Peanuts may lower your risk for multiple chronic conditions, such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. However, they may not always be healthy choices for individuals who suffer from kidney stones. In addition to staying hydrated, you may be able to lower your risk for kidney stones by emphasizing certain foods in your diet. Ask a nutritionist if peanuts are appropriate for your diet.
Kidney stones are hard stones in your kidneys that may be composed of calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate, uric acid or struvite, according to the Langone Medical Center. Smaller kidney stones may dissolve or be excreted without symptoms, but larger stones may cause pain in your abdomen or even lead to kidney disease. Since your diet does not affect kidney stones that you already have, the goal of your diet for kidney stones is to prevent future stones from developing. Peanuts are an alternative source of protein to animal proteins, which increase your risk for kidney stones.
Oxalates
Calcium oxalate kidney stones are more likely to form when you get a lot of oxalates from your diet. A low-oxalate diet for preventing kidney stones has a limit of 40 to 50 mg per day, according to the University of Pittsburgh. With 27 mg oxalates per ounce, peanuts are classified as very high in oxalates, according to the Harvard School of Public Health. Most seeds and tree nuts, such as almonds, pistachios and walnuts are also high in oxalates. Your doctor might not recommend a low-oxalate diet if you do not tend to form calcium oxalate stones.
Weight Control
If you are overweight or obese, you can lower your risk for kidney stones by losing weight, according to the Langone Medical Center. Even though peanuts are high in calories and fat, with 166 calories and 14 g total fat per ounce, individuals who eat nuts or peanuts regularly tend to have lower body weights, according to the Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center. This may be a result of their 7 g protein and 2 g dietary fiber, since protein and fiber are filling nutrients. Avocados are low-oxalate, high-fiber alternatives if you need to avoid peanuts.
Other Nutrients
The Langone Medical Center suggests increasing your intake of fiber to lower your risk for kidney stones, and an ounce of peanuts provides nearly 10 percent of the daily value. A low-sodium diet is another recommendation, and peanuts are naturally nearly sodium-free. An ounce of unsalted, dry-roasted peanuts has only 2 mg sodium, while an ounce of salted peanuts contains 230 mg. Peanuts have 50 mg magnesium, or 12 percent of the daily value for this mineral which, may help prevent kidney stones. Bananas and milk are some high-magnesium, low-oxalate options if you are unable to eat peanuts because of their oxalate content.
References
- Harvard School of Public Health; Oxalate Content of Foods; February 2008
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: Legumes and Legume Products
- Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center; Nuts; Victoria Drake; June 2009
- Mayo Clinic; Kidney Stones; January 2010
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center: Low Oxalate Diet
- Langone Medical Center; Kidney Stones - Adult; Diane Savitsky; September 2010
