,400 mg can help decrease your risk. Moderating your consumption of foods like hot dogs, luncheon meats, canned soups and fast foods allow you to keep your sodium intake close to the suggested daily limit.
Increased Intake of Insoluble Fiber
Grains like wheat and barley contain insoluble fiber which helps with bowel function. This fiber can also decrease the amount of calcium in the urine as well. Calcium combines with the insoluble fiber in the intestines thus lowering the amount of calcium that is excreted in the urine. The fiber also keeps the bowels moving regularly so that calcium has less time to be absorbed in the body and leaves through the stool.
Intake of Oxalate and Levels of Calcium
Oxalate combines with calcium in the intestines which decreases the amount of calcium that is available to create calcium oxalate stones. If there is not enough calcium in the intestines -- from a deficiency in calcium -- or too much oxalate in the body, you may get high concentrations of oxalate in the urine. High oxalate in the urine can lead to kidney stones. Lowering your intake of foods that contain oxalate can lower your risk of developing these stones; examples of these foods include spinach, nuts and rhubarb.
